Canada Post Mail Publications Agreement Number: 40609661 Magazine The official magazine of the Canadian Association of Diving Contractors CADC Winter 2023-2024 Tiny Drones, Big Splash: Sub-250g Drones as Tools in Commercial Diving Operations Repeat It and Keep It The Depth of Dedication: Seneca’s 50-Year Legacy5 contents ON THE COVER: Dive schools like the Canadian Working Divers Institute, Divers Institute of Technology, and (pictured here) Commercial Divers Institute of Canada are the door to a rewarding career without limit. The question for prospective students, however, is what is the right door to open for them? Photo courtesy of Vern Johnston. UP FRONT 7 A Message from the Interim President of the CADC 9 Notes from the Executive Director of the CADC 12 Why You Should Be a Part of the CADC 13 Become a Member ON THE COVER 17 Schools in Session FEATURE STORIES 25 Tiny Drones, Big Splash: Sub-250g Drones as Tools in Commercial Diving Operations 27 Repeat It and Keep It 29 The Depth of Dedication: Seneca’s 50-Year Legacy CADC MEMBER PROJECT SPOTLIGHT 31 Grey Matters at Expertech Marine IMAGES OF INNOVATION 34 Our Members at Work NEWS 36 CADC Membership Listings 38 Index to Advertisers CADC Magazine Published for: The Canadian Association of Diving Contractors 33 – 5490 Glen Erin Drive Mississauga, Ontario L5M 5R4 Doug Elsey, P.Eng., Executive Director Phone: (905) 542-7410 delsey@cadc.ca www.cadc.ca Printed by: Matrix Group Publishing Inc. 309 Youville Street, Winnipeg, MB R2H 2S9 Toll-free: (866) 999-1299 Toll-free fax: (866) 244-2544 sales@matrixgroupinc.net www.matrixgroupinc.net Canada Post Mail Publications Agreement Number: 40609661 President & CEO Jack Andress Operations Manager Shoshana Weinberg sweinberg@matrixgroupinc.net Senior Publisher Jessica Potter jpotter@matrixgroupinc.net Editor-in-Chief Shannon Savory ssavory@matrixgroupinc.net Editor / Social Media Manager Jenna Collignon / Paul Adair Finance / Administration Lloyd Weinberg, Nathan Redekop accounting@matrixgroupinc.net Director of Circulation & Distribution Lloyd Weinberg distribution@matrixgroupinc.net Sales Manager – Winnipeg Neil Gottfred Sales Manager – Hamilton Jeff Cash Sales Team Leader Colleen Bell Matrix Group Publishing Inc. Account Executives Colleen Bell, Rob Gibson, Jim Hamilton, Scott Hendren, Touhid Khan, Frank Kenyeres, Sandra Kirby, Charlie Langsford, Andrew Lee, Brian MacIntyre, Shaun Minett, Caitlin Nakamura, Vlada Radchenko, Wilma Gray-Rose, Luke Stevens Advertising Design James Robinson Layout & Design Kayti McDonald ©2023 Matrix Group Publishing Inc. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without the prior written permission of the publisher. The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Matrix Group Publishing Inc. Printed in Canada.7 up front Vern Johnston, Interim CADC President 2023 was a busy year for the members of the Canadian Association of Diving Contractors (CADC). One of the common threads of concern for most of our member companies, however, was the availability and retention of personnel. The industry – both domestically and offshore – has been gaining momentum, and the challenges that HR departments have faced this year will undoubtedly continue into 2024. With the closure of Canada’s oldest Commercial Diving School, the Underwater Skills program at Seneca College, these challenges will only grow and many of the crewing challenges will be compounded come spring. CADC member companies can help play a significant role in providing a long-term solution to the shortage of divers in Canada by working to improve their corporate community footprint. By building a relationship with a local technical college and participating in local Career Path seminars, CADC members can have a positive impact on the education of prospective new divers. It is also hopeful that the upcoming Canadian Underwater Conference and Exhibition (CUCE) held in Toronto, Ontario, from March 24–26, 2024, will aggressively market opportunities for prospective new divers to attend. As 2024 rolls in, so to will a new President for the CADC. I encourage everyone to welcome onboard Ryan Anderson of Canpac Marine Services Inc. Ryan has been an active part of the CADC for many years and has graciously agreed to take over the helm. The CADC has gained a tremendous amount of traction over the years, with some battles won and others still left to be won. It is fair to say that the CADC has a strategy and is further developing tactics that will contribute to diver safety in the industry. There have been some amazing past presidents who have all contributed much to this industry, and I’m confident that Ryan will be no different. We also need to take the time to thank outgoing President, Dave Geddes. His contribution to the dive industry through the CADC, as well as his tenure at Seneca College and the CSA has been nothing short of heroic. His has been a career we can all look up to. The CADC has gained a tremendous amount of traction over the years, with some battles won and others still left to be won. It is fair to say that the CADC has a strategy and is further developing tactics that will contribute to diver safety in the industry. A Message from the Interim President of the CADC We were sad in 2023 to learn about the closure of Seneca's Underwater Skills program after 50 years of training the future of this industry. But we were also excited to hear that the story might not be over. Photo courtesy of Doug Elsey.9 up front Doug Elsey, P.Eng. CADC Executive Director PHOTO CREDIT: DougElsey.com It’s a great time to be a Canadian commercial diver. All we have heard from dive and marine contractors over the past year is, ‘Where are the divers?’ and there is definitely a shortage of qualified and competent personnel in the industry right now. There is a lot of work out there, something that will continue into the new year. In addition to an increased demand for new divers, the shortage of qualified commercial diving personnel is also due, in part, to the closure of prominent training programs such as Seneca College’s diving program, as well as two other facilities in the United States. This has significantly contributed to a reduction in the number of new, skilled divers entering the workforce and, while these events have happened over the last two years, we are now feeling its effects. What’s more, the limited number of commercial diving schools across the country with the capacity to take up the slack has further exacerbated the issue and restricted the training opportunities available for aspiring divers. This shortage poses multiple challenges and risks for our industry. As the demand for commercial diving work increases, there are concerns that companies might employ undertrained divers, leading to illegal operations and heightened safety risks, including potentially fatal accidents. The role of the commercial diver is critical for a variety of infrastructure projects, such as water treatment plants, facilities maintenance, nuclear facilities, and new underwater construction, which means their shortage Notes from the Executive Director of the CADC can have widespread economic and operational impacts. Moreover, the necessity for divers to periodically seek recertification – potentially requiring relocation because of the closure of local training centers – adds an additional hurdle, possibly deterring individuals from even pursuing or continuing careers in commercial diving. In this issue This issue of CADC Magazine showcases several Canadian Association of Diving Contractors (CADC) member dive schools that specialize in the skills required to operate around the world. The cover story highlights standout commercial diving schools in Canada. Atlantic Commercial Diving Centre (ACDC) in Prince Edward Island excels in underwater welding and offers state-of- the-art facilities. The Commercial Diving Institute of Canada (CDI), based in British Columbia, is affiliated with heavy civil and offshore sectors, providing internationally recognized training. Arguably Canada’s largest dive school, DiveSafe International is located on Vancouver Island and exceeds both CSA and Diver Certification Board of Canada (DCBC) standards, offering in-ocean training in real-world conditions. Lastly, the Institut Maritime du Québec (IMQ) provides college-level marine sector training and features a variety of natural learning environments and state-of-the-art equipment. Each school has unique offerings, contributing significantly to the training of skilled commercial divers. Our featured CADC member this issue is Expertech Marine. Founded CADC is the glue that binds the diving community across Canada, acting as a unifying body that is able to communicate effectively across Canada and beyond. The CADC acts a watchdog for the industry and keeps a constant eye on regulations. Because of their diligence in monitoring standards and regulations for commercial diving across Canada, the industry has become a much safer place. CADC in 2024! Learn more at www.cadc.ca! Join the ranks to take advantage of these perks! • Weekly or biweekly tender information • Access to www.UnderwaterJOBS.com • Members mail-list server that connects you with all CADC members • Diving insurances exclusive to CADC members • Reduced rates on gear from our associate members • Free subscription to CADC Magazine • And more! Join As the demand for commercial diving work increases, there are concerns that companies might employ undertrained divers, leading to illegal operations and heightened safety risks.Next >