After over three years of development, Commercial Diver Training Ltd, based in the West of England, has successfully achieved accreditation from the health and safety executive (HSE) to conduct all levels of commercial air diver training, from marine biologists to offshore oil rig and wind farm divers.

CDT is the only facility in England and Wales to offer such training, and the only school globally to accommodate students aboard a fully operational dive vessel.

The individuals behind the school, George Gradon and Warren Salliss, already operate a Cornish based inshore construction diving company and undertake subsea operations for the North Sea offshore oil and gas producers.

“All too often the newly trained guys entering industry are completely under prepared for the challenges ahead of them. This is a widely held view both inshore and offshore. We felt a change was long overdue, hence we formed CDT,” says Gradon.

“Our team has been selected from personnel who still work in the real world. Over 75 years of diving experience has gone into the make-up of our programmes. Our facilities are purpose built and ultra high spec, as is our approach to training.”

“We are working divers, who train divers to work” seems to be the CDT motto.

Whilst commercial diver training is expensive (upwards of £1000/week for 4-9 weeks courses) the earning potential for CDT graduates is between £150-£600/day.