The Underwater Centre Trains Asia Pacific Divers

The Underwater Centre, Tasmania is working with a team of 21 candidates who have been put forward for training by Kuala Lumpur-based Samsian Solution & Services.

The students are currently completing The Underwater Centre’s Standard Commercial Diving Training Package, which qualifies them to work onshore and offshore as commercial divers. The three-month training course includes the required Australian Diving Accreditation Scheme (ADAS) Parts 1, 2 and 3 certifications, providing them with the necessary accreditation to work legally as a diver, The Underwater Centre wrote in a press release.

Part 1 of the training involves occupational SCUBA diving to 30 metres and includes training predominantly in the use of subsea hand-tools, in surveys and inspection diving, and rescue diving, while Part 2 is Occupational SSBA (Surface Supply) to 30 metres and includes pneumatic and hydraulic powered tools training, such as jack-hammering, needle-gunning and air-lift dredging. Students are also taught about salvage, construction, welding and burning.

Meanwhile, ADAS Part 3 is the entry-level qualification required for gaining work in the offshore industry and involves diving up to 50m, the deepest occupational ticket achievable on air. Part 3 sees the use of wet-bells, chamber use and operation, decompression diving, more rescues, offshore awareness, and advanced underwater work.

“Before being chosen to take up the training, each of the candidates must carry out a range of assessments and physical tests. They must also demonstrate their passion for being an ADAS-accredited diver and the work that will entail,” Samsian Solution & Services spokesperson Jamie Tham said.

“The Underwater Centre has an excellent reputation in the industry and we have found the team of staff and instructors there to be very helpful. Commercial diving is a skill that is currently in high demand within our local industry, and most of the candidates will be able to secure a job with oil and gas contractors once they have completed the training. We will help them secure job placements within the industry.”

The Centre’s Operations Manager Herb Mitton commented: “The men are performing very well with a good level of theoretical knowledge and in-water prowess being displayed by them all. This has also been the case with regards to their attitude shown toward their training and tasks, and they are working very well as a team, learning the skills they will need in the real world.” 

“The ADAS guidelines and competencies we train and assess under are realistic, achievable with effort and hard work, and are exactly tailored to industry requirements. We very much expect our students to earn their qualifications.”