[Old Man Dan]

Hey Matt,

Brit-tech's advice is dead-on right.

I worked in the offshore oil industry for about 6 years, primarily in the Gulf of Mexico and the Bay of Campeche. I also did a fair amount of freelance work on the East Coast, mostly power plant work and commercial dock construction and rehabilitation.

I went to what was then called the "Commercial Dive Center" in Wilmington, California (now called "College of Oceaneering"), and got very good training there. My best friend went to the Ocean Corporation in Houston, Texas; the training was comparable.

It would be worth looking into the passport situation if you thought you might want to get your training in the States. I can tell you there's currently a high demand for divers in the Gulf of Mexico, due to the damage from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and due to high oil prices spurring new exploration and production. One of my buddies in my spearfishing club does mostly brownwater, coastal work -- salvage, commercial dock construction, etc.; he's been ridiculously busy over the last few years.

One thing that certainly helps is having a trade, like diesel or hydraulics mechanics, or welding (welding was my trade). Obviously, there's lots of equipment involved in operating and maintaining a dive station, and you don't always have the luxury of having a technician around that can troubleshoot a problem. But, having a trade is by no means a necessity, and don't let that hold you back.

Best of luck to you in whatever you decide to do; please keep us posted.

Regards,
Dan