2005 Catalog
(web version, with bookmarks and other hyperlinks)

Welcome to the
International Diving Institute.

We Train the World's Divers.™
 

This catalog, with its programs, policies and requirements, represents the official publication of the International Diving Institute. Students enrolling in the Institute are subject to these provisions and should read this catalog carefully.  Failure to read this catalog does not excuse students from following the Institute's rules and regulations. If there is an inconsistency between the web version and the printed version of this catalog the printed version shall be considered correct.

888-SAT-DIVE (728-3483) toll free (for initial calls only)

Phone: 843-821-0001

Fax: 843-821-9933
 

IDI Corporate & Retail
206B East 5th North Street
Summerville SC 29483 USA

IDI Diver Training Facility
1400 Pier Side Street Building 190

North Charleston SC 29405 USA

               www.internationaldivinginstitute.com
               www.internationaldivinginstitute.net

               www.internationaldivinginstitute.org

© Copyright 2005 by International Diving Institute LLC for composition and compilation, all rights reserved.

 Mission Statement

The Institute's mission is to provide and prepare the graduates of IDI for a career in the commercial diving industry as entry-level divers/tenders who excel in knowledge, skills and safety. The Institute strives to accomplish this mission by setting comprehensive criteria and high standards for quality learning that meet the diving industry expectations.

The faculty consists of experienced personnel from the diving industry inland and offshore; The North Sea; Asia and the Gulf of Mexico.

The Institute is aware of its responsibilities to provide the highest standards of safety, and the Institute has chosen to have a close relationship with the diving industry, in the best interest of the students to update all the safety guidelines.

The Association of Diving Contractors International (ADCI), the National Association of Scuba Educators (NASE), and the Sea Research Society recognize International Diving Institute (IDI).  The Institute trains to the Standards published by the Association of Commercial Diving Educators (ACDE) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). 

 General Information

 Facilities
The corporate office and retail shop, located at 206 B East 5^th North Street, Summerville, South Carolina, is a 6,000 square ft. facility providing academic classrooms, a library, and administrative offices.

The main campus and dive site, located at 1400 Pier Side Street, North Charleston, South Carolina, consists of a 21,000 square ft. area on the Cooper River. This facility also houses a fully functional hyperbaric chamber, and both topside and underwater welding and burning stations.  
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 Memberships

The International Diving Institute is a member of the:

Association of Diving Contractors International (ADC)

5206 FM 1960 West, Ste. 202

Houston, TX 77069

281-893-8388

 Affiliations  

Trident Technical College

7000 Rivers Avenue

North Charleston, SC 29406

NASE Wordwide (NASE/WASI)

360 South Fort Lane, Ste. 107

Layton, UT 84041

801-363-9274

                Sea Research Society

                1600 Meeting St.

                Charleston, SC 29405

                843-532-8222

 Licensure

IDI is licensed by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education, located at 1333 Main Street, Suite 200, Columbia, SC 29201. The phone number is (803)-737-2260. Licensure indicates only that minimum standards have been met; it is not an endorsement or guarantee of quality.

 Program Assessment and Verification of Training

In order to ensure compliance with our Mission Statement we utilize an external organization to assess and verify the competency of our students and staff and further to audit our training programs.  This external organization is:

· ADCI (Association of Diving Contractors International)

 Hours of Operation

Main Campus and Dive Site

Monday - Friday                  07:00am - 05:00pm

Saturday                                08:00am - 12:00pm

Corporate Office and Retail

Tuesday - Friday                 10:00am - 06:00pm

Saturday                               10:00am - 05:00pm

 Start and End Class Dates

Classes will begin on the first Monday of the month and will last 16 weeks. There will be no new classes starting in December.

See insert for specific dates.             
                               

 Student Holidays   

New Years Day                             January 1, 2005

Good Friday                                  March 25, 2005

Memorial Day                               May 30, 2005

Independence Day                      July 4, 2005

Labor Day                                     September 5, 2005

Veterans Day                                November 11, 2005

Thanksgiving Day                       November 24 & 25, 2005

 General Policies

DISCLAIMER: The International Diving Institute assumes no responsibility for any consequences that may arise from a student entering into a relationship with an instructor / employee outside of school activities.

 Sexual Harassment   

The International Diving Institute strives to maintain an academic and work environment that protects the dignity and promotes the mutual respect of all students and employees. In compliance with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, sexual harassment of students or employees will not be tolerated.

 Accuracy Policy

Although the editor and publisher of this catalog have made every reasonable effort to attain factual accuracy, no responsibility is assumed for editorial, clerical or printing errors.

 Discrimination  

International Diving Institute does not discriminate in admissions or employment on the basis of race, gender, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion or disability. We are in compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. 

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 Admissions

 Physical Attributes and Aptitude

The work done by commercial divers is very demanding. It requires physical and psychological endurance. Students seeking admission should be mechanically adept, hard working and responsible.
 

 Admission Requirements and Procedures

An applicant must

1)       Be 18 years or older.

2)      Schedule an interview with program faculty in order to review student's compliance with admission requirements. Interviews may be conducted by phone for students outside of South Carolina.  Call 843-821-0001 for an appointment.

3)      Complete the official International Diving Institute application/enrollment form. This may be obtained by visiting/contacting the admissions office.

4)       Sign release and waiver of liability form.

5)       Provide copies of current driver's license, birth certificate and social security card.

6)       Submit official transcripts demonstrating high school graduation, GED or equivalent.

7)       Submit to a formal background check with law enforcement agencies.

8)       Submit to drug testing prior to admission and randomly throughout the program.

9)      Undergo an approved physical examination by a licensed physician recognized by IDI's Medical Director within 30 days of the start date. (approximately $300.00) 

              10)    Submit to a US Navy pressure tolerance test.

Disqualifying Conditions

According to ADC, a person having any of the following conditions, as determined by a physician's examination shall be disqualified from engaging in diving or other hyperbaric activities.

• History of seizure disorder other than early childhood febrile (high fever) conditions.

• Cystic or cavitary disease of the lungs, significant obstructive or restrictive lung disease, or recurrent pneumothorax

• Chronic inability to equalize sinus and middle ear pressure

• Significant central or peripheral nervous system disease or impairment

• Chronic alcoholism, drug abuse, or history of psychosis

• Significant hemoglobinpathies

• Significant malignacies

• Grossly impaired hearing

• Significant osteonecrosis

• Chronic conditions requiring continuous control by medication

• Pregnancy

 It is recommended but not required that students have

                1)       Open water certification by a recognized certification agency.
                2)     Personal medical insurance.

 International students

International students are required to meet the same admission requirements as U.S. citizens.

International students must also:

1)       Have a valid U.S. Visa for studying in the U.S.A.

2)       Have transcripts accompanied by certified translations.

3)      Provide financial documentation that they can pay tuition and living expenses in US currency while enrolled in the Institute.

4)       Show proof of medical insurance.

Important: All the above requirements will be fulfilled at the student's expense.

 Tuition and Fees
                                                                                                           current              effective January 2006

                                                                                                                                           (Go to Catalog Index)
 Financial Aid

Financial Aid (in the form of loans) is available for those who qualify.  Students who require financial aid should contact the office for required paper work.

 Student Conduct

 Safety Code

The safety of the staff and students must be the primary concern throughout all school activities. The following Safety Code requirements will be strictly enforced. Failure to comply with safety requirements and instructions will be grounds for disciplinary action.

 Medical Conditions

A student who cancels or takes a leave of absence for medical reasons must have documentation from a physician. The student must also have a release from a physician to return to class. The Institute's physician will give final release stating the student is fit for diving. This will be done at the student's expense. If the student is not able to dive for five consecutive days for medical reasons, the Institute, at its sole determination, will have to evaluate whether the student can continue with their class or be rolled back to the next available class.

 Attendance Policy
Students are expected to attend all classes and practical training.

 Absences:   A student with more than four (4) unexcused absences a month will not be awarded credit for the class.

 Tardiness:  Up to 15 minutes will be considered tardy, 15 minutes or more the student will be considered absent for the day. If the student is tardy three (3) times in one month it will be considered one (1) absence.

 Makeup work:  Any work missed must be made up within the next four weeks.

 Readmission:  Students who have left the program for any reason and desire to return must reapply and submit a letter requesting readmission.  If the student has taken the midterm and passed he/she can reenter the program within 3 months without retesting academically. If its been longer than three months, the student will have to pass a pre-assessment test. If the student fails the midterm, he/she will have to restart the program at his/her own expense. If a student reapplies after one year it will be considered a new application and new application fees will apply. If the student was dismissed from the program for violation of the drug/alcohol policy, he/she must provide proof of counseling/rehab along with the letter for readmission.

 Student Complaints

Students are encouraged to first discuss their concerns with the faculty and owners of the Institute. Unresolved issues may be addressed with the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education.

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 Academic Policies

 Graduation Requirements

Upon satisfactory completion of all course material, the student will be awarded a Certificate for Air/Mixed Gas Surface Supplied Diver. Additionally, students will receive a certificate for each advanced class successfully completed.

 Grading *

The student will be evaluated in both academic and practical aspects of the course.

Each section must be successfully completed with a score of 75 or more prior to advancement to the next section in the program. The student may be allowed to retest, however the grades will be combined and the student must average a 75 or better. The students will not be allowed to retest on the midterm and final exam. If the student fails to maintain a 75, he/she will be rolled back to the next available class. If this occurs, the student will be charged for the additional prorated tuition and housing.

*VA Students: Must sign standard of progress addendum.

 Grades will be assigned as follows

 Ronn Vann,   (contract instructor)
 Welding Instructor, Classes held at Trident Technical College 
Ronald L. Vann is the Coordinator, Welding, at Trident Technical College (http://www.tridenttech.edu/) located in North Charleston, South Carolina. He teaches the above water welding classes for IDI. A.O.T., Vocational Technical Education, Trident Technical College, B.S., Vocational Education, Southern Illinois University, M.H.R.D., Clemson University, AWS CWI/CWE.

                                                                                                                                           (Go to Catalog Index)