Commercial Diving

Commercial Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus (CSCUBA) Diver

About This Course

SSG Eligible (SDF Training Grant, SkillsFuture Credit & PSEA)

Course Reference Number: TGS-2020501190
Funding Validity Period: Till 09 Jun 2025
Course Training Duration: 20 days (120 hrs of practical, 40 hrs of theory including assessment)
Mode of Training: Full-Time

This course will train you to the required competencies certification as a commercial diver for commercial diving operations using Commercial Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus (CSCUBA) (No decompression;  maximum depth 30m).

The training standard is prepared by the Workplace Safety & Health Council (WSHC) in consultation with the Commercial Diving Association Singapore (CDAS). This standard is the minimum acceptable level of commercial diver training and certification required for such diving projects in Singapore. The training and assessment of commercial diver trainees is carried out in accordance with the requirements of the relevant legislations, codes of practices, technical advisories, and guidelines e.g. Workplace Safety and Health Act (WSHA), Code of Practice for Diving at Work (Singapore Standards SS511) and Technical Advisory (TA) for Inland/Inshore Commercial Diving Safety and Health.

To be certified as a CSCUBA commercial diver, the person must have completed all the relevant units for this level of training and certification awarded as outlined in this standard. It is the responsibility of the employer/contractor who engages the occupational divers to ensure the diving personnel are suitably trained and competent for the scope of work being carried out.

This training and certification of commercial divers are the requirements of authorities and industry demand a prescribed degree of training and competence to ensure an adequate degree of safety and performance during occupational diving operations. With this standard, it provides the authorities, clients, and contractors that certified commercial divers have attained the competencies to be employed as commercial divers.

Learning Objectives

This competency standard outlines the minimum requirements that must be achieved to ensure that occupational divers are trained/certified as competent commercial divers. This competency standard details the level of knowledge, theory requirements, and practical application of the diving techniques needed by divers while using Commercial SCUBA (CSCUBA) to a maximum depth of 30m (99fsw) with no decompression diving.

Course Content

CORE Competency Units

  • Legislation and Standards
  • Diving Theory—Physics
  • Diving Theory: Physiology
  • Diving Procedures
  • Underwater and Surface Operational Hazards
  • Documentation and Records

SPECIFIC Competency Units

  • CSCUBA Diving equipment, Systems, Procedures and Practices
  • CSCUBA Practical Training and Assessment Diving

Who Should Attend

Suitable for individual with aspiration to start a commercial diver career.

Class Size

A minimum of 6 candidates are required to start the training.

Career Prospects

  • Inland / Inshore survey / inspection work
  • Aquarium Diving
  • Scientific Diving
  • Archeological Diving
  • Film & Media Diving

Entry Requirements

The trainee must be in possession of a valid certificate of medical fitness to dive (refer to Singapore Standards SS511) issued, after examination, by a doctor experienced in underwater medicine and who is trained and qualified in Underwater Medicine, basic and advanced courses in diving medicine or courses of a similar standard.

  • Be at least 18 years of age.
  • Be a competent swimmer.
  • Be able to add, subtract, multiply and divide whole numbers, decimals and simple fractions
  • Be able to calculate percentages; and transpose and solve simple formulas e.g. gas laws
  • Understands written and verbal communications (using English), and communicate easily with others (Note: This is particularly important where trainees or instructors are of differing nationalities)
  • Holds a certificate of MOM Occupational first aid (including CPR + AED) and Diving First Aid (Diving First Aid may be included in the training / assessment process)
  • Persons holding commercial diver certificates to this Standard may upgrade their diving qualifications by completion of all the remaining modules in this Standard to qualify for SSDE Diver certification.

Working Categories (0 - 30 Metres)

Includes but not limited to Underwater inspection and photography; Environmental management; Scientific Diving; Aquaculture; Aquariums; Underwater film production; Police and emergency services rescue response.
Note: All dives are to be No Decompression diving.

Assessment and Certification

There will be individual assessment such as personal dive record, correct use of CSCUBA diving equipment and many group work activities to encourage teamwork. Candidates are assessed by examinations, written reports and practical assessment.

Upon successful completion and passed the diver training and competency assessment, the delegate will be awarded with KBA Training Centre “Certificate of Completion”.

Note: This Standard does not apply to diving operations conducted within the Offshore Oil & Gas industry.

Course Funding

1. Skills Development Fund (SDF) Training Grant – Up to 70% subsidy (eligibility criteria apply). Absentee Payroll (AP) approved.

*Final grant amount subject to SkillsFuture Singapore Agency (SSG) approval.

Eligibility: The general eligibility criteria are listed as follows:

  • Companies are registered or incorporated in Singapore
  • Supportable cost components (such as Course fees) are fully sponsored by companies
  • Trainees are employees who are either Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents (PR) of Singapore
  • Trainees have achieved at least 75% attendance and have sat for all examinations if the course leads to certification

NETT Fee payment. Company will pay KBAT the unfunded portion of the course fee. The training grant application submitted by the company is first routed to the training organisation for endorsement, before routing to SSG. Training organisation is responsible to submit the claim to SSG upon course completion. Upon approval of the claim, the course fee funding will be disbursed to the training organisation and Absentee Payroll funding, if applicable, will be disbursed to the company.

2. SkillsFuture CreditAll Singaporeans aged 25 and above can use their $500 SkillsFuture Credit from the government to pay for a wide range of approved skills-related courses. Visit the SkillsFuture Credit website (www.skillsfuture.gov.sg) to choose from the courses available on the Training Exchange course directory. Contact us for more information.

3. PSEA (Post-Secondary Education Account). All Singaporeans aged 30 and below can use their PSEA from the government to pay for a wide range of approved skills-related courses. Click here for more information.
* Eligibility criteria apply to all above funding.

Learning Options

Full Time

Full time training

Course Fees

Full Time

Course Fees: SGD$ 7105.00 (exclusive of GST)

For More Information

Please note all courses are provisional until formal confirmation and course joining details are sent.

For more information on upcoming schedule, please contact us.

Testimonials