NATIONAL SURFACE SUPPLIED DIVER PROGRAM (NSSD)
This program is coming soon to FCDI. Designed for aspiring divers looking to get out on the water faster and companies seeking advanced certifications for their dive teams, the NSSD Program will offer an additional pathway into commercial diving and workforce development. Stay tuned for updates as we prepare to launch this exciting new training opportunity.
The National Surface Supplied Diver (NSSD) Program at Florida Commercial Diving Institute is an intensive 16/17-week, 625-hour commercial diving training program built around advanced industry standards designed to prepare students for entry-level careers in the commercial diving industry.
This comprehensive program equips students with the practical knowledge, certifications, and hands-on experience needed to perform surface supplied diving, underwater burning and welding, decompression diving, underwater construction, salvage operations, and a wide range of inland and offshore commercial diving tasks.
Students complete practical, real-world training under the supervision of experienced commercial divers who understand the demands of the field. The curriculum is specifically structured to prepare students for immediate employment while ensuring no critical competencies are skipped in the process.
Unlike many programs that rely heavily on tank-based instruction, FCDI emphasizes open-water dive training with dives conducted up to 99 feet, providing students with more realistic field experience and greater confidence before entering the workforce.
Graduates of this program will be qualified for commercial diving opportunities throughout the United States and select international markets.
This program qualifies the holder for job opportunities all over the United States and some International locations.
Designed for Rapid Workforce Entry
The NSSD Program is ideal for:
Individuals looking to enter the commercial diving industry quickly
Students seeking a streamlined but comprehensive dive training pathway
Companies wanting to send employees for advanced certifications and workforce development
Divers looking to gain nationally and internationally recognized credentials
This program is built to get students trained, certified, and workforce-ready as efficiently as possible while maintaining the standards employers expect.
NSSD Course Competencies
Students receive classroom and practical instruction in areas including but not limited to:
Core Diving Operations
- Safe and proper commercial diving procedures
- Hazard identification and risk mitigation
- Emergency preparedness and emergency response
- Hyperbaric operations and chamber diving
- Dive team communication and teamwork
- Inland and offshore diving procedures
Dive Physics & Medical Training
- Diving physics, anatomy, and physiology
- Diving casualty assessment and treatment
- Basic First Aid, CPR, AED, and
- Emergency Oxygen Administration
- United States Navy Treatment Tables
- US Navy and Canadian Decompression Tables and Procedures
Equipment & Operational Training
- Surface-supplied diving equipment maintenance and operation
- Practical use of 11+ dive helmet and band mask systems
- Underwater communications (2-wire, 4-wire, and line signals)
- Underwater video systems
- Wet bells and launch/recovery systems
- Pre-dive, in-water, and post-dive procedures
Underwater Work Skills
- Underwater construction techniques
- Hydraulic and pneumatic underwater tool use
- Underwater burning and welding
- Topside cutting and welding
- Rigging and lift bag operations
- Underwater salvage operations
- Ships husbandry
- Dredging, airlifts, and water jets
Inspection & Specialty Skills
- Underwater inspections
- Non-Destructive Testing (NDT)
- Magnetic Particle Inspection
- Ultrasonic Inspection Techniques
- Mixed gas operational awareness
Certifications Included in the NSSD Course
Our goal is simple: Prepare students for the realities of the field—not just the classroom.
The certifications below may be earned upon successful completion of the NSSD Program and satisfaction of all school and certifying authority requirements.
FCDI National Surface Supplied Diving Diploma
Demonstrates successful completion of the National Surface Supplied Diver Program.
FCDI Qualified Rigging for Commercial Diving Certification
Practical rigging instruction used throughout the commercial diving industry.
Kirby Morgan Hat User / Operator Certification
Issued by Kirby Morgan for proper helmet and band mask operation and maintenance.
DAN First Aid / CPR / AED / Emergency Oxygen Provider
Emergency response certifications issued through Divers Alert Network.
FCDI Job Safety Analysis (JSA) / Job Hazard Analysis (JHA)
Training in hazard recognition and mitigation for dive operations.
FCDI Basic Offshore Survival Training Certification
Provides offshore situational awareness and safety fundamentals.
FCDI Topside Welding for Commercial Divers Certification
Basic welding fundamentals and practical applications.
FCDI Underwater Welding for Commercial Divers Certification
Training in underwater burning/welding safety and practical application.
FCDI Non-Destructive Testing Certification
Includes training in:
- Level I Liquid Penetrant Testing
- Level II Magnetic Particle Inspection