What our students say...

We have taught students from all over the world, click on the link on the left to read what they said about us or click on the picture(s) below to listen to what our current students have to say about the module...

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Here are some other comments from undergraduates and postgraduates:

"I graduated from Plymouth in 2007 with an Environmental Science degree and my HSE Part 4. The diving course was one of the single most enjoyable and rewarding experiences I had during my degree. It taught key skills such as teamwork and communication.  More importantly, the instructors and staff at the centre have a fantastic sense of humor and were great fun to be around, whilst ensuring that you work and learn in a safe, controlled environment.
Since graduating, the experience has inspired me to make a career in commercial diving. I have continued my training to gain my Part 3 (Surface Supplied) and my Part1 (Surface Supplied Wet Bell).
I have been working as a diver for over two years. My qualifications have allowed me to be involved in large sub-sea projects, such as the construction of offshore wind farms both in Denmark and in the UK and has opened doors to work on oil and gas projects worldwide.
If the diving and marine centre taught up to Part 1, it would have been my first choice for furthering my training.”
Jonathan Crafer BSc (HONS) Environmental Science

"It teaches much more than diving, it teaches teamwork and development of confidence."
Paul, BSc(HONS) Marine Studies

"An intriguing insight into the demanding world of commercial diving. An individual course which demands a lot from the students but which rewards a lot more."
Michael, BEng(HONS) Civil Engineering

"At first it was hard work to get everything right but through diving I gained a lot of knowledge about the underwater world and it helped me in the identification of organisms."
Amy from Luxembourg, BSc(HONS) Marine Biology

"The Diving course has taught me so much, not just about diving but about the sea, boats, weather, knots and humour. The last one may sound strange but it is what you need when you are out at sea when all the elements seem to be against you.
The instructors are fantastic, they work very hard to give us the best and safest course you could ever hope to go on."
Esther from Germany, BSc(HONS) Marine Biology

"I found the course very challenging and very rewarding. From a novice diver I now feel confident everytime I enter the water for work and pleasure. The skills I have learnt will be transferable into the work environment and as a marine biology student, the experience of survey techniques will be useful throughout my studies and into the future. The staff at the Diving Centre are very professional and managed to push our limits while making the course fun. The whole team from admin, maintenance, skippers and instructors are friendly and approachable and very helpful and willing to pass on their experience."
James, BSc(HONS) Marine Biology

"The course was excellent. The time frames were very strict and adhered to. The training staff were excellent and their enthusiasm crossed over to the students. As an experienced diver I found it difficult to change to the HSE standards but the instructors made it easier for me to do so. The instructors are very approachable and made the course easier. All in all the course was exceptionally organised and well executed with great precision. The diving was made enjoyable and the work we did was appreciated and made to feel good. I found the course challenging and enjoyable whilst learning a lot. Very worth while. Many thanks."
Dan, BSc(HONS) Environmental Sciences

"This has been a fantastic course. It has been both challenging and fun. I feel I have gained a great deal of experience and confidence over the past four weeks. Much of this is due to the professionalism and expertise of the staff. Thank you"
Andrew, BSc(HONS) Marine Biology

"I was so nervous at the start of the course as I hadn’t dived for 3 years, but now I know I am going to miss being on this course. It was an amazing course and I can’t believe how much I have learnt about diving and also about my own capabilities – it was a challenge and I loved it. I will miss everybody!"
Helen, BSc(HONS) Applied Marine Sports Science

"As for the diving course, I have to say it was one of the best things I've ever done. I'd also say it was probably one of the most demanding things I ever done as well, but well worth it. Apart from all the diving stuff I learnt, it was also a really great opportunity to build good friendships and learn about proper teamwork. I've found that people are really surprised that I have the HSE qualification, and it certainly sets me apart from other divers on my course when it comes to getting places on dive trips with the scientific people. Some of my fondest Plymouth memories are of the diving course, and I'm sure that the ability to tie 13 knots and two splices underwater with my eyes closed will prove invaluable in the future."
Elizabeth, BSc(HONS) Marine Sciences

"One of the main reasons I chose Plymouth University was that I heard about the HSE professional scuba diving course that you could combine with a research based degree. The course has been without doubt the most enjoyable and challenging part of my degree studies as well as opening up a completely different career path."
"If the university was offering surface supplied courses I would definately sign up. This course allows you to get far more work in the civil engineering / commercial diving industry. I think the University could only benefit from running such a useful course and feel the instructors at coxside would do an amazing job of passing on their vast experience of the diving industry."
"Since doing my HSE professional scuba(part 4) down at coxside I have carried out my honours project with a professional diving team and have started doing some paid commercial work. The big problem is most contractors need surface supplied and to get this qualification is not easy, it would of been amazing if the University had been doing this course during my studies."

Benceredig Fothergill, Marine Sciences

"I graduated in 2002 with a BEng (Hons) in Civil and Coastal Engineering. I worked as a recreational diving instructor and commercial diver for a dive shop in the USA for 7 months. Out there I got into rebreather diving and took over 3000 underwater photographs( including being published twice!!). Since my return to the UK, I have started an MSc in Offshore and Ocean Technology on the Diving and Underwater Technology option, at Cranfield University. My thesis is on rebreather technology, either repetitive scrubber use or redundancy in the rebreather. After graduation I am looking to work offshore as part of the diving operations and inspections in the North Sea or Gulf of Mexico.
So, how did the HSE professional scuba course help and what did I think of it!!!!
I thought the course was really good, the instructors were excellent. It was a really good experience, other than the confidence it gave you working in nil visibility conditions on a variety of different projects, there were the none diving aspects. Teamwork, leadership, communication and all that good stuff!!
As a Civil Engineer the surface supplied would have been ideal, I'll probably end up doing my 3 and 1 in the near future, just the cost is a bit much!

Charlie Marshall Roberts, BEng (HONS) Civil & Coastal Engineering

"I graduated from Plymouth with a Marine Biology degree in 2003. I enjoyed the course immensely and the most valuable training during my 3 years was the HSE Commercial Diving Course. Since graduating I have been able to put my diving techniques into practice in the field and my knowledge to the test. I have worked at the Caribbean Marine Research Centre in the Bahamas as an intern – diving twice a day for nearly 6 weeks. During my time there I tagged juvenile Queen Conch (Strombus gigas) for growth and movement experiments, caught and tagged reef fish in a marine park to determine if the ‘No Fishing’ zone was increasing populations of fish outside of the marine reserve and carried out coral reef health surveys. I am currently working at the University of Mississippi, USA in the National Centre for Natural Products Research. I am working with a researcher who is trying to find if sponges can provide medicines for malaria, AIDS, cancer and tuberculosis. At least two collection trips are organized – the first is to the Bahamas and the second to an island in the Pacific called American Samoa.
My dive training at the Coxside Diving & Marine Centre has been vital in obtaining these two jobs. It has ensured that I dive to my best ability (all my diving techniques and procedures now come naturally), that I am familiar with sampling and survey techniques and that I can work in a professional diving environment knowing that I am mentally equipped for any eventuality. The staff at Coxside have inspired me to use my scientific dive training as part of my job. The HSE professional scuba course allows the University of Plymouth to stand out among other university’s that offer Marine Biology, Civil Engineering and Environmental Science courses. I would definitely recommend completing the HSE professional scuba course offered by the University of Plymouth as part of your degree – the experience was priceless!"

Lucy Harrison, BSc (HONS) Marine Biology

"I graduated in 1995 with a Civil Engineering degree and a HSE part4 (when the current professional HSE scuba course was called that). I went on to further my qualifications (surface supplied diving) at Fort Bovisand later that year. I joined Royal Haskoning in 1996 not realising they had a small team of diving engineers. As soon as they knew I had a part III (surface supplied diving), I was diving almost immediately doing a dual role as a coastal/river engineer and diving engineer simultaneously. I think it helped me get a consulting job as it showed I had more skills to offer.
I believe the University should teach surface supply as it's the industry's minimum standard for engineering and also the University would run a first class safe operation.
You also learn more skills associated with civil engineering from a diving / marine perspective i.e. giving a running commentary over the communications system on what you find during your inspection, supported by video footage. Mainly you could get used to undertaking inspection work as it would be in the civil engineering industry.
For more information about underwater services you can contact me s.haigh@royalhaskoning.com or visit our website www.royalhaskoning.com
Stuart Haigh, BEng (HONS) Civil Engineering