DIVERS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY: VETERAN OWNED & OPERATED SINCE 1968 Vol. 1, Fall 2015 Edition

The Downline: DIT Bi-Annual Newsletter

WWW.DIVERSINSTITUTE.EDU Willy Wilson Retires After 40 Years at DIT! By Nick Crivello, Director of Placement by [Article Author] Willy’s Celebration As a token of our gratitude for his service to On July 2, Divers Institute congratulated our students for all these years, DIT Sylvester “Willy” Wilson on his retirement presented Willy with a replica Mark V hat to after 40 years and 1 day at DIT with a commemorate the many students whose ceremony and BBQ at the school. Featured opportunity to dive the Mark V came under speakers included Phil Newsum, Executive Willy’s tutelage. Director of the ADCI who presented Willy with the ADCI Lifetime Achievement Award Willy’s Canvas Works and Sid Macken, President of the Historical Willy’s future endeavors will continue Willy’s Legacy Diving Society, who presented the Leonard through his business at Willy’s Canvas Works, “The empty chair is what I leave behind along with Greenstone Award. Cindy Manlove Moran, where you can order a new harness or the memories of a 40-year career. Days were good daughter of DIT founder John Manlove snoopy if you ever need one. Give Willy a call and some were not so good, but they all come to an offered some comments in honor of Willy’s at 425-923-7810 or email him at end, as I walk away from a great career. Hopefully I long friendship with the Manlove family and [email protected] to get his was instrumental in the formation of students’ his service to DIT students for generations. production line busy on your behalf. lives. Always lived by the motto of a noble John Paul Johnston, Executive Director of instructor. As you change their lives, so you change DIT and the man, the legend, Willy Wilson the world. Don’t know who said it, but it is how I himself also took the podium. lived in my career.” –Willy Wilson Around 200 students, faculty, alumni, and guests had the chance to wish Willy well and thank him for passing on his knowledge to several generations of new divers. Over his tenure at Divers Institute, Willy has served as Instructor, Admissions, Director of Training, Director of Placement, Director of Surliness, Eternal Knower of Everything, and a few other titles none of us are old enough to remember. THE DOWNLINE: DIT BI-ANNUAL NEWSLETTER | Issue 1 2

attending DIT and the inspiration it provided them Message from Our going forward with their lives. The school has undergone Executive Director significant changes over the years and many of those by John Paul Johnston changes have been precipitated by the feedback As Divers Institute enters its 47th year of we’ve received from our operation, the number, depth of experience Program Advisory Committee and importance of our alumni has been (PAC) members, former highlighted with the recent retirement of graduates, and students Sylvester “Willy” Wilson. Willy was a key currently attending DIT. While member of the DIT staff for 40 years and 1 we enjoy a highly qualified and day. During the festivities surrounding his dedicated staff, it is the input retirement, the school was visited by several from all involved that has made this school the finest alumni who had the privilege of being taught I hope that all of you will come and see the education venue by Willy. new location and bring your memories with worldwide. you. Also, if you’re aware of and in touch In the weeks prior to this milestone event, I with some of your former classmates, please had calls and emails from many of our former Today when I speak to classes preparing to forward their contact information to us so we students expressing their regrets that they’d graduate, one of the key issues I touch on is can reach out to them. be unable to attend but wanted to pass on the requirement to network! The relationships that they have developed while their congratulations and to let Willy know Stay safe! the impact that he had on their training and in school and those that they will develop subsequent success. As we began the event, over time are often the basis for their John Paul I looked around the crowd and was pleased ongoing success in whatever industry they dedicate themselves to. This concept also to see so many of our alumni in attendance. It speaks volumes of the influence Willy had transcends the boundaries of the LEAVING A LEGACY on so many. schoolhouse here in Seattle. Photo above from our recent Oct. 12, 2015 th Throughout the day I spoke with several of As we close in on our 50 Anniversary in graduation day. On behalf of Class 103-15, our long time graduates and it dawned on 2018, it’s important to everyone here at DIT graduate James Yates III, who is known as me what an influence this institution has had that we begin a comprehensive effort to “Sugar Bear” throughout campus, presented the faculty & staff of DIT with a specially made on the lives of those who’ve come to school contact and include everyone who has worked for or graduated from Divers plaque as a Thank You for investing in here and completed their courses. Many of generation after generation of commercial our alumni are the leaders of our diving Institute. This is the first newsletter the divers. This beautiful shellback-style piece is industry and many more are leaders in other school has published and is part of our drive displayed proudly at the school. industries they’ve moved on to. All spoke to to contact and network with our graduates the positive experience they had while globally.

Student Volunteers in Action by Justin Shults, Veteran Services/Admissions Specialist

Several students from Class 105-15 assisted Many thanks to our SCUBA instructor Mike the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance (PSA) with a Hemion for supervising the diving portion of clean-up effort on sections of Salmon Bay on the cleanup! June 13, 2015. The event yielded nearly a half-ton of debris. Members of Class 102-15 “A huge thanks to the Divers Institute of volunteered their time in a second PSA Technology for helping to collect clean-up event on August 8, 2015. Six divers 808 pounds of trash from the in the Inland Diving block of our seven- Arboretum and Portage Bay, including month program braved the muddy waters of Class 102-15 Volunteers the Washington Park Arboretum and giant blocks of Styrofoam, several tires, conducted a two-hour cleanup below the and many beer cans!” WA-520 on-ramp. --Kathryn Davis, Stewardship Coordinator, Puget Soundkeeper Alliance THE DOWNLINE: DIT BI-ANNUAL NEWSLETTER | Issue 1 3

GRADUATES: CHECK THIS OUT! New instructor Steve Coleman (L- “Note:This is not coffee creamer!”) and newly returned instructor Britt Coates (below) are adding their wit, wisdom, and industry experience to the quality curriculum taught by DIT faculty.

New Placement Director: Nick Crivello Alumni looking for placement assistance are encouraged to contact Nick Crivello, our new Top-Notch Training Placement Director. Nick has been in the school’s by Boy Kayona, Director of Training Admissions Department for 6 years before transitioning to this new role. He is excited to help recent grads and seasoned alumni in their new and continuing career pursuits. ACCSC Accreditation New Instructors Always feel free to call DIT and ask for Nick, or use Under our accreditation with the ACCSC This August, we were pleased to have two his direct line at (206) 582-5343, or email him at (Accrediting Commission of Career Schools instructors come on board to add to our [email protected] with any placement and Colleges), we completed a visit with an needs or questions! experienced and skilled instructor team. Educational Specialist in early July. The Specialist was impressed with DIT’s Brand new to DIT is Steve Coleman. Steve is curriculum and program organization, the a Retired U.S. Navy Chief, Hospital quality and expertise of our instructors, and Corpsman, Independent Duty Corpsman, and students’ energy and commitment to their Diving Medical Technician (DMT). With his success in training. She came back with “zero extensive experience in 1st Aid / CPR findings” about the Training Department, instruction and DMT applications, Steve will meaning that DIT is achieving and exceeding be taking over for Larry Gillard in the 1st Aid / our stated training objectives. We’re CPR and HazMat I modules. He recently expecting to receive official notice of our 5- completed a week-long intensive HazMat year accreditation renewal by the end of the Train-the-Trainer course to enhance our Financial Words of Wisdom year. course materials and resources. from Caycee Clark, Director Reclaiming one of our own, Britt Coates has of Financial Aid returned to the instructor team after a 9- Graduates: Remember to keep paying Riser Clamp Project month term of industry work. Britt has been updating his experience on a variety of ships’ your loans! Former students may remember the Riser husbandry, power plant, and nuclear plant Clamp Project used during the Offshore If you are experiencing any kind of hardship which is inland jobs in the Southeast. Britt brings making it difficult for you to make payments¸ reach out module at our previous campus. We’ve to Caycee and her team so they can help. There may be redesigned it for our facilities and alternatives for being able to reduce or temporarily completed the final installation during our postpone payments if necessary. All you need to do is Summer Break call (206) 783-5542 and the Financial Aid team can get this past July. This you on the right track for help. project has been designed to FAST FACTS

replicate conditions common in the offshore industry 88% Employment Rate and challenge our 166 students placed out of 188 available for industry students’ skills on employment from June 2013-May 2014 tasks that they will encounter in the Gulf of Mexico and other offshore job sites. A dedicated team of instructors redesigned, back current practices and fresh perspective Veteran Students built, and planned for several months to on the industry to add to our students’ 42% refresh this component of our training. practical training. 269 veterans of 636 active students from Jan 2013- June 2015 DIVERS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY: VETERAN OWNED & OPERATED SINCE 1968 Vol. 1, Fall 2015 Edition

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Established in 1974, Hydrex has earned a experience are also applicable traits in a new team member. New hires are expected to long-standing reputation as a world leader in Offshore Industry providing professional, reliable, and be competent and prepared to dive innovative repair and maintenance Hydrex provides all our underwater repair immediately from their first day. As Hydrex to the commercial shipping and offshore and maintenance services to the offshore offers repair solutions all over the world, a industries. Our international team of diver- industry as well, including thruster readiness to travel is necessary. A passport technicians regularly mobilizes all around the repair/removal, hull plating repairs, full hull and TWIC card should be obtained prior to globe at short notice to carry out tailor - inspections and NDT, and high quality applying. Applications can be sent to made services to help clients maintain the cleaning of heavy and severe marine growth. [email protected] for consideration. efficiency and productivity of their vessels. Our containerized equipment allows Hydrex Key services include: to respond rapidly to immediate offshore Hydrex Past Operations Magazines needs, allowing us to have our teams on  Thruster Repair and Replacement I highly recommend anyone interested in location within days.  Stern Tube Seal Repair and joining our Hydrex team to review some of Replacement the Hydrex Magazines, which detail past  Propeller Repair and Modification operations, to gains some understand of the  Propeller Cone Fin Installations level of services we provide the industry.  Permanent and Temporary Hull http://www.hydrex.be/magazines Repairs

Student Veterans’ Services by Justin Shults, Veteran Services/Admissions Specialist

After changes in personnel, we’re catching Edmunds Community College have played up with providing expanded avenues to a huge role in reestablishing our Veteran success for our Veteran students, both services program! We’ve managed to stay academically and for their recent transitions busy keeping up with our Veterans, and from Active, Reserve and Guard duty into with the help of external resources school. There is and always will be a strong (VetCorp Navigators/AmeriCorps, local dedication to our Veteran student body—the VFW Service Officers, and VA Health Care majority of services provided through the affiliates), several of our Veterans’ needs Student Veterans Association (SVA) are were met, ranging from temporary housing specific to Veterans; however, student to approval of VA benefits. To provide a activities are open to the entire student body supportive academic experience, we’ll (unless specified otherwise). continue to explore and expand our network to provide for our Veteran students in need. Photo Above: Jade Khatib, former SVA President Along with expanding the DIT’s Veteran chats with a visiting VFW officer during an SVA Services resources, we’ve also reestablished Cookout/Fundraiser held on campus in October. our Student Veterans Association (SVA). Attendance at SVA meetings is consistent, For questions comments or suggestions, especially after a self-funded camping trip to contact Justin at [email protected] Lake Diablo during the Summer Break or (206) 783-5542. (picture at left)! The group recently elected their Executive Council, which will rotate as Congratulations to our current SVA leaders: leaders graduate. The group was registered President: Richard Willis Vice President: Ian Kidney Support from the DIT staff has been with the national Student Veterans of America registry as of September 2015. Secretary: Levi Boland tremendous! Additionally, Veteran Advisors Treasurer: Aaron Cashen from the University of Washington-Bothell Public Affairs: Ryan Olevson and Veterans Training Support Center- THE DOWNLINE: DIT BI-ANNUAL NEWSLETTER | Issue 1 5

Special Feature: DIT Trains to International CSA Standards

by Bruce Banks, DIT Managing Member

I thought you may be interested in how and down these standards into terminal and why we participate in the Canadian enabling objectives that all CSA-compliant Standards Association (CSA) Diving diving schools must use within their curricula. Standards. In 2000, DIT sought out the DIT’s curriculum is compliant with all Z275.5 process of how U.S. divers could gain world- terminal and enabling objectives for the wide, international recognition. I was told by Unrestricted Surface Supplied Diver the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in category.

Great Britain that because there was no U.S. federal authority to oversee the development of standards nor a government MEET ONE OF OUR STUDENTS entity or organization to guarantee certification across the spectrum of diving specialties, that HSE could not recognize U.S. divers unless the required training competencies came from HSE or an HSE- recognized national standard.

I was taken aback as I knew it was the U.S., Agbor, Nigeria through the U.S. Navy, who advanced Agbor in Delta State is in the south central area of modern diving techniques, , Nigeria, approximately 3 hours west of Enugu. and equipage to support offshore diving. (In fact, the North Sea was first opened by U.S. Saturation diving companies). With “hat in hand,” I approached the Canadian National Energy Board (NEB) who had developed standards acceptable to the international community. Back then, NEB was issuing

competency cards, but was in the process of transferring standard development to CSA and concurrently developing a national Raymond Mukolu: oversight body, Certification Board of Canada (DCBC) to certify diver International Student from Nigeria

competency through a vigorous audit and Raymond is from the city of Agbor in the Delta continuous inspection and oversight of State of Nigeria. He is 36 years old and has Nigerian Flag schools who taught to the CSA standards. twin 9-year old boys. He has worked at his The current Nigerian flag was adapted from the winning family’s business, Uniglobe Group of design done by a 23-year old student, Michael Taiwo CSA strongly encourages the development Companies since 2000 as a Public Relations Akinkunmi, for a national competition in 1959. It was and maintenance of its standards through first officially used on October 1, 1960, Nigeria's Officer. One of the subsidiaries of the Independence Day. consensus among its members. Members of company is Industrial Services, which supports the CSA commercial diving committees and the oil and gas industry offshore. This is the subcommittees comprise divers, contractors, side of the company Raymond hopes to return educators, regulators, inspectors (from the to; however, he is open to going to work provinces), and medical and scientific anywhere as long as he is diving. He wants to experts. These members come together share how much he loves his country and that twice a year to provide a review and update Nigeria is blessed to have an abundance of the CSA standards, working throughout the natural resources. He is proud of his culture year through its committees and and feels that the people of Nigeria are family subcommittees. oriented, accommodating, and friendly, and he would encourage anyone to visit. Raymond The heart of the CSA Diving Standards is the added that his experience here at DIT has been Competency of Standard for Diving, wonderful and that DIT is the best place to be. Hyperbaric Chamber, and Remotely Operated He appreciates the friendliness of all the DIT Vehicle Operations, commonly referred to as instructors and staff. Raymond also stated Z275.4, which spells out the competency and that he promises to be a lifelong ambassador performance standards. Its corresponding of DIT! Z275.5, Occupational , breaks THE DOWNLINE: DIT BI-ANNUAL NEWSLETTER | Issue 1 6

Progress on ROV Program Development

by Bill McGilton, ROV Program Developer

Last year, Divers Institute of Technology (DIT) completed a comprehensive study that The second 12 weeks (Phase Two) provided the feasibility of entering the U.S. comprising the ROV-specific technology and Market for Pilot/Technician (ROV-PT) piloting modules, was started in June 2015 Training. In early 2015, a review with the and is about 40% complete. Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) approved DIT’s Training aids and equipment have been application for a 24-week, 912 hour course. identified and contacts have been made with The course will be compliant with both the ROV companies to acquire used gear. International Marine Contractors’ Association (IMCA) and the Canadian DIT Managing Member Bruce Banks stated, Standards Association (CSA). The goal is for “We’re poised to offer a comprehensive ROV the program to begin in the first part of 2016. training program that will provide the ROV industry with entry-level ROV

The first 12 weeks (Phase One) is a basic technicians/pilots.” Bruce added, “We are program consisting of Math, Hydraulics, excited with the prospect of providing the Electrical/Electronics, Machine industry with not only quality initial training, Fundamentals, CPR/, Rigging and but continued advanced training as well.” HazMat. Phase One is now 80% complete. The instructor manuals are available and the Power Point presentations are 80% complete.

The Downline: DIT Bi-Annual Newsletter www.diversinstitute.edu | www.gibill.va.gov

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