The Simple Guide to Commercial Diving is the book for anyone who is considering a career in commercial diving. It’s a no-nonsense exploration of the fascinating world of the professional diver, that tells the straight facts, both good and bad, about what you can expect in this challenging field.
The book covers all aspects of the job starting with your initial training all the way through what’s required to move up to a supervisory position. It’s an ideal guide for anyone who is considering becoming a commercial diver and a great text for divers enrolled in commercial diver training.
Some of the topics covered in this book include the following:
- How to select a commercial diving school
- What skills you will need as a commercial diver
- How to get a job as a diving apprentice or “tender”
- Working as a tender
- Working as a diver
- Personal tools you will need for diving and tending
- How to work with tools underwater
- Rigging for the diver
- Becoming a diving supervisor
- The Simple Guide to Commercial Diving
- 176 pages, 160 illustrations
- ISBN 0-9674305-4-2
- Written by Steven M. Barsky and Bob Christensen
- $29.95 plus shipping and handling
The Simple Guide to Commercial Diving is a straight-talking insight into this unique and challenging industry. Barsky and Christensen have collaborated to produce a book that is beautifully illustrated combined with relevant written experiences from their days in the field. They present a no-nonsense discussion of what it takes to prepare and succeed as a commercial diver.
The book is a “must read” for persons considering entering into commercial diving and a good addition to any diver’s personal library. An added bonus is the many early photographs taken by industry pioneer Bev Morgan not previously published.
As commercial diving educators, we are constantly dealing with students who have diverse backgrounds and impressions of what commercial diving is about.
This book is one tool we can use to help them in this area of the learning process and prepare them for success in the field as well as their individual careers. It opens their eyes to both reality and the larger community of practice of our industry.
- Don Barthelmess, Instructor, Marine Diving Technology, Commercial Diving Program
- at Santa Barbara City College
Reviewed by Don Barthelmess - Instructor, Marine Technology, Santa Barbara City College
Please note that downloads are low-resolution documents. The photos in the book are much sharper.
Christensen & Barsky's The Simple Guide to Commercial Diving - a no-holds-barred book about commercial diving.
I found the book extremely useful and informative in helping make my decision to pursue commercial diving training as a career since I enjoy diving a great deal. Emphasis has been properly placed in this book with safety issues which are very important to the commercial diver. Teamwork is essential as well as being a "people-person" and The Simple Guide to Commercial Diving beautifully demonstrates the importance of this as well.
The illustrations are easy to understand,the book is very reasonable for the price considering all the useful information it contains and it highlights both the pro'sand con's of commercial diving as a career. I constantly find myself rereading sections of the book to refresh what Mr.Christensen and Mr.Barsky would like the reader to understand.
My favorite sections were the True Tales of Commercial Diving, which told the tales of the personal experiences of Mr.Christensen and Mr.Barsky when they were active as commercial divers. Some of the stories were positive and some were negative but it tells the story truthfully. There is danger for a commercial diver in so many areas of the environment and they did safety a huge justice in this book.
I highly recommend The Simple Guide to Commercial Diving to any students wishing to become commercial divers. Check it out..it will answer about 99% of the many questions potential divers may have. It definitely made my choice a worthwhile one!
- Juan C. Morales, student - Commercial Diving Academy
- Jacksonville, Florida
Reviewed by Juan Morales - Student - Commercial Diving Academy, Jacksonville, Florida