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YachtDiver®

Working as Dive Professional onboard a superyacht.

What training agency certification is preferred onboard large yachts? What else do you need to know?

For those looking to work as Divemaster or Dive Instructor onboard a large yacht (private or charter), you may ask yourself (or others), what are the requirements to apply and be accepted.

Well, there are a few requirements, which I will try to list below, not going (for now) too deep into details.

For all working personnel at sea, besides the standard STCW 2010 training, mandatory (at different depths, position/duty onboard related), and the medical ENG1 or equivalent (medical clearance under the national flag or under Bahamas, Panama, Marshall, etc.), the aspirant sailor must hold certain professional qualifications in order to officially demonstrate his/her theoretical & practical skills in performing a certain job onboard. Another course, introduced in the last few years is Proficiency in Designated Security Duties (PSDS).

For a deckhand, AB Seaman, Yachtmaster, and everything in between, with extra skills in varnishing, special painting, tender driving, sailing, fishing, drone pilot, sometimes even combined with Personal Trainer or Ski Jet Instructor, is almost “a must”.

On some large yachts, hyperbaric chambers, submarines, or helicopters are common “toys”.

Flying Fox

Most of the large yachts are recruiting crew with some “seasons” of experience, but many times, “greenie” are very welcome too. On a “smaller” yacht, is easier for the newcomers to step in and gain experience.

Hodor

Another position that often is found onboard yachts is the Divemaster or Dive Instructor.

Many times, confused, simply because the recruiters (or even the employer) don’t know exactly the difference between the two levels.

 You’ll find very often, a mixed position (job) as “deckhand/divemaster” or “deckhand/dive instructor”, with the remark that in general, 90% of the job is deck related and 10% is diving-related.

For the Divemaster/Dive Instructor, most of the time, you’ll find the required training agency, PADI.

IMHO, 99% of the time, this rule is simply arbitrary and based only on the very high visibility PADI is holding in the scuba market.

Unless the vessel is registered as a “diving center/facility” or the Owner is showing a direct preference for a certain training certification type, there is no solid reason to request a certain agency.

Most of the registered agencies (some with national, others with international coverage) are aligned with the ISO standards which apply to various types of recreational underwater diving training & services. The ISO standards are listed in International Diving Safety Standards Commission.

European Underwater Federation (EUF) & World Recreational Scuba Training Council (WRTC) – are other references used between recreational scuba diving training agencies.

There are other regulatory bodies, which come with some extra layers of advisory and suggestions for making a safer diving environment, such as Rebreather Training Council (RTC) and The Rebreather Education & Safety Association (RESA).

You must keep in mind that there are not two training agency certifications alike.

Each training agency is created based on the founder’s philosophy and vision for approaching the topic.

There is some degree of compatibility between the same level in different training agencies but at the same time, there are differences too, either in theoretical or practical aspects or most of the time, in both. Do your own deep research, don’t believe everything is written in the cloud, look for neutral opinions (if possible), and select what fits best your needs. During your evolution path, go thru different scuba diving training agencies so you can see the academic differences, but remember, the final training flavor is given by your diving instructor.

At the very end, the only way to be ahead of the crowd(ed certified instructors) is you. You need to invest a lot in your own (diving & maritime-related) training and equipment. Just the average… is not enough! Go Tech, go above and beyond!

Working on superyachts or expedition cruise ships is demanding.

Working as Divemaster or Dive Instructor on a superyacht is not the same as working on a liveaboard. Nothing to do! Not in the amount of diving/day/month (if you are looking for numbering) and not in the level of ultra-luxury +6* services provided.

But definitely, the superyachts sector is requiring a very complex package of skills to perform at best in a very (very!) demanding and exigent environment.

Good luck and safe dives!

Costa

(ANDI Technical Instructor Trainer, SDI/TDI/FRTI Instructor, DAN Europe Instructor, DDI Instructor)

Categories
General Scuba & Training YachtDiver®

First Response – be prepared for the unexpected & unwanted moments

At T101TDO®, we take safety very seriously and training in First Response is one of our strong points. We offer a wide range of First Response / First Aid courses under the highest standards and accreditation of two well-known and reputable agencies:

Divers Alert Network Europe & First Response International

The well-known Divers Alert Network is involved World Wide for over 30 years in diving insurance, research, training & education, being a point of reference in the entire diving industry (sport & commercial, military, etc).

Sport – Professional – Club – Family DAN Europe Insurance

Divers Alert Network Europe: accredited by the US Coast Guard, Italian Coast Guard, Finnish Boarder Guard, Italian Red Cross, Italian Carabinieri, Apnea Academy, VIT Germany, WASD Europe, LIFRAS Belgium, NOAA, Association of Diving Contractors International, Swiss Resuscitation Council, etc

DAN Europe Basic Life Support
DAN Europe Automated External Defibrillator
DAN Europe Hazardous Marine Life Injuries
DAN Europe First Aid
DAN Europe Oxygen Administration
DAN Europe NEURO

First Response International is part of the big family

SDI – TDI – ERDI – PFI

which speak by itself about commitment to high-quality standards in training, procedures, safety, and modern educational approach.

First Response International: accredited by

US Coast Guard & OSHA

Workplace CPR/AED
Bloodborne Pathogens
Oxygen Administration
Adult & Child Emergency Care

FRTI Online / eLearning

All courses are ILCOR accredited and are also in conformity with Romanian Law 319 / 2006 .

Extra online support (Zoom/Skype), class theory review, practical hands-on with Demo & Real AED – mannequin – medical & DAN Europe O2 kit, written exams & post-course analyzing & debriefing.

*The First Response courses are compulsory for professional sport SCUBA diving instructors and highly recommended for all divers and non-divers (seamen, athletes, parents, workers, etc).

All certifications are valid for two years after which renewal (refresh course) is required.

These days, knowing basic life support / first aid procedures is not a caprice but a real necessity. From an office to shipyard work, family to outdoor activities, knowing BASIC procedures in providing first aid is extremely important.

T101TDO® is DAN Europe HIRA 2 accredited, both as Operator & Instructor levels.

For inquiries & training, please contact me at: info@t101.ro

Stay safe & dive strong!

Costa

DAN Europe Instructor #187305

FRTI Instructor #15172

Categories
Adventures & Expeditions Scuba & Training YachtDiver®

Remote expedition “must have” for SuperYachts & Expedition-Cruise Ships – part 2

Personal Locator Beacon (PLB)

Following the 1st part (Portable Hyperbaric Chamber), the next recommendation for exploration / explorer vessels running diving or water sport activities in remote areas is Personal Locator Beacon.

As general accepted definition of “remote area” in our maritime sector, the Search & Rescue team is not available right away to assist you. It might take hours or even days in some exceptional situations.

PLB (known also as Emergency Locator Beacon) is a very small device, portable, tough, low cost, which onces activated will indicate your position to the nearby vessels by using a radio AIS (Automatic Identification System) & DSC (Digital Selective Calling) method of digital transmission of your GPS position on Earth.

Valuable equipment for yachtsmen as man overboard or you’ll find it for renting onboard reputable scuba diving liveaboard (as Aggressor Adventures), PLBs is fully worth its investment.

Nautilus Marine Rescue GPS Specifications

AIS Transmit Power1 Watt
AIS Frequency
161.975 and 162.025 MHz
DSC Transmit Power
0.5 Watt
DSC Frequency
156.525 MHz
Messages
Individual Distress Relay, Distress Alert
Environmental Temperature Range
-25°C – +55°C
Waterproof Depth425 feet (130 meter) sea water with dive cap closed/ Splashproof with dive cap open
Dimensions
2.9 x 3.8 x 1.5 inch (75 x 97 x 39 mm)
Weight
4.6 Oz (131g) after inserting two batteries

NautilusLifeline dealer in Romania is SC OmnisMares SRL ( T101-Technical & Diving Ops® Dive Training Center / YachtDiver.EU) and can be online purchased or tested onsite.

updated: November 17, 2023:

Categories
Adventures & Expeditions YachtDiver®

Remote expedition “must have” for SuperYachts & Expedition-Cruise Ships

  1. Portable Hyperbaric Chamber: if your vessel is performing remote diving operations, then this is a number one “must have” onboard, for emergency medical hyperbaric treatments, sport recovery or wellness. To be used by approved & qualified Staff!

T101-Technical & Diving Ops® / YachtDiver.EU / ScubaTech.EU recommendation: AHA-Hyperbarics.

Designed and manufactured in Europe, AHA-Hyperbarics is holding CE certificate according to full quality assurance system directive 93/42/EEC on medical devices (MDD) for the new models of AHA Flex hyperbaric systems & EN ISO 13485:2016 for design and development, manufacture, distribution and service of hyperbaric chambers for hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

The company is partnering with ANDI International in training and expo shows. ANDI International is one of the oldest diving training agency in the World, dedicated mostly to technical (rebreathers, wrecks, caves, mines), technicians and medical / HBOT training sectors, with lots of “firsts” innovative steps. ANDI is member of International Hyperbaric Medical Foundation.

AHA-Hyperbarics is providing qualified training & support for all provided equipment, either at their facility or onsite (onboard your vessel).

For extended information, please contact PROMO Agent: YachtDiver.EU represented by Constantin “Costa” Benedic.

Next, coming soon…

2. Crew training!

YachtDiver® is a dedicated department part of SC OmnisMares SRL (Romanian private registered company), owner of T101-Technical & Diving Ops® Dive Training Center. We are holding real inside experience onboard expedition-cruise ships and very large superyachts therefore we are able to provide premium training and services for your selected Guests, Owners and VVIPs!

YachtDiver.EU