Going Dutch is a demanding task - Underwater Contractor Magazine

The Royal Engineering facility's custom built barge, "probably the best in the world".
Going Dutch is a demanding task
On a return visit to Holland's national diving centre, UCI's Michael Cocks witnesses what could be one of the most thorough selection processes in the world.

In the March/April 2003 edition of UCI I wrote about my visit to the Royal Engineering facility in Holland. Having dived towards the end of a course, I had asked if it would be possible for me to return to see how its civilian students were chosen. With only three courses a year, and half of the places usually taken by Royal Engineer divers, I knew it would be a hard task for non-army students to be accepted for training.
In my article I said that I had been greatly impressed by the Centre's custom-built training barge, which is probably the best in the world. On this return visit, I was equally impressed by the way in which students are selected.
Before being allowed on the day-long aptitude session, students' application forms are first vetted by the executive director, Sijtsche Zwiers, to see if they have a sufficient level of practical technical training or experience. They also have to pass a diving medical with a military doctor.

Tests

Course applicants prepare to undergo tests in the four-metre pool.

I had not realised before arriving at the Royal Engineering Centre that I would be required to take part in some of the tests. I did not, however, attempt the Cooper Test, which consists of having to run 2.75 kilometres in less than 12 minutes. It was then time for the 11 applicants, including one lady, to do some swimming tests. They had to hold their breath for one minute, swim in a blackened mask across the floor of the four-metre pool and retrieve and clear a mask.
The students then had to don a scuba set. I was told that is was usual for about half of the applicants to have had no previous diving experience. The students were given four tasks to complete, each in 10 minutes, using a crazed mask to make it hard to see. During the tasks there were four divers and two instructors in the water at any one time.

A potential student is given 10 minutes to saw through a piece of wood.

The first task was to assemble a flange pipe. Then, using a completely blackened mask, nuts and bolts had to be put into a structure in a certain order. Next came the task of sawing a lump of wood. Finally, three pieces of wood had to be nailed together.
Royal Engineer instructors continuously assess students during the tasks. Needless to say, not being good with my hands and not having used scuba equipment for some time, I did not do particularly well - I was also 50 years older than the youngest applicant. But it did give me a clear insight into how thoroughly potential students are tested.

Interviewed
Applicants are also interviewed by the director and assessed as to skills and determination to become a commercial diver. Usually a commercial diving company representative sits in on the interview. Approximately two out of three applicants are successful - some have to come back to do certain tests again and they are allowed to "resit" the whole process again once.
This is one of the most thorough selection processes I have come across on my travels round the world and contrasts strongly with some schools, where the only requirement seems to be an ability to sign a cheque. I have recently spoken to one failed student at such a school. He had never dived before and his assessment consisted of a 10-minute dive in a band mask, sitting at the bottom of some steps.

Sijtsche Zwiers (left) and Royal Engineer instructors assess the applicants for suitability.

Regularly
It was good to be back with the Dutch Royal Engineers; most of the instructors I had met on my previous visit. They serve for three years, and can usually get another term. While there, they spend a fortnight working on a commercial diving job. They regularly dive with the students and, while I was there, I was able to observe a course diving off the excellent barge which involved staying in the water for two hours air-lifting and assembling a bridge. I hope to be invited back for this section of the course one day.
I feel I learn a lot about commercial diver training from my overseas visits and on this trip I could not have been more impressed on the way potential civilian divers, who usually make up half of a course of twelve, are selected.
.Details - Ms Sijtsche Zwiers, Nattionaal Duikcentrum, Buitenhofdreef 280, 2625, RE Delft, The Netherlands, Tel: 0031 (0)15 251 2020, Website: www.ndc.nl