mine clearance diver

[mdimop]

Im currently applying for the role of mine clearance diver, the waiting list correct as of today is till 2021, which the AFCO told me they received on the friday just gone.

I have booked in for my PADI open water course, starting in 2 weeks to try get as much dive experience as possible before I join, can anyone recommend further diving courses that would be relevant and beneficial for me to complete while I wait for entry.

other than the obvious things i can be working towards such as improving my general fitness, practising finning, is there anything else I can use this time to work on, from watching some videos on the role I have seen that they use body measurements while blindfolded to describe and relay information about a mine as part of the tests so I will start to work on this also.

Once you have completed your basic and specialisation training do you have any say in which unit you go to? As I would like to be with either the SDG as they perform most of the EOD or FDU1 which is predominantly a counter terrorism unit, I have read that the first diver to complete the high threat IED course did a tour of afghan, implying there is more that have completed the course? if so how likely is it to be given the opportunity to complete the course, as its something i would like to work towards, obviously my main concern is to get in at the current time but id like to know a little more about what i can expect in the way of job progression.

 

[SONAR-BENDER]

Well done - shows initiative. PADI is better than nothing, however, they do know how to charge to progress through the dive grades. You don't say where you live, obviously if near the coast, the better.
Next thing is join a dive club. Then get diving! Lots.

Here is what I would do in your situation.

Go for a dive medical NOW - you may fail! List of 'diving doctors' on the web)
Get VERY fit, then get fitter.
Get your (very basic) PADI qualification. This does not make you a diver!
Join a local BSAC club (have you got an affiiiation to a Uni that has a club? Some works have clubs too.)
Get working on the BSAC syllabus, where you will learn MUCH more general diving stuff but it will take longer, though it will be free. Read up on all the theory.
Aim to be at least a BSAC Dive Leader, though Advanced would be better, before joining up.
DO NOT FLOUT YOUR SCOOBY DOO QUALIFICATIONS! You will make a world of pain for yourself!
Think about joining NAS (Nautical Archeological Society) where you learn to measure/survey underwater.
Trawl E Bay for kit to begin with.

Anymore advice pm me (BSAC 1st Class and AI, SADS, etc!)

 

[mdimop]

Well done - shows initiative. PADI is better than nothing, however, they do know how to charge to progress through the dive grades. You don't say where you live, obviously if near the coast, the better.
Next thing is join a dive club. Then get diving! Lots.

Here is what I would do in your situation.

Go for a dive medical NOW - you may fail! List of 'diving doctors' on the web)
Get VERY fit, then get fitter.
Get your (very basic) PADI qualification. This does not make you a diver!
Join a local BSAC club (have you got an affiiiation to a Uni that has a club? Some works have clubs too.)
Get working on the BSAC syllabus, where you will learn MUCH more general diving stuff but it will take longer, though it will be free. Read up on all the theory.
Aim to be at least a BSAC Dive Leader, though Advanced would be better, before joining up.
DO NOT FLOUT YOUR SCOOBY DOO QUALIFICATIONS! You will make a world of pain for yourself!
Think about joining NAS (Nautical Archeological Society) where you learn to measure/survey underwater.
Trawl E Bay for kit to begin with.

Anymore advice pm me (BSAC 1st Class and AI, SADS, etc!)

I actually live on an island and there is few wrecks that people dive to near here, ill have to look into some local dive clubs. I dont have any dive experience obviously, but I do have a fair bit of experience being in and on the water and worked as an oyster dredger for a while, I also have a lot of snorkelling experience. so hopefully this should help on my pursuit to become a diver.

thats a good point about the dive medical and something I was a bit nervous about as its out of my control, so will try get one booked soon as possible.

fitness is something I have always worked on and has been a big part of my life and is something I enjoy although I will admit I haven't trained cardio for a while and started again recently and im going to adapt my training to make it more specific for the requirements either way no matter how much I train I expect to be pushed to my limits.

I will find out about a local BSAC club and try get into contact with them tomorrow, I was told on another forum that BSAC is more commercially relevant as well?

I just want to be as prepared as possible so that I have more capacity to learn the things that i cant train for now.

Is there requirements for joining NAS? I do some research and find out some more about it.

Is there any brands to stay away from when it comes to kit? also when it comes to regulators should i go for DIN or yoke?

thanks for the help once I have followed up the points you made, I may have some further questions if its ok to pm you.

 

[RabC]

I hope you’ll get more relevant advice here than on ARRSE, they mean well but they’re all just a bunch of Pongos.... Good luck with you training and application.

 

[SONAR-BENDER]

Go to the Canaries to do your PADI, though there are also BSAC schools there too.

Why? Because you and girl/boy friend can go there for a lovely cheapish holiday and more importantly, you can learn the basic dive skills in warm, clear water. Why is this good? Because it removes several levels of 'minor' problems, like cold water, very poor vis, leaking suit, bad weather etc. You'll get plenty of this once you continue diving and training in the UK - trust me!

Kit. Buy a GOOD mask - the best you can afford. You can buy fins and a cheap pair will do initially. Once you are more experienced, you can get other fins. A snorkel. A VERY cheap snorkel will do, as it is traditional to sacrifice snorkels to the Gods of the seas!

Everything else will be supplied on basic courses, then you can beg or borrow and buy as you progress. A good club will have a supply of kit for trainees. At this stage don't worry about A-clamp or DIN or brand names! But do beware of instructors trying to sell you kit that you 'cannot live without' Diving is an expensive sport and can be a VERY expensive sport.

If my leader knew the value of all the kit in my shed...........