As our Dive Centre expanded there was a need to employ a technician to take on this side of the business as Stewart was involved in diver training seven days a week. Where would we find this person ? Nowhere! We wanted a qualified and competant person - no training courses available and no qualifications. So we decided to develope an in house training scheme - we trained our technician and after a short while another centre offered him a job - this kept happening and we began to see that there was a need for training and qualification in this area not unlike that for a Diving Instructor. So the process began with months of research and hours spent at the computer. Two years later the project was ready to go.
We thought we might run 2 or 3 a year but in the first year we actually ran 7, the next 10 and now we run around 12 - 13 training programmes along with some Cylinder Testing and CASM courses and Coltri Service courses.
Over the last 15 years we have trained around 800 Technicians.
Who are our clients?
The majority are recreational divers who are already involved in the Industry either as dive centre owners,their staff or those wishing to get into the industry.
Then there are Diving Instructors who travel the world and see the potential for employment if they can offer another skill along side that of Instructor or Dive Master.
Other clients are:
HSE Diving Inspectors - they all do our courses as part of their core training
Police Underwater Search Teams
UK Military Dive Technicians both civilian and serving.
At least 30 UAE Military candidates who come to the UK to take our courses.
From overseas dive operations in:
USA, Australia, Maldives, Honduras, Thailand, British Virgin Islands, Egypt, Gibralter (Fire Service), Brunei, Cyprus, Spain and many more.
We have run the courses in:
Dubai for the UAE Special Services
Oman
We have a licenced training provider in Thailand
Testimonials
What do some of our past trainees have to say about our courses?
John Parish - Aquanauts-divecentre
Just wanted to drop you a quick note to say thank you very much for the course, Stewart was great!
I thoroughly enjoyed my stay, the hotel was excellent, the course was informative, well run and fun!
I know that Andy is very much looking forward to coming down soon to do the course also.
Many thanks.
Kindest regards
John Parish
Aquanauts-divecentre.co.uk
Andrew Smythe - June 2008 DSG (MOD) Stafford
Last week I attended the 4 day Cylinder Testers Course at your premises in Morecombe, and I must admit that when driving up the M6 on the Sunday, I was a little wary as to what the next 4 days would bring. Arriving at the venue bright and early on the Monday I was very quickly put at ease, and the method of instruction and course content, ensured that this continued over the following 4 days. I must admit that a comment I made about this being the first course for a long time, that I had to switch my brain on and start thinking, was overheard by Stewart and chuckles of laughter could be heard emanating from his office. That aside the course I thought was excellent, and the 4 days passed extremely quickly, I would without hesitation, strongly recommend its attendance, by anyone associated with Cylinder Testing and Inspection.
Andrew
Mike Zaccheo - October 2007
Just a quick email to let you know how much I enjoyed the course.
I think it is without exception the most worthwhile course I have ever attended, I will not hesitate to recommend it to anyone who is prepared to listen to me.
I hope to be in contact soon the arrange for a copy of CP3, and possibly to book onto the rest of the compressor course.
All the best
John Watson - MOD
Many thanks for a most informative and enjoyable Cylinder Testing training course.
I do find I struggle to stay awake when stuck in the classroom on training courses these days, perhaps its just my age, but no chance of that with Stewart in charge, although I did have the fright of my life when he started the course at nine o'clock on the Tuesday morning with Boyles Law - something I hadn't really touched on since college days......!!
But seriously, I did enjoy the course and found in very helpful (particularly being new in this post) in understanding what my staff do all day.
Andrew Moleta - Antigua
Kind regards and please say thank you once again to Stewart! It's the only course I have ever done in diving that I felt was worthwhile! I'll send him a update on how I am getting on with the servicing!
Doug Fotheringhame - Scotland
I have worked in various locations around the world in my capacity as a mechanical engineer and commercial diver over a period of 25 years, and, as you can imagine, have attended more courses then I care to remember! I'd just like to take this opportunity to say that the 4 day cylinder testing course I attended last week at STATS 2000 run by Stewart Meinert was one of the best I've been on, interesting and well presented throughout, good facilities and his depth and breadth of knowledge which he was only too willing to impart was first class.
Mike Hill - USA
First and most important point to make - the Course is every bit as unique internationally as the staff observe. I have been through the PADI system all the way up to OWSI and I am aiming to become professionally involved in the dive industry. In fact, I already have part-time employment with a store in Northern Virginia The chief Instructor there is also a graduate of the DITC - and now, clearly, head and shoulders above all the other technicians around our region. His expertise is renowned well beyond the US North East and he runs training for a variety of stores and groups - over quite a wide area.
The 10 days that you would devote to training in UK are exceptionally well organised and the Course very effectively structured. It should be - it has been running for many years, with regular review and constant appraisal.
The whole thrust of the package is to prepare a technician, by introducing them to the theory of operation of the various components, then giving supervised, hands-on tuition and practical exercises, to manage analysis and correction of common problems and to service all the technical needs of a typical dive center. A key feature of the training is the on-site availability of all the major equipments and demonstration materials. When you study regulator theory for example - there are several different models, including many older examples to illustrate design principles. Cutaway models are available to study and considerably clarify operating principles and the like. When exceptionally well-illustrated theory sessions are added to hands-on examination of each equipment and then followed up by actual servicing and review, the result is a really solid, comprehensive understanding of the subject.
Every element of the Course is presented logically and coherently. All the training is systematically delivered, with the pace adjusted to suit particular demands. Staff are more than willing to address particular individual interests or to review challenging areas.
The training facilities are first-class and the training materials, which you take away, are beautifully prepared. They include CD ROM reference materials.
If you have concerns that the training may not meet US needs - don't be too worried. Staff have a very good knowledge of US specs and although they cannot deliver a US-specific Course (yet?) - questions on US practice and US-related topics are more than adequately covered.
Costs of training in the UK should be considered in the round. The expense of the Course (when you consider that it provides very highly focused training with abundant use of resources) is comparatively low. Accommodation and subsistence costs are light in the area - which has great natural beauty and would be appealing in its own right. Getting to UK is not hugely expensive if well timed nowadays - there are frequently economy flights available.
Summarizing - I came away from the Course feeling very well trained and prepared for service in any dive center technical operation. (But, bear in mind, time spend under a tech who has more experience is almost certainly the best next step after graduation).
I should not overlook the fact that staff provide on-line (e-mail) support and follow-up when you venture forth to pursue your career - you are not left alone!
The bottom line - attendance on the Course is one of the best things I have done to prepare me for work in the dive industry.
Mike Hill
Sarah - Honduras
Sarah
I just wanted to say thank you for the course over the last couple of weeks. It was very well organised and run and I can't believe how much I have learned in such a short time. I'll defintely be recommending you!
Don't forget to look me up if you're ever in Honduras and I'm sure you'll be hearing from me next year when I start servicing my own kit and have loads of questions!
Thanks again
Sarah
Ian & Victoria
Dear Stewart & Frances,
I write with regard to the STATS 14-day combined DITC/Nitrox GB and Technician/Cylinder Testing Pt II that my business partner (Dr V. Turner) and I attended. I wanted to let you know that we have found the technical knowledge and skills that we attained during these courses to be invaluable.
Furthermore, your own considerable commercial experience provided an interesting insight to the recreational diving industry that can only serve to enhance the commercial awareness of your students and prepare them to take a more holistic, realistic and common sense approach to any commercial activities that they may undertake.
I believe this to such an extent that I would advise absolutely anyone considering a career in the scuba diving industry, whether it is in equipment servicing, manufacturing, retail, charter boat, or even travel, to attend STATS for training. We regularly attend courses (mainly in the scientific realm), and we actually both agreed that your courses are the best that we have attended, in terms of enjoyment, satisfaction, personal development, and value for money.
Best regards,
Ian Todd and Victoria Turner
(proprietors and directors of National Diving College and Appin Scientific Limited)
Anne Marie Walters
I've just spent the last 10 days in Morecambe doing the ASSET Course. If you are thinking of making a living in the Diving Industry, then, invest the money for the 10 days as it is probably the best course I've ever been on. Having spent 12 years in a Technical Workshop, it seemed sensible to be able to repair SCUBA Equipment!
They have an on-site workshop with a cylinder hydraulic test station aswell as various air banks, compressors, safe air tester, Eddy Current tester, measuring equipment etc. The main make of regulators serviced are Coltri. Additionally, there are Apeks & Poseidon available aswell as a huge amount of info on Scubapro etc.
The amount of workshop equipment & special tools, Ist Stage cut aways, 2nd Stage cut aways, inflators, valves.....is impressive. It's not just a Technician course, it's a history and appreciation of diving equipment....it all goes together. The level of Instruction was both excellent and tremendous fun....not a single stone was left unturned!
Anne Marie Walters
Senior Pyrotechnic Technician Physical Special Effects Technician
Pete Tapper - Devon & Cornwall Police
Dear Frances and Stewart
Having just escaped the ravages of the ‘Baghdad of the North West’ a.k.a Morecambe, and arrived home safely 7 hours later in the Devonshire sub tropical region of Plymouth I thought I should write to send you the promised photo but more importantly to extend my sincere thanks to you both for an outstanding 6 days.
Stewart, you will know that it is my intention to retire next year, perhaps never to dive again, who knows? For the past 23 years I have attended countless courses and waded through mountains of legislation just to keep my head above water!!!Just when I’m about to hang up my fins I’m sent to see you for a few days and instantly, many of the mysteries of maintenance and regulations have been wiped away ….how I wish we had met years ago!
In common with the countless hundreds of students before me I was amazed at your depth of knowledge, you’re comprehension of legislation which in truth we lesser mortals never entirely understand, your ability to remember BS numbers (and yet forget Frances’s birthday….) and of course your computer skills of which I am totally in awe. I can’t remember enjoying a course more and moreover, coming away with a renewed confidence in the job I’ve been working at for nearly half a century.
Frances, I’m sorry we never met; I hope some day we will. Thank you so much for all your unseen hard work. If you would care to send me the date of your birthday I will send him a reminder in good time!
In conclusion Stewart, it’s been a great privilege to meet you and to be taught by a maestro, long may you continue. I only wish we could have persuaded our employers to have sent us up to Morecambe for the complete course…perhaps there’s still time….
My very best wishes to you both and hope that one day
