The 8-month commercial diver training program is located in San Diego, California. Each course is four-weeks long and students participate in two courses per month. Training takes place onsite at the Kearny Mesa campus or offsite at the 10th Avenue Terminal Pier on San Diego Bay.

Training times are: Monday - Thursday from 7am - 3pm (EMT classes include Fridays).

Month 1

PMTX 2110 - Commercial Diving Orientation Course

Introduction to commercial diving and diving science, the various types of commercial diving, the diver’s role in the industry, safety policies, and principles and procedures related to safe diving operations.

PMTX 2120 - Diving Physics and Air Decompression

Covers the physical effects of working underwater on the diver’s body by factors such as air, sound, and light, with detailed emphasis on pressure and temperature and calculation of formulas to solve diving problems related to physics. The effects of gases used in diving, gas laws related to diving and computation of the interactive effects of temperature and pressure, and air decompression theory are included.

Month 2

PMTX 2130 - Medical Aspects of Diving

Initial instruction on basic anatomy and physiology of the body related to diving, particularly the systems affected by hyperbaric or hydrostatic pressure. Learn to recognize, prevent, and provide care for diving related disorders.

PMTX 2140 - Decompression Chambers and Forklift Operator

Instructions in operation of a standard offshore deck decompression chamber and performance of duties of outside tender, inside tender, log keeper, communications operator, and the uses, types, construction, safety, and care of hyperbaric chambers and their ancillary equipment. Students are required to demonstrate competency in safe chamber operation and the ability to make schematic drawings of diving systems and chambers and safely operate a forklift/lift truck.

Month 3

PMTX 2150 / 2155 - Intro to Surface Supplied Diving

Instruction on basic skills of air and mixed gas surface supply light-weight diving, fundamental concepts, terminology, and practical skills of seamanship, line handling, rigging, and underwater work procedures and the fundamentals of line (rope) and wire rope classification, composition, and use. Proper tying and use of knots and their practical application by divers, working load limit (WLL) for rope, wire, and rigging hardware, as well as to calculate the ratio and mechanical advantage of block and tackle are covered.

Month 4

PMTX 2160 – Diving Operations I

Uses surface supply diving to perform work underwater by completing a series of in-water projects to develop underwater work skills and confidence. Students dive, tend, supervise, keep logs of dives, operate radios, and operate deck decompression chambers. Underwater students solve problems in decompression, rigging, and maintenance and are introduced to the use of tools used by divers. Students refine their knowledge and skills of safe use, pre-dive checks, basic pre and post dive maintenance of dive gear, equipment, and air systems.

PMTX 2162 – Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response

The Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) is designed to train students in the clean-up, treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste. The objectives of the OSHA 40-hour HAZWOPER are to meet the federal OSHA HAZWOPER training requirements of 29 CFR 1910.120 for general industry and construction.

Month 5

PMTX 2165 – Diving Operations II

Designed to challenge each student’s ingenuity, motivation, and ability to work together. The class must work together as an operational team in a simulated commercial diving evolution utilizing all of the safety, planning, rigging, and other team and industrial skills they have gained in order to accomplish the assigned project tasks.

Specialty Courses

NDT - PMTX 2205 - Visual Testing I & II

DMT - EMTX 2381 - EMT I

Month 6

PMTX 2170 – Diving Operations III

Designed to build upon the knowledge, skills, and abilities developed through the two previous dive operations courses, students will be challenged with projects that require careful analysis and problem-solving techniques. Working underwater in low viability conditions, students will be tested on their ability to properly communicate the status and condition of the project while maintaining focus on completing the tasks in a safe and effective manner.

Specialty Courses

NDT - PMTX 2210 - Magnetic Particle Testing

DMT - EMTX 2382 - EMT II

Month 7

PMTX 2180 – Rigging Fundamentals

Students will be instructed on several aspects of rigging including using tuggers and crane for mechanical advantage IAW API RP 2D standards. They will be able to identify what rigging is appropriate for performing various rigging tasks. Various practical skills of seamanship, line handling and underwater work procedures and planning. Learn the fundamentals of rope; including natural fiber lines, synthetic rope and wire rope. Students will attend the Kirby Morgan (KM) operator and user course to learn how to rebuild several different Kirby Morgan dive hats and know the functions and importance of all working parts. Umbilical rebuilds will also be performed during this course.

Specialty Courses

NDT - PMTX 2220 - Ultrasonic Testing I

DMT - PMTX 2280 - Advanced Hyperbarics

Month 8

PMTX 2190 – Underwater Cutting and Welding

This is a highly specialized course designed to prepare students to obtain high quality Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) skills both above and below the water line. The course follows the guidelines in accordance with AWS D3.6M 2010 standards. The training is designed to equip students with the skills necessary to produce high quality fillet welds. Students will be introduced to all the relevant theory associated with the SMAW welding process, together with relevant safe working practices. This course emphasizes the performance of high quality, defect-free, wet welds by the student while preparing the student diver/welder to obtain a (3F) vertical welder certification in accordance with the testing and acceptance criteria of AWS D3.6, specifications for underwater welding, class B fillet welds.

Specialty Courses

NDT - PMTX 2230 - Ultrasonic Testing II

DMT - PMTX 2290 - Advanced Diving Medicine