Expert: Mike Giles - 5/3/2009

Question
I am currently looking to advance in the diving industry and was looking for some advice on diving training schools.
I was looking at Bob Brayman's International Diving Career Institute at Hall's and the Commercial Diving Academy. Would you recommend either of these or do you know of any other full service career dive training schools? Thanks

Answer
Hi Jeffrey,

I really don't know too much about the individual commercial diving schools so I'm in no position to make recommendations.  To try to find honest opinions, I would do some internet research on commercial diving and see if you can find some blog sites.  You can get a good idea of what graduates think of their individual schools and, possibly, what some of the commercial divers think about the graduates of the various schools as well.  That would be the best way to get an honest opinion.  Of course, you'll always find some disgruntled folks on these blogs but you can usually spot them and discount their testimony if it appears biased.  The individual schools won't publish anything that puts them in a bad light so don't look for opinions on the school sites.

I'm not a commercial diver and have never attended a commercial diving school.  However I've spent a considerable amount of time in conversation with commercial divers and visited some commercial operations over the years.  What I've discovered is that the school serves to open the door to the commercial diving industry.  Once you've passed through that door, the ability and drive of the individual will determine how well they succeed.  You will ALWAYS be learning something new on each job regardless of which school you've attended.  So, while the quality of the school is certainly important, the ability of the individual diver is much more important in the long run.

In closing, Jeffrey, my advice to you would be to do some research as described above.  Then select a school that appeals to you, is affordable, and is easily accessible to you.  Once you're in, the rest is up to you.  Apply yourself and do well and you shouldn't have any problem competing in the field.

Best of luck!!
Mike Giles
Mike's Dive Center
mikescuba.com