Ally

Queensland's workplace ombudsman has launched an investigation into claims young scuba-diving trainees are working for as little as $30 a day.

The investigation will also probe claims dive industry trainees are being put in charge of scuba-diving customers and that interns are working 10-hour days for meagre wages.

Workplace Rights Ombudsman Don Brown said the industry would be in need of "serious attention" if the complaints were found to be true.

"I have received allegations that some trainees are paid as little as $30 for a 10-hour day," Mr Brown said.

"In one case in particular a Cairns dive operator engaged 'dive industry internees' for $30 a day, supplemented by on-site training.

"A condition of the the agreement was that 'public holidays, Saturdays, Sundays and overtime are not granted ... they are provided for in your allowances and courses'."

Mr Brown said the investigation would begin in Cairns on December 10 with a series of interviews with employers and workers during the week.

The Queensland Workplace Rights Hotline can be contacted on 1300 737 841.

(Brisbane Times)

MgicTwnger

This is why I have never wanted to become an instructor. The shops push you to become a divemaster/assistant instructor/instructor. You start off as free help and work you way up to underpaid. And the shop profits all along the way.
The dangerous part is that many of these people are sadly under qualified even though they have the required certifications. I have dove with a lot of these folks and have seen some mistakes that are beyond belief.

And don't get me started about inadequate classes.

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I am not the one who needs mental help. I just need to vent.

Ally

Well, that would be useful for those who are thinking about learning to dive. As with everything there are 'cowboy outfits' and many would-be divers are not aware of what to look for...and, more importantly, what to avoid.

MgicTwnger

The problem is that these are not cowboy outfits, but rather mainstream shops. The dive industry is a huge money-making machine with interconnected shops, resorts, manufactures, you name it. More divers = more $$$. The only advice I can give potential divers is to ask experienced divers who they would recommend. It all comes down to the instructor, not the certifying agency or shop. As long as the instructor teaches what is required by the agency, he/she can go beyond that point and cover things that are vital but not required.

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I am not the one who needs mental help. I just need to vent.

Ally

So just how regulated is diving, Ken?

To an outsider, it looks like there is very little in the way of regulation or legislation in place to stop the sort of thing happening as per the article. Diving is potentially lethal if not done in the correct manner with the right training...are there no governing bodies who set down legal minimums for training etc, or is it just a case of the dive shops, resorts etc are self regulating using a voluntary code of practice?

MgicTwnger

In this country it is mostly self-regulating. The certifying agencies set the standards and most certifications are accepted everywhere. For example, a PADI open water cert is recognized by other agencies as equivalent to their own open water cert.
You can buy most any kind of gear without any certification, but you cannot get air fills, get on a dive boat, or into operations like dive quarries without a c-card. To obtain more advanced stuff, such as nitrox, you need the appropriate certification.

Potential liability keeps things in order. Thankfully, this is one area the government has let pretty much alone (so far).

__________________
I am not the one who needs mental help. I just need to vent.