Our water-logged planet is aptly named because "Earth" is so precious. There are many unsung heroes performing minor miracles in our oceans and waterways
on a daily basis and the instructors at the King Campus of Seneca College can take some credit for that.

Underwater Skills is a two-semester program taught at the college, which has not only been going strong but growing in popularity over the past 37 years. It's one of only five major commercial dive training centres in the country which trains those
same heroes who perform incredible feats, whether a few feet down, or hundreds of feet below the surface.

Veteran diver and instructor Dave Geddes, Seneca's program director, is proud to have been part of Canada's dive history. In fact, he helped shape it.

Seneca created the program in 1973. Prior to that, the industry was dominated by military and ex-navy divers and there was little in the way of universal safety standards or regulations in place. Geddes came aboard on the ground floor and has never looked back.

The 34-week, two-semester program is based on competencies established by the Diver Certification Board of Canada, very high standards recognized the world over. Geddes himself sits on the board, a prestigious honour indeed.

The course is so popular there's a waiting list, but Geddes says they don't want to double intake for fear of flooding the market - literally. Of the 45 or so annual participants, roughly 33 graduate, pointing to the program's challenging components. "It's not a walk in the park," Geddes says.

Students entering the program are asked to come armed with their sport diving certification, so they're at least somewhat familiar with the often spooky underwater environment.

The largely male contingent is attracted by stories of big money on off-shore oil rigs - the stuff movies are made of. Realistically, though, Geddes notes there's nothing glamorous about the often-dangerous work. Geddes points out it's becoming a very safe industry with a great safety record.

There's no shortage of work in many industries for qualified divers, including construction, seafood, aquaculture, gas fields in Lake Erie and yes, offshore oil rigs worldwide. The demand, he points out, is "extremely high," largely because the experienced divers are aging, opening up more opportunities. Projects for commercial divers include bridge and dock inspections and repairs; pipline work; Great Lakes locks systems; the containment pools at nuclear plants; water treatment facilities, etc.

The course is evenly split between academic instruction and practical dive time at Lake Seneca, Lake Simcoe and other nearby lakes. Lake Seneca, Geddes says, is a mirky, silty kettle lake on the King Campus. The lack of visibility is a factor, since divers need to develop a lot of skills working by feel alone. Students learn a wide variety of life skills, including worksite safety protocols, rigging, use of many types
of specialized tools, handling explosives, cutting and yes, underwater welding.

Despite the complexities of the program, and use of expensive equipment, tuition is
$3,000, which is "dirt cheap," according to Geddes. Many of the 35 different varieties of dive helmets cost more than that. Many other schools and private training centres charge as much as $30,000 for their programs. Seneca offers more "bang for the buck."

One of the keys to the success of the program is the quality of talented instructors, most of whom are still actively involved in commercial diving over the summer - "valuable professional development for teachers."

Seneca also offers a range of specialty instruction, aside from this particular course. Geddes says they've earned quite a solid reputation for providing dive and
scuba training for paramedics and police officers.

Graduates receive board certification and must recertify every five years, logging the appropriate dive hours.

Geddes praises Canadian involvement in the diving industry and with the longest coastline of any country in the world, our nation offers a cornucopia of dive opportunities. With zero dive fatalities, our country is also one of the safest. Geddes noted in places like the Gulf of Mexico, 6-7 diving fatalities are year is common. Canada also boasts countless massive harbours, the Great Lakes and many waterfront industries that rely on qualified dive professionals.

Students at Seneca dive from September through June, meaning they can be found under the ice in mid-February.

Underwater Skills is aptly named. Graduates of Seneca's program enter the underwater world to compete with the best around the globe.