The commercial diving industry demands travel, long hours, practical skills, self motivation and strong work ethics and habits. It is not enough that a student enjoys diving, he must also enjoy the lifestyle that accompanies the career. Canadian Working Divers Institute's Unrestricted Surface-Supplied Course gives students the skills and knowledge expected by the commercial diving industry with courses including Law and Ethics, Gas and Oil Field Diving, Salvage, Seamanship and Navigation, Explo sives and Chamber Operations.

Now in their seventh year of operation Canadian Working Divers Institute (CWDI) has proven that their new and innovative method of training is ideal for the commercial diving industry. Their graduates have proven this across Canada and around the world. Thirty-two percent of their graduates have worked or are working overseas, 88% of their graduates are working as com mercial divers and they have trained divers also from Turkey, Israel, Bermuda, Mexico and the United States. CWDI is a private company with a goal of being the best entry level commercial diver training facility in the world. Their emphasis is on practical, hands-on training with up-to-date marine construction and off-shore techniques.

CWDI's facility is located on Lake Catchacoma 45 minutes north of Peterborough, Ontario. The 10 acre property has over 800 feet of shoreline and adjacent lodging facility. With a 12 hours per day, six to seven days per week, 12 week program there is very little time for diversions. The diving barges are moored 20 metres from the classroom, lounge, shop and offices. The lake has depths of over 70 metres with two hydraulic control dams and up to three metres of silt in some locations, making it ideal for training.

On a normal day at CWDI the students get up at 05:30 have a snack and coffee and start class at 06:00. They break from 08:00 to 08:30 for breakfast, then head out on the barge for a day of diving on practical projects that duplicate actual working environ ments. Lunch is served on the barge and then they train until 18:00.

CWDI's instructors all have a minimum of 15 years of experience covering all aspects of the commercial diving industry and are still working as commercial divers. CWDI is approved by The National Energy Board, The Provincial Offshore Petroleum Boards, the Ministry of Colleges and Universities and the Ministry of Employment and Immigration. Financial assistance may be available to qualified students.

For more information on Canadian Working Divers Institute contact Gord Hay, Dave Hannah or Tony Shpur at 1-800-924 -1124. E-mail: CWDI@oncomdis.on.ca

As our series on training agencies has shown, there are a number of different agencies that can certify divers for recreational, technical, and commercial diving levels. Most agencies will also train divers to a professional (teaching) level. That is, they will be able to dive to make money.

ACUC (American and Canadian Underwater Certification, Inc.) offers several programs at the professional level. To enrol in instructor-level programs candidates must, at a minimum, be certified to the divemaster level.

Divemasters may enrol in the ACUC Entry Level Scuba Instructor program. Candidates for this level must have a minimum of 80 logged dives (or a minimum of 60 hours of bottom time). Entry Level Scuba Instructors are certified to teach any level of ACUC snorkelling certifications, up to and including ACUC Snorkelling Instructor.

Divemasters with a minimum of 100 hours of bottom time or Entry Level instructors may enrol in the ACUC Open Water Scuba Instructor program. Successful completion of this course allows divers to teach any level of the ACUC snorkelling pro grams, resort courses, all diver programs (including the master diver program) and teaching assistant specialty course. Addition ally, a Scuba Instructor is trained to operate and manage dive operations.

Following the Open Water Scuba Instructor program, candidates may pursue the Advanced Scuba Instructor certification level. Among the requirements, candidates are expected to not only be active in their teaching, but also have certified at least six advanced and four specialty scuba divers as well as possess the ACUC Rescue Instructor Rating. Open Water Instructors may also meet the total of four requirements by possessing a CPR or First Aid Instructor Rating, assist in writing or amending a program which is accepted by National Office, act as an Evaluator at two Entry Level or Open Water Instructor Programs, write a technical paper on diving for publication or attend a recognized technical seminar. This level is generally reached as a result of experience, rather than through a formal training program.

The highest attainable certification category in the ACUC Scuba Leadership System is the ACUC Master Scuba Instructor. This level of certification is reserved for those instructors who have made a major contribution to recreational diving through their association with ACUC.

ACUC Instructor Trainers are appointed by the President of ACUC in recognition of their abilities. To be considered for this level of certification, candidates must have extensive experience in scuba diver training and in scuba leadership development.

Instructors from different training agencies also have the option of crossing over to ACUC. ACUC does not require instructors to leave their previous organization, thus making instructors more marketable to the dive stores for whom they are teaching. Course requirements consist of familiarization with ACUC standards and procedures.

For more information regarding ACUC programs, contact the head office at ACUC Head Office, 1264 Osprey Drive, Ancaster, ON Ph.: (905) 648-5500, Fax: (905) 648-5440; e-mail: acuc@acuc.ca; web: www.acuc.es or check out their ad in DIVER Magazine.