Hey divers Time for a new wetty jacket and all the good ones here in Aus have hoods on them. Last few I’ve just chopped them with scissors, but wondering if there are any tricks for a neater seam/cut eg hot knife?? Or neoprene tape etc… what do you guys do?

Company: K Subsea Group Location: Nigeria ​ K Subsea is building its Air Diving team for upcoming offshore scopes in Nigeria. They are looking to connect early with experienced personnel open to opportunities in the West Africa region. ​ Roles Needed: -​ Air Dive Superintendent ​- Air Dive Supervisor ​- Air Diver How to Apply: Email: recruitment.bn@ksubsea-group.com Details: Send your CV, availability, and expected rate. ​ This is a proactive recruitment drive for a major regional expansion in West Africa. If you have solid offshore experience and are interested in the Nigerian sector, get your details in now to be part of the team-building phase. I would say this would be particularly interesting for the South Africa crew here or those looking for a start offshore.

So I'm wanting to step outside the US to work. Specifically South Africa or Australia. I have a family and specialize in Marine Construction. Anyone American Divers have any experience navigating this transition? I've looked into the DCBC - Adas crossover and understand it, but after that I'm alittle confused with the citizenship part for Australia and getting the work visa. As for South Africa I wasn't able to come up with a solid route of getting in. All information is welcomed.

Anonymous submission — real question from a community member via DM. The situation: 4 years diving, last 2 as a permanent diver with the same small company. All offshore certs in hand but no luck landing offshore work. Maxed out on job variety at current employer — lots of shipping experience, zero construction. Considering going freelance locally to diversify experience and grow the network, but worried about the financial hit. My take: There are two sides to this coin. Option A — Stay put, grind the outreach. Keep the regular paycheck while cold-calling and emailing every offshore dive company known to man, local or not. Safe play, but only worth it if there's a genuine growth pathway where you are. If you're already the ceiling at that company, you're just treading water. Option B — Start shopping around. If you've genuinely exhausted every role available and the company has no interest in growing, that's a sign. Stagnation is career death in this industry. My advice — don't leave until something else is lined up and you've got a decent financial cushion behind you. Make enquiries while you're still employed. See what's out there. If an opportunity presents itself, assess it for longevity — if it looks like it will open more doors than the ones you're closing, take it. Just make sure you leave without burning bridges. Small industry, long memory. On building your network: Don't just fire off emails into the void. Take a trip, go door knocking. Meet people face to face. Meaningful connections beat a hundred cold emails — when a slot opens up, they'll think of the bloke they actually spoke to. From experience - call ahead of time to let them know you're coming. On getting offshore experience on your CV: If you're struggling to break out, look at the Middle East. It's one of the best places to get a foot in the door offshore and stack real experience. Right now there are gaps that need filling due to the current situation, so the barrier to entry is lower than usual. Get some runs on the board, build the CV, and the doors open up from there.

If you've been working in the industry a while, you will understand this. I ran into it today. You’re chatting with another diver, you know they’ve got a lead on a project, and you want that contact email—but you can feel the hesitation, they're not forthcoming. The reality? For most divers, self-preservation is the priority. Nobody wants to hand over a golden ticket only to watch someone else take their slot. Usually, a diver will only cough up a contact when two things align: 1. Zero Risk: They’ve already secured their spot. 2. The Respect Factor: They actually want to work with you. If you want to navigate this without the "social tax" or awkwardness, try this two-step tactical approach: 1. Dance Around the Jugular Before asking for the info, ask about their status first: "Have you been in touch with [XYZ Company] about getting a slot on this one?" - If the answer is YES: They’re already in the system. Go straight for the ask. "Nice. Do you have a direct email for the Super or the crewing coordinator you could flick my way?" - If the answer is NO (or "Still waiting"): This is where the tension lives. Don't push it. 2.Down the Line Play If they haven’t secured their spot yet, take the pressure off: "Fair play. Once you’re officially onboard and settled, would you mind sending that email address through? I’d keen to get my CV on the pile." You're at the will of the gods there but bound to get a straight up answer. Yes or no - follow up with them in a month: ''How's that project going? Need any more guys out there?'' The Bottom Line: Networking in this industry doesn't have to be taboo, but it does require reading the room. Respect the fact that everyone is looking out for number one until their contract is signed. Once they’re safe, most good hands are happy to pull the next person up, especially if they're known.