After an incredible 49 years preparing commercial divers for a wide variety of careers both locally and internationally, Seneca has made the difficult decision to cancel the Underwater Skills program. Applications are no longer being accepted into this program.

We still want you to be a Seneca student. Explore our many programs that lead to hundreds of careers.

About the Program

This rigorous and fast-paced program has been preparing commercial divers for a variety of industry careers for more than 45 years. That’s why contractors continue to contact Seneca looking for skilled graduates to work in offshore construction, salvage, inspection, offshore oil and gas exploration, and production.

In this 35-week program, you will dive to a maximum of 50 metres (165 feet), led by Seneca’s Unrestricted Surface Supplied Supervisors, who have more than 100 years of combined commercial diving experience. Graduates will receive an internationally recognized certificate as an Unrestricted Surface Supplied Diver from the Diver Certification Board of Canada (DCBC).

Skills

Throughout this program you will develop the following skills:

  • commercial diving techniques
  • surface and underwater welding and cutting
  • construction and salvage work
  • underwater inspection and repair work related to the civil and offshore oil industry
  • safety and competently using equipment in open water
  • ability to assess the cause of pressure-related diseases and conditions

Your Career

Graduates of the program can explore the following career options:

  • commercial diver
  • underwater welder
  • underwater construction diver
  • inspector and repair diver

Professional Certification

After completing the program, you will receive an internationally recognized certificate as an Unrestricted Surface Supplied Diver from the Diver Certification Board of Canada (DCBC), along with the following certifications:

  • Diver Certification Board of Canada, Occupational SCUBA to 30 metres
  • Canadian Standards Association, Hyperbaric Chamber Operator Certificate
  • Restricted Radio Operator Certificate (Marine)
  • First Aid, CPR, Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and Oxygen Provider
  • Optional: CWB Under Water Welding
  • Optional: IMCA Diver Medic
  • Optional: Small Vessel Operator Proficiency (SVOP) and Marine Emergency Duties (MED A3)

Certificates issued by the DCBC are recognized by the Australian Diver Accreditation Scheme (ADAS), France, Norway, South Africa, the United Kingdom Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA).

Affiliations/Associations

  • American Welding Society (AWS)
  • Canadian Association of Diving Contractors (CADC)
  • Canadian Standards Association (CSA)
  • Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB)
  • Infrastructure Health & Safety Association (IHSA)
  • Diver Certification Board of Canada (DCBC)
  • International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA)
  • Ontario Ministry of Labour Management Health and Safety Committee
  • Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS)

Videos

Tougher Than It Looks

Follow along with Andrew Younghusband of the Discovery Channel’s Tougher Than It Looks as he trains to become a commercial diver at Seneca under the guidance of lead instructor Aaron Griffin.

Seneca and the Franklin Expedition

Witness how a team from Seneca’s Underwater Skills program trained and prepared Parks Canada marine archeologists to work in the icy waters of the Arctic in order to explore the HMS Erebus.

Daily Planet

Go behind the scenes in the Seneca dive lab at King Campus where a team from the Daily Planet conducts an underwater experiment.