There ya go!

[Fiji Dave]

Originally Posted by A. Berk

Who's the berk Foggy? Show me an offshore operation that works 5 days per week - you know nowt about the subject so don't begin trying to run down a business that is beyond you mate.

AB - in my side of the oilfield services industry most permanent offshore staff are on 6/6 rotations, so 6 weeks offshore, 7 days a week, 12 hr shifts followed by 6 weeks break.
Would you be following the same sort of rotation? As those staff are on permanent contracts then the pay covers them when they're offshore aswell as on break (with some extra bonuses whilst offshore). So, whilst they only work 6 months of the year, they are paid for 12. Would you also be paying the divers whilst they're on break?

[Scuttler]

Originally Posted by A. Berk

I'm not trying to convert everyone to pro diving - only those that are sitting on the fence REALLY thinking about it.

I'll be honest that it is a career that I would probably consider if I felt confident that I could cover my outgoings with the new earnings. I think I speak for everyone that has a career when I say that you live just within/to the limit or just outside of your means.

The problem a lot of people on here have is that there isn't a great deal of information forthcoming from you upon which we could make a serious assessment of the feasibility of a career change.

When you add to melting pot the cost of training it increasingly becomes difficult to see how you'd be anything but financially worse off.

Lets take your lowest rate quoted at $250 a day and assume we worked 6 months (I don't know if that's practical you tell me). That would work out at (250*7*26=$45,500 which is £23,950) that's only slightly above the average national earnings. Admittedly it's hamperecd by a strong pound but what you take home at the end of the day is driven by currency fluctuations which need to be taken into account.

I don't think anyone's having a p1ssing contest on earnings but I think that if we're going to make a decision that's going to affect our lives and the lives of our families then we need all the facts to hand.

We haven't come onto the forum asking can we become commies you have come on saying you can get work for most people. I think we're quite justified to ask questions in order to allow us to assess the feasibility.

A couple of the questions I have is

How much work would you be ALLOWED to do each year?
Of the work time you're permitted how much do you normally fill?
What is your employment status (Contract/Permanent etc)

[A. Berk]

You can work as many days in the year as you can fit in... I personally like to work less than 6 months but then I'm at the top-end and winding myself down and out of the business as I have other business arrangements (still diving orientated).

The starting rate of $250 is already void as pay is going up due to demand - $300+ in Asia/M East.

I haven't mentioned the North Sea where the rates are higher and will get higher in a couple of months.

Almost everyone is freelance - though that is changing - again due to demand.

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by A. Berk

Who's the berk Foggy? Show me an offshore operation that works 5 days per week - you know nowt about the subject so don't begin trying to run down a business that is beyond you mate.

And let's get it straight... if you're on Mick Jaggers fcuking wages good luck to you, I'm not trying to convert everyone to pro diving - only those that are sitting on the fence REALLY thinking about it. If you just want to impress everyone with a 'loads-of-money' attitude why not start a p*ssing contest to see who on this site earns the most?

That aint what this is about... I'm helping people get a foothold in something that they have a passion for - not only giving complete new guys a start I also give air divers their first sat. Every year an old diver leaves the business and leaves a void - we need new guys and we need to train them for a demanding profession. When they get established they wouldn't get out of bed for 100k sterling - they are sort-after professionals. Not everyone is good enough to reach that standard I know, I regularly dive with recreational scuba divers and 1 in 200 or even 300 MAY (?) be what we are looking for - the rest (intructors included) I would gladly pay to stay away from the professional arena. I know just how poor the in-water standards are in sport diving - I see it every week I'm onshore - if I could I'd ban every coral-breaking, pufferfish poking, wreck vandalising tw*t from the water!!!

I'm not trying to impress anyone with anything,

and good for you if you're aim is to truely help folk, BUT

People do need to weigh up the pros (no pun intended), and cons of professional work, including where in the world it is situated, (there are places in this world where I wouldn't go - not for all the money in the world), AND

I cannot take anything seriously posted by someone who chooses the pseudonym of "A. Berk" - IMHO it just doesn't evoke wise, balanced and trustworthyness (just my opinion - and I appologise if it is your real name).

As to banning coral breaking, pufferfish poking, stingray riding, wreck vandalising, diver....... well I would prefer that they were trained better in the first place, but training can happen at any stage.

-Paul

[Stesh]

Trying to sell a video :-
(funny that "scratt & A.Berk" have the same profile of sorts?)

A new DVD for wannabe commies...

which is good 'cos I'm not going to answer every question that gets fired at me.

Yes A.Berk I have noticed from reading your posts that for someone "in the business" you are very vague when it come to details?

[A. Berk]

Vague, vague? When the hell have I been vague about anything?

I've answered a shed-load of (hopefully) usefull PM's and answered everything that has been directed at me. Yes, I mentioned the DVD way back when it was released 'cos I've seen it and it's the best docu out there for anyone wanting to learn more about comm diving before they spend a lot of dosh - it's a bit more informative than the "wah Jimmy, there's a deed fcuking conger eel in mah porridge" shite video that everyone has seen.
I know someone involved in the making of the 'Turning Pro' film - as I should - 'cos I'm in the business, as is someone at www.extremesportscafe - an outfit that sells the DVD and which I have no ties with. Or I could add Deep-Sea.Net Diving Network which is a commercial divers website who also sell the movie through their online store - I know one of the guys there too - 'cos he's... you guessed it - in the business.

So to end, I'll say to Foggy; Sorry if I 'raised' my online voice last night - but it p*sses me when I'm heckled from the back rows when all I'm trying to do is help a few folk - for the folk who are not interested in that help - why not stay out of it 'cos you just end-up looking a berk talking about 'professional deep saturation/offshore construction diving' - my chosen subject!

As for Mr Stesh, if you smell a Troll - I smell a fool...

Want any more vagueries???

A. Berk

[MAD DOG]

Ive just come back from my first trip offshore thanks to Mr A.BERK its the best thing ive ever done $$$. I would like to say a big thankyou to Mr A.Berk for all your help...

[MAD DOG]

Ive just come back from my first trip offshore thanks to Mr A. Berk its the best thing ive done$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ thanks for all your help Mr A. Berk.

[mixmiff]

Wow! Enough to buy a Hi-Lux you think ?

[Garf]

blah blah blah blah yawn.