Commercial Courses

We offer three unique programs:

• Open Water SCUBA Training – The first step in becoming a commercial harvester
• SSA Diver Program – Designed for the person with Open Water SCUBA experience wanting to move into Surface Supplied.
• SSA Tender – Designed for the person who does not want to dive, but needs to know how to safely work with a Surface Supplied Diver.

Open Water SCUBA Training – Focused On Commercial Divers

This program takes a person with no experience and teaches them the basic techniques of Open water SCUBA. The student learns basic equipment, physics, dive computers and safe diving practices. The class is taught in the confines of the Hood Canal and a swimming pool is not used. Our course is more stringent than a standard open water course. We believe those persons wishing to become commercial harvesters will be diving in environments not experienced by the standard recreational diver. 

The course is taught over 2.5 days. 

Certifications Earned

• Open Water Scuba Diver certification (PADI)

Subjects/Experiences covered during our intensive course:

• ALL dives are done in open water/ocean – no use of swimming pools during the program
• Experience and certification as a recreational SCUBA diver
• Dive computer operation
• Dive Theory: underwater environment, physics, and physiology (decompression), equipment, diving skills, and dive planning.
• Emphasis placed on dive emergencies involving a commercial harvester

The following prerequisites must be met to attend this course:

• 18 years of age
• Diving Medical approval
• Physically fit
• No fear of water or tight spaces (Claustrophobia is the main cause for failing the course)

Surface Supplied Air Diver (SSA)

This 3 or 4 day program (depending on the number of students) takes a previously certified open water diver and moves them forward to learn the skills to safely use Surface Supplied Diving Equipment. The diver gains all of the knowledge necessary to safely perform commercial harvesting using surface supplied equipment. The training days include learning about SSA equipment, Drysuit maintenance, use of the dive computer, SSA safety drills, conducting dry runs on land, and then moving on to 4 SSA dives in the water. The class sizes are kept small so that each student gets specialized attention.

Certifications earned:

• NItrox Diver Certification
• CPR / Oxygen / First Aid / AED designed specifically for commercial divers (PADI)
• Kirby Morgan Band Mask Operator / User Program (DiveLab)

Subjects / experiences covered during our intensive course:

• Proper use and maintenance of a drysuit
• Knowledge in Nitrox diving using surface supplied equipment
• Dive computer operation
• Divers use the Kirby Morgan Band Mask and learn the proper user maintenance techniques
• Dive Theory review focusing on SSA Diving: Decompression, physics, physiology and equipment
• Minimum of 4 surface supplied air dives: drills, skills, safety, rigging, communications
• Emphasis placed on dive emergencies involving a commercial harvester
• Surface Tender experience helping dress and tend at least 4 divers

The following prerequisites must be met to attend this course:

• Certified as an Open Water diver from a nationally recognized training agency
• Student MUST supply their own DRYSUIT – Contact us for special pricing. If bought through Hoodsport’N Dive the suit and fit are warrantied throughout the program.
  • If a student brings their own DRYSUIT they are responsible for proper operation. A course will not be delayed or re-scheduled in the event the student enters the program with a faulty or improperly fitted suit. Please advise Hoodsport’N Dive if you plan on supplying your own suit. 
• 18 years of age
• Diving medical approval
• Physically fit

Surface Supplied Air Tender Program

This program is specifically designed to train anyone working in a surface supplied diving environment to act as a competent Surface Tender. This is a non-diving course, designed for surface personnel. The student will learn to outfit a surface supplied diver, safely lower them into the water, tend the lines, communicate with the diver, remove them from the water, and remove their equipment.

Certifications earned:

• CPR / Oxygen / First Aid / AED designed specifically for commercial divers
• Kirby Morgan / Dive Lab KMB User certification

Experience with the following techniques:

• Proper use of surface supplied air equipment.
• Diver communication skills using line pulls and electronic means
• Knowledge of SSA Nitrox configurations
• Basic maintenance of the Kirby Morgan Band Mask
• Surface Tender experience – assist with a minimum of 4 SSA dives.

The following prerequisites must be met to attend this course:

• 18 years of age
• Physically fit
• Dedication to the safety of the diver