The Holland College Commercial Diving program was recently approved as an associate member of the Association of Diving Contractors International, a non-profit organization that cultivates and promotes the art and science of commercial diving, establishes uniform safe standards for commercial divers, and encourages industry wide observance of these standards.

Established in 1968, ADCI has grown to encompass more than 500 member companies that furnish services or support the conduct of underwater operations. The membership, although primarily representing US companies, also includes companies from 41 other nations, all of which have pledged to comply with the ADCI Consensus Standards for Commercial Diving Operations.

?ADCI is well respected for establishing and maintaining safety standards in the industry,? Commercial Diving instructor Stephen White explained. As an associate member of ADCI, Holland College?s Commercial Diving program is clearly demonstrating our commitment to the promotion and development of diving education and to training our students to be well versed in all recognized standards.?

ADCI has no regulatory jurisdiction, but attempts to ensure that member companies fully comply with national regulations. The ADCI Consensus Standards for Commercial Diving and Underwater Operations has been carefully developed to promote the highest degree of safety, while membership audit and certification card programs help companies to ensure that they are operating at the highest possible levels of safety.

The ADCI Consensus Standards are recognized by both the United States Coast Guard and by OSHA as "meeting or exceeding" U.S. Federal Regulations for the conduct of commercial diving activities. ADCI Certification Cards are recognized throughout the world as being documents that attest to the training and experience level of Commercial Divers and ROV Pilot/Technicians.

For more information about ADCI, visit www.adc-int.org.

In this picture: (L-R) Holland College Commercial Diving students Trent Schmalz and Geoff Pringle leaving the surface in the wet bell during deep dive training using IMCA rated offshore air diving spread. Both divers are using hot water suits and DCIEM surface decompression with oxygen procedures for a 30-minute dive during training in the Bedford Basin, NS recently.