The primary objective of the NACDS Commercial Diver and Diving Supervisor Courses is to ensure that graduates can safely and effectively perform or supervise the necessary duties for each dive team station, both topside and underwater in accordance with the OSHA standards.  Commercial divers should have advanced diving knowledge and skills, with substantial open water diving experience in a variety of environmental conditions.  Certified Commercial Divers should be proficient at working underwater with Scuba, Tethered Scuba and Surface-Supplied Air Diving System with Voice Communication.

COURSE OVERVIEW

The Basic Commercial Diver Course consists of:

	Two (2) Days Academic Training
	Four (4) Days Openwater Training

Minimum Class Size is 6.  Training schedules may be agreed among class students.

The training will be scheduled in three phases:

Phase 1

Advanced diving technology and techniques consisting of a comprehensive knowledge and experiences covering the areas of : diving physics, physiology, medical aspects, decompression, rescue techniques, first aid & CPR, Automatic External Defibrillator, oxygen first aid, commercial diving equipment maintenance and repairs, underwater working techniques, commercial diving standards and procedures etc.

Phase 2

Each student learns how to perform at the six duty stations for a surface-supplied-air-dive team, which includes: Diver, Tender, Safety Diver, Air Console Operator, Record Keeper, and Dive Team Supervisor.

Phase 3

Commercial diving projects, tailored to the specific skills that are appropriate for that team. We may be working with marine engineers, boat maintenance divers, public service rescue dive teams, fisheries harvest divers, marine Investigators, etc.

HISTORY OF NACDS

During the 1970, it became apparent that the problems required to train commercial offshore oil field divers were very technical and extensive, while sport diving training was going more towards the short, less technical programs and vacation oriented divers.  At the same time, there was a growing need for divers to perform professional tasks in shallow water that required training in advanced diving technology and surface-supplied diving with communication, but not to the extent of the 6 months to two years courses being offered through commercial diving schools and colleges.

In March of 1994, after reviewing the students' backgrounds and requests from the association membership, the Board of Directors elected proposed to change the Name of the association to the National Association of Commercial Diving Specialists (NACDS).   The term "Scuba" was deleted in order to more accurately represent the training programs because very few of the members were actually using Scuba for working underwater and most of the training programs being conducted focused on surface-supplied diving.  The current Executive Director of NACDS is Phillip E. Graf, who is also providing Underwater Services and Training in the U.S.A.

VALUE OF THE SPECIALIST TRAINING

We are primarily working with people that are already in the Marine / Hyperbaric related industry, simply allow them to perform underwater the same tasks that they are qualified to do on topside. The unique features of our NACDS programs include:

	We are able to travel to all areas, worldwide, and train entire dive teams in their environment with their equipment.
	We also train the topside, non-diving team members who need to learn how to set-up, operate and maintain the diving systems, and who must understand the medical aspects of diving, decompression calculations, tending techniques and chamber operations.
	We tailor the training projects to focus on the special skills that the dive team will be doing, so as not to waste time teaching unnecessary skills.
	We issue NACDS Commercial Diver Certifications as well as NAUI Master Diver and NAUI-DAN Professional Diving First Aid Certifications for Entry-level and Supervisor candidates.
	Our primary program meets the OSHA Standards for Commercial Diver Training for shallow, umbilical diving on air.

QUALIFICATIONS OF GRADUATES

Upon successful completion of the basic course, graduates fulfilled all the course requirements will be certified as NACDS Commercial Diver or NACDS Commercial Diving Supervisor (for those eligible and with working experiences), and are considered competent to engage in air diving activities not exceeding 190 f.s.w. (57 m.s.w.) with Scuba, Tethered Scuba and Surface-Supplied Air Diving Systems with Voice Communication.  Graduates are also qualified to apply for admission into more technical-commercial training programs, such as Underwater Welding & Cutting, Enriched Air Diving, Dive with Rebreather and NDT Inspection etc.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENT - BASIC COURSE

	Age - Minimum 18 years
	Education - Should have a high school graduate or obtained a waiver from the Course Director
	Dive Qualification - Rescue Diver and Master Diver Certifications from any recognized Training Agency (required prior to admission.  Students may take our Combined Course Packages to fulfill this requirement)
	Dive Experience - Must have completed and logged at least 50 Openwater dives
	Medical - Must have an approved diving medical examination within the past 12 months
	Valid Professional Diving First Aid / CPR Certificates (required prior to graduation. Students may take our Combined Course Packages to fulfill this requirement)

Note: Students who are Certified Commercial Divers or Certified Scuba Instructors of any recognized organization, may request for the Combined Course Packages to upgrade directly to Supervisor Level upon course completion.

NACDS INSTRUCTOR QUALIFICATIONS

Most of the NACDS Instructors are also certified Scuba Instructors of recognized agencies and are qualified to teach advanced diving technology and advanced specialty diving.  There are three qualification levels for our NACDS Instructors, which are:

Level 1

	Certified Scuba Instructors qualified to teach Advanced Diving Technology, Diving First Aid/CPR Course for Professional.
	Graduated in NACDS Instructor Training Course.
	Has minimum 1 year practical experience as a commercial diver.

Level 2

	Certified NACDS Instructor qualified to teach Commercial Diving Specialists Courses and Advanced Specialty Diving Courses.
	Qualified to teach NACDS Commercial Diving Supervisor Course.
	Has more than 2 years practical experience as a commercial diver.

Level 3

	Certified NACDS Instructor Trainer qualified to teach all commercial diving courses and leadership training programs.
	Graduated in NACDS Instructor Trainer Workshop.
	Has participated as a staff member in at least one of the NACDS Instructor Training Course.
	Has more than 4 years practical experience as a commercial diver.

NACDS COMMERCIAL DIVING COURSES PACKAGES

	NACDS Commercial Diver Course (Min. Class size is 6) (For Master Diver and First Aider of any recognized Agency) Course Duration: 6 Days (2 Days Academic + 4 Days Openwater) Course Tuition ￥18,000, Equipment Rental ￥3,000 (Rental of Dive Equipment and Surface-supply Air Diving Equipment for the Course)
	NACDS Commercial Diving Supervisor Course (Min. Class size is 4) (For certified and experienced Commercial Divers only) Course Duration: 4 Days (2 Days Academic + 2 Days Openwater) Course Tuition ￥18,000, Equipment Rental ￥3,000 (Rental of Dive Equipment and Surface-supply Air Diving Equipment for the Course)
	NACDS Commercial Diving Instructor Course (Min. Class size is 4) (For certified and experienced NACDS Commercial Diving Supervisors only) Course Duration: 8 Days (6 Days Academic + 2 Days Openwater) Course Tuition ￥30,000, Equipment Rental ￥3,000 (Rental of Dive Equipment and Surface-supply Air Diving Equipment for the Course)
	All Course Packages do not cover any Diving Insurance, students are advised to arrange his/her own Insurance, if required.

DIVE EQUIPMENT

Students are required to have their scuba diving equipment for the course.  Surface-Supplied Air Diving System with Voice Communication used for the Course will be provided on rental basis and shall be paid by students.

Besides dive equipment sales, SZSWC also conducts [Equipment Maintenance Workshop] to divers on regular basis for familiarization and maintenance of dive equipment.  Participants may obtain hand on experiences on disassembly, assembly, testing and pressure setting of various types of BCDs and Regulators (Piston and Diaphragm types) at this one-day Workshop.