Don't do it!!!

[A. Berk]

If you are thinking about spending money on a commercial dive course my advice is, "think about something else". Don't risk blowing a load of money right now 'cos the oil business is gonna be cutting back the same as everyone else and you'll be fighting for jobs against guys with lightyear's more experience than yourself. Keep your money and let the dive schools go broke, not the other way 'round!

Berko

[Sandman]

The bubble is apparently bursting. Heard of offshore jobs in the middle east as low as $165 a day and in Iran for between $20 and $40, thats for a days work by the way and the higher figure was for experienced divers.

Some lads get work straight from school and others I meet haven't worked in several months.

Cheers

[h20mrv]

that's very poor cash indeed, follow this advice guys......

[A. Berk]

If you are thinking about spending money on a commercial dive course my advice is, "think about something else". Don't risk blowing a load of money right now 'cos the oil business is gonna be cutting back the same as everyone else and you'll be fighting for jobs against guys with lightyear's more experience than yourself. Keep your money and let the dive schools go broke, not the other way 'round!

Berko

That were a waist of internet paper, there's more booking dive courses now than before the 'downturn'. Nowt queerer than folk eh?

koBer

[gwilson]

There is a definate downturn in oil production at the moment. I work for a company that flys the guys out to the rigs and support vessels, and this is by far the quietest we have been.

One of the guys i work with reckons it is all due to the low cost per barrel of oil. Once the already pumped supplies start to dwindle, the price per barrel will rise again and the oil companies will start pumping it again.

The good news is our late shifts are now finishing around 6pm so no late nights at work.

[diverstu]

Now is NOT the time to start a Diving career, and even worse to be a Diver with less than 3 years experience Offshore (which seems to be the arbitrary experience that most Offshore companies 'used to' put down as a requirement). Nevertheless, the Schools are churning 'em out, heads full of nonsense.

Things might not get 'Tough', but they're going to go back to normal...

[A. Berk]

Aye Stu, clients (oil companies) can now call for as much experience as they wish, 1, 2, 3, years or more and they'll probably get it. So where does that leave the guys who are on courses right now at various schools around the world? Well, I can't remember the name of the place but I do know you shouldn't go there without a paddle

I aint gonna help no-one keep dive schools buoyant through the recession - they'll gladly tell you what you want to hear. If schools had any compunction they would 'cease trading until further notice' but no, they want your 8+ grand. So, no more PM's answered by me about schools/career/work/LST work/etc until things pick-up. Please, just save that 'rainy day' money 'cos monsoon season is here.

Berko

[diverstu]

Not as many schools as there used to be (when I did my 1st diving ticket, I think there was 5 in the UK to choose from!) but when you factor in how many overseas schools are 'equivalent' to HSE tickets the number of potential new-starts is frightening. I've always been of the opinion that ALL the schools should be closed down, and reopened as an 'Academic' course run under a College, or similar. No 'Paying' for a ticket, no 'market forces' at work. 1 year, theory, practical, hard work, entrance exams, higher pass rates (Does it really instill confidence in anyone that, even removing the 'I pays my money, I gets my ticket' out of the equation, Someone with a brand new part 1 can technically only understand 60% of his job?) and most importantly of all, Failure! Then we might be able to begin to respect our profession again. (It REALLY Fckin' ANNOYS me when I hear that old "we're only underwater labourers, mate..just blowin' bubbles.." shite. On the average Civils job alone, a Diver might have to Rig/Sling, Bank the Crane (sometimes DRIVE the Crane!) handle the Boat, Burn, Weld, Fab up temporary works, Paint u/w, alter Plans/drawings/method statements etc, inspect works, pour concrete, set shutters, handball 2 ton of rock that a digger should move, piss himself to stay warm, make the cocking tea and work overtime when everyone else clocks off, for less money than the Crane Driver, ALL on his lonesome in the water, without a couple of mouth-breathers to help him. Underwater Labourer?! Say that to my sodding face!!
End of Rant no.1!, rant no.2 will begin with why we allow Aussie and US citizens to work in the UK with their tickets, but it's almost impossible to work over there with ours..
I'm not sure if I should walk the streets of Ft William for a while after that....!

[brasshat]

Not as many schools as there used to be (when I did my 1st diving ticket, I think there was 5 in the UK to choose from!) but when you factor in how many overseas schools are 'equivalent' to HSE tickets the number of potential new-starts is frightening. I've always been of the opinion that ALL the schools should be closed down, and reopened as an 'Academic' course run under a College, or similar. No 'Paying' for a ticket, no 'market forces' at work. 1 year, theory, practical, hard work, entrance exams, higher pass rates (Does it really instill confidence in anyone that, even removing the 'I pays my money, I gets my ticket' out of the equation, Someone with a brand new part 1 can technically only understand 60% of his job?) and most importantly of all, Failure! Then we might be able to begin to respect our profession again. (It REALLY Fckin' ANNOYS me when I hear that old "we're only underwater labourers, mate..just blowin' bubbles.." shite. On the average Civils job alone, a Diver might have to Rig/Sling, Bank the Crane (sometimes DRIVE the Crane!) handle the Boat, Burn, Weld, Fab up temporary works, Paint u/w, alter Plans/drawings/method statements etc, inspect works, pour concrete, set shutters, handball 2 ton of rock that a digger should move, piss himself to stay warm, make the cocking tea and work overtime when everyone else clocks off, for less money than the Crane Driver, ALL on his lonesome in the water, without a couple of mouth-breathers to help him. Underwater Labourer?! Say that to my sodding face!!
End of Rant no.1!, rant no.2 will begin with why we allow Aussie and US citizens to work in the UK with their tickets, but it's almost impossible to work over there with ours..
I'm not sure if I should walk the streets of Ft William for a while after that....!

And that Stu, is why, with all respect to Our colonial cousins, I don't have any yarpies aussies, kiwis or yanks working with me, as I think it is unfair on the local diving economy, and our divers are generally as good.

[tomo2812]

If you are thinking about spending money on a commercial dive course my advice is, "think about something else". Don't risk blowing a load of money right now 'cos the oil business is gonna be cutting back the same as everyone else and you'll be fighting for jobs against guys with lightyear's more experience than yourself. Keep your money and let the dive schools go broke, not the other way 'round!

Berko

are things really this bad??
after spending hours reading all these posts, im thinking do i io dont i ?