[A. Berk]

When I swapped Navy drysuits for commercial hotwater suits in 1976 there were few divers too go round. Since that time we have had ups and downs in the industry but I for one have worked continuously and now find myself in the role of diving superintendent - the gaffer. I choose my teams and to make life easy for ME I choose the best poeple I can get hold of. Some of those people are close to their sell-by date - they know it - its natural.

So, who's going to fill those gaps if new divers are not encouraged to join our ranks? I don't work for and have nothing to do with schools - when new divers come to us with their HSE ticket WE train them offshore. You will hear plenty of divers gryping about crap jobs in canals, rivers etc. - but have you considered why they are there and not in saturation on my vessel? Because that's where they belong and those who come offshore and don't perform get found out pretty quick.

We are in an oil bonanza right now and it will last a few years, you won't see a better time for being a diver. Don't be discouraged by the crap you see on any forum (unless your age is a factor) - if you have what it takes get off your arse and do it - if you don't have it you can talk about how you were 'going to turn pro but it was too expensive/my gerbil was pregnant' etc, I hear those tales of woe in just about every pub I go into.

In a nutshell then, the choice is yours, either sh*t or get off the pot and leave way for those who want a career that really is worth it... no-matter what anyone say's about it!

And to those guys who are stuck in their leaking dry-bags in a culvert somewhere near Sheffield - fear not - I do not intend to haunt these pages for long - be happy in your work!

Oh, and yes... offshore companies are hiring divers right now!!!