PHILLIP E. GRAF - National Association of Commercial Diving Specialists (NACDS) Instructor

PHILLIP E. GRAF
INSTRUCTOR IN SURFACE-SUPPLIED AIR DIVING AND UNDERWATER INSPECTIONS
May 19, 2000

NACDS Surface Supplied Course Outline and Course Prerequisites

NACDS Course Information

NACDS Instructor Qualifications

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COMMERCIAL DIVING SPECIALISTS (NACDS) INFORMATION

Introduction

Over the years we have seen many changes in diving equipment, training, and procedures. Commercial deep sea divers are working at depths of 600 to 1,000 feet on a routine basis, using very sophisticated, mixed gas, saturation diving systems. This evolution in equipment and procedures has created a huge gap between advanced scuba divers and commercial deep sea divers. To make things even more complex, in 1977 the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) established regulations for all commercial diving operations. These regulations cover all types of work outside of recreational instruction. Police/Sheriff/Fire/Law Enforcement search and recovery/rescue dive teams, marine engineering consultant divers, and light salvage diving teams are all covered under these standards.

Requirements

To comply with the OSHA regulations you must have a recognized certificate verifying that you have received “training in the use of tools, equipment, systems, techniques, operations, and emergency procedures which are pertinent to, and necessary for, the assigned tasks in the diving mode.” The COMMERCIAL DIVING SPECIALIST (CDS) program was developed to meet OSHA regulations for shallow, surface supplied air diving systems and scuba diving systems using hard wire communications.

History of the CDS Program

The development of the CDS program was completed over a two year period at Ocean Corporation’s Commercial Diving Training Center in Houston, Texas. Tom Hemphill (President of Underwater Instructors, Inc. and The National Association of Commercial Diving Specialists, Inc.) devoted two years in Houston working with The Ocean Corporation’s highly skilled staff to perfect the course. Larry Cushman (President of The Ocean Corporation) and Spence Campbell (Vice President in charge of nuclear diving services) shared their valuable experience in commercial and recreational diver training. Hemphill, Cushman and Campbell’s combined experience in these fields represented over 75 years.

Tom directed eight CDS courses at The Ocean Corporation prior to moving on with the second phase of the development. This phase consisted of offering the program in others areas to accommodate dive teams and specialty groups who need the training in their local waters. The first class on the road was taught for the Houston Police Department Dive Team and the training was done under typical conditions they would expect to encounter. Next, Tom was off to Chesapeake, Virginia to training the inspection and repair team for Lip’s Propellers.

Tailored Courses

Unlike the air/mixed gas diving programs offered at the large commercial diving schools, the CDS training courses can be tailored to the needs of the diving team thus keeping the time and cost down by teaching only the applicable skills. A good example of this flexibility occurred during the course taught for the Houston Police Dive Team when we put the students into an area where stolen cars were dumped. While the divers were examining the car bodies underwater we were able to get details on the car by radio with just the license plate number. The divers, in one case, were instructed to enter the car and look for more evidence as the car was reported stolen. This procedure would be very hazardous without the use of communications and surface support personnel.

Course Outline

The standard outline for all CDS courses calls for a 30 hour program which is typically scheduled over a three day period. Presently, we offer ten different 30 hour programs, all of which can be slightly modified to fit the individual need of each group.

Objective

The primary objective of the CDS training is to insure that the divers and dive teams are following established procedures when using surface supplied air diving equipment. Other objectives include learning to work underwater while being tethered to the surface, learning to use voice communications to get the job done better and learning to fulfill all of the topside support duties for the divers.

Commercial Equipment Used

The diving helmets and masks used for the training are the same used by commercial offshore and inland diving companies. The Dive Control System used allows the topside supervisor to monitor each diver’s depth and air supply while maintaining constant communication by radio. This compact system can be easily handled by one person and operated out of a small boat. You have the best of both worlds, mobility with professional equipment.

CDS Students

The CDS classes are unique and fit many needs. Matt Jackson, from Iowa, took the course just to see what it was like. He enjoyed it so much that he went on to complete the air/mixed gas course at The Ocean Corporation and is now working offshore as a full time commercial diver. Joe Barton, from Micronesia, is preparing to complete coral reef studies throughout the South Pacific with surface supplied air equipment. Glen Singleton and Paul Braud, from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, are leading their local volunteer search and recovery unit into areas that are too hazardous for scuba diving. Tom Henderson in Vancouver, Washington, is now developing his underwater video production business with surface supplied air diving techniques. Ferry Howland, NAUI Instructor for 25 years, dive shop owner, businessman, after completing one CDS course as assistant instructor and another as course director, is now offering CDS programs through his dive shops in Fort Walton Beach and Pensacola, Florida. Jack Sehr, Chicago Police Department, is in the process of getting his dive team trained and equipped for search and recovery projects in some very undesirable conditions. Dr. Al DeFalco, from Denver, Colorado, is offering unique underwater photo classes. Using the communications systems allows him to teach while diving.

CDS – The most exciting classes you will ever take!!

NACDS Surface Supplied Course Outline and Course Prerequisites

NACDS Course Information

NACDS Instructor Qualifications

Information on Commercial Diving
Information on Commercial Qualifications

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