Completing the Application

Question

I have been diving steadily since during the past five years and my certificate is about to expire.  Do you need me to send in all the hours of experience that I sent with my original application as well as my new experience?

Answer

No. We require that you provide only enough information to demonstrate that you have acquired diving experience in two of the previous five years which is appropriate for the certificate for which you are applying. Please see our renewals policy here.

DCBC certification

Question

Who recognizes DCBC certificates?

Answer

DCBC certificates are recognized by the National Energy Board (NEB), the offshore petroleum boards of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia (C-NLOPB and C-NSOPB), as well as by HSE, IMCA and the Australian Diving Accreditation Scheme (ADAS)

Duration of Certificates

Question

I plan on applying for an unrestricted surface supplied diver certificate. How long is the certificate good for, and does it have to be renewed periodically?

Answer

Most certificates have to be renewed every five years. Divers who are newly graduated from an accredited diver training course will receive a certificate with a two-year validity only. As long as they participate in 50 diving activities including 10 logged dives during those two years they can then apply for a five-year certificate.

Fees – Discounted Rates

Question

Will I be paying the rates as listed or do I pay the 50% less amount?

Answer

Divers who will receive a 5-year certificate will pay the full fee as listed. The only divers who receive a 50% discount are those who are newly graduated from an accredited diver training course; they will receive a certificate with a two-year validity only.

Fees – Multiple Certifications

Question

I intend to renew my Unrestricted Surface Supplied Diver certificate along with a SCUBA supervisor endorsement. Do I have to pay a separate fee for each certification?

Answer

Normally you will pay only one fee, the highest. In this case you would pay $330 CAD for the Unrestricted Surface Supplied Diver certificate only; the endorsement is complimentary.

No Formal Training

Question

I have been diving since 1977. In 1981 I took the A.C.U.C. level 1 training course and been diving ever since. In 1985 I started doing some commercial work with various companies. I am 39 years of age and I have never done a commercial diving course. I do however have a couple of log books with records of commercial dives and have lots of time on surface supply air. The log books are stamped and signed by the dive supervisors. What do I need, or what can I do in order to be certified for Unrestricted Surface Supply?

Answer

Because you have formal diver training, even though you did not graduate from an accredited school you will be able to be assessed by an accredited diver training and assessment organization. The assessment will allow you to demonstrate your competency at the level described in the Canadian Standards Association Competency Standard for Diving Operations (Z275.4). If you can demonstrate the required competency the assessment organization may recommend to the DCBC that you be issued a certificate. If you lack competency in any area you may be trained in those competencies.