Louisiana Technical College - Young Memorial Campus
COMMERCIAL DIVING

[Frequently Asked Questions]  [Course Schedules & Openings]  [Diving Links]

The mission of the Commercial Diving Program is to provide classroom instruction and practical experience to prepare students for entry-level employment in the commercial diving industry. 

The program emphasizes safe and efficient work practices and basic occupational skills, and employability skills.  The content is organized into competency-based courses that specify occupational competencies which the student must successfully complete.

CURRICULUM OUTLINE
646 Clock Hours

DIVE  1010   Orientation, Safety, Industry Terminology
DIVE  1020   Diving Physics
DIVE  1030   Diving Physiology
DIVE  1040   Air Decompression
DIVE  1050   Diving Medicine
DIVE  1060   Chamber Operations
DIVE  1070   Seamanship and Rigging
DIVE  1080   Logs, Records, and Standards
DIVE  1090   Environmental Hazards
DIVE  1100   Diving Equipment
DIVE  1111   Marine Engines and Compressors
DIVE  1121   Topside Welding and Oxy-Acetylene Cutting
DIVE  1131   Underwater Work Lab
DIVE  1141   Underwater Cutting and Welding Lab
DIVE  1150   Mixed Gas Diving
DIVE  1160  Operations Planning
DIVE  1170   Industrial and Offshore Safety
JOBS  2450   Job Seeking Skills

INSTRUCTOR
Steve Struble, Instructor
Roger Thacker, Department Head

Commercial Diving  - Frequently Asked Questions

There are many questions which are frequently asked about the Commercial Diving Program. We have tried to answer some of these questions below. If you have any other questions you can E-mail us at:
rthacker@theltc.net / sstruble@theltc.net or call during business regular hours
(7:30 am until 5:00 pm Central Time).

Q: Where is Morgan City, Louisiana?
A:  Morgan City is located at the mouth of the Atchafalya River just miles from the Gulf of Mexico. (Click here for maps).

Q: How long is the Commercial Diving program?
A: Approximately Six Months, 646 Clock Hours. 

Q: How many hours per day are required?
A: School is in session six hours a day five days a week. Classes start at 8:00 AM and last until 2:30 PM with a thirty minute lunch from 11:00 until 11:30.  Days may be extended to achieve the 646 Hour Total over two quarters.

Q: What is the approximate cost of full tuition and school expenses?
Approximate expenses is:
State-of- Louisiana Residents, approximately $2,100
Out-of-State Residents, approximately $2,700
*Tuition Cost subject to change as per state mandates.

Q: Why is the school so inexpensive compared to other commercial dive schools?
A: This is a public technical college supported by tax dollars. Most other commercial dive schools are private and must make a profit to survive.

Q: What does the program entail?
A: There is a great deal of book work involved so about half of the time is spent in the classroom. There is some shop work involved including building and testing diving umbilical, operating diving compressors, and operating the decompression chamber. You will also be pressurized in the chamber several times as you learn chamber operations. We have three steel diving tanks which we use to dive in while doing projects such as knot tying, putting together valve assemblies and flanges, welding, burning, airlifting, and emergency procedures.

Q: Do I have to know how to weld?
A:  No! Welding is a good skill to have regardless of your occupation, but certainly not required to be a commercial diver.

Q: Do you teach underwater welding?
A:  We teach an introduction to underwater welding. The emphasis is on the equipment used, how to set up the equipment, and safety considerations.

Q:  How much money will I make?
A:  Commercial diving is a very diverse field. There is offshore diving and inshore diving and various rates of pay for each depending on who you are working for, what region of the country you are working in, and exactly what you are doing.

Offshore diving starts you out as an apprentice called a tender. As of this writing (January 2000) beginning tenders are making approximately $9.00 per hour.  Keep in mind that while offshore you make a minimum of 84 hours per week. It takes two years or more to become a full-fledged diver, but there will be diving along the way to gain experience. As an offshore diver you get paid a depth pay bonus for dives over 50 feet deep. The annual pay will depend on how many days you work, how deep the water is, and how many days you dive. There is also the possibility of doing saturation diving after you gain enough experience (at least 5 years). Saturation diving is currently paying between $600 and $650 dollars per day.

Inshore diving is done involving harbors, dams, power plants, pipelines crossing rivers or lakes, water intakes and outfalls, sewer outfalls, bridge inspection and repair, and salvage of vessels in lakes or harbor areas. The possibilities are endless for things which might need to be done in the water. Inshore diving does not utilize the tender system in the same way that offshore diving does. You may not be categorized as a tender at all or for a much shorter period of time than offshore. Inshore divers take turns diving and tending each other. The pay inshore varies greatly also. Some inland divers make as little as $12 or $14 per hour. If you are on a prevailing wage job the rate would probably be more like $25 to $30 per hour and if you are working through a union you may be making $55 per hour. Inland divers also sometimes make penetration dives into pipes and get paid penetration pay for every foot they go into the pipe.

Q: What will I need to do to prepare for school?
A:  Before you can graduate from this program you will have to show proof of SCUBA certification. We do not teach SCUBA so it would be best to have this done before you come to school. You will need a wet suit to keep you warm during your dives at school. The minimum suit requirement will vary depending on the time of year you are in school, but a 7.5 MM should be sufficient anytime. You will need an Association of Diving Contractors physical that will be less than a year old when you graduate. If you enroll in the program information will be sent to you regarding the requirements of the physical.

Q: How do I enroll?
A:  Call the school office during business hours and request a Commercial Diving packet. When you receive the packet fill out the application and sent it in with your tuition. When we receive the application and tuition that will reserve a spot for you in class. You will then be sent another letter with forms and directions for your physical.

Q:  Is financial assistance available?
A:  Those students who provide official documentation of a high school diploma or GED, may be eligible for financial assistance through the federal pell grant program.  Other sources of financial assistance available may include:  Veterans Administration, TANF, WIA, Scholarships.  Please contact the student affairs office for more information regarding financial assistance at (985) 380-2436 Ext. 241. 

Q: How do I contact the school?
A:  The college is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. weekdays and can be reached at:

Q: Who can do my physical?
A:  The physical can be done by any qualified physician as long as they do a thorough job. It may pay to shop around as some physicians will charge much more than others for the same physical.

Dr. Serio is a physician in Belle Chase, LA who specializes in diving physicals. If you would like to contact him his number is 985-394-3880.

Dr. Robert Bourgeois, located here in Morgan City, LA also performs diving physicals.  His number is (985) 384-3355.

Q: Where will I live?
A: The school does not provide any housing, so you are on your own. Housing can be difficult to find in Morgan City during times when business is booming.  Most people stay in a local motel (click here for list of area lodging) temporarily until they can find an apartment or house. Some of the motels offer monthly rates, but they are usually expensive and poor quality. The area Chamber of Commerce keeps a list of available housing. You can contact them at 985-384-3830. The local newspaper is the Daily Review. You may contact them by phone at 985-384-8370 or online at Morgan City Daily Review.

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Commercial Diving Links
The following are links to area Commercial Diving Companies.
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