Korean divers notch up a first for underwater centre
A DOZEN Korean commercial divers have obtained their Health & Safety Executive (HSE) diving certification on the first Korean-language HSE diving course at The Underwater Centre, Fort William.
The 12 divers from Deep Sea Works, South Korea, completed the course - normally delivered in English - entirely in the Korean language.
The Underwater Centre uses translators to deliver courses to groups of non-English speaking divers, allowing companies from non-English speaking countries to obtain this globally recognised diver certification.
The centre had all the course documentation – including dive plans, log books and course material – translated into Korean.
The course was delivered in Fort William with the assistance of an on-site interpreter. As well as translating the instructions and feedback from the assessors, the interpreter also helped with everyday issues, including explaining the centre’s restaurant menu.
Deep Sea Works specialises in civil engineering, diving and construction work. The company’s chief executive Im Chang Yung chose the centre after being impressed with its instructors and facilities when he undertook his HSE Closed Bell training in 2008.
Chang Yung was delighted with his team’s experience at the centre, giving it top marks for course content, delivery, facilities and staff.
‘I would definitely recommend The Underwater Centre to other companies and I will be sending my next group of divers to do their HSE ECA in November,’ he said.
The centre’s air diving training manager Ali MacLeod was pleased with the smooth operation of the course.
‘We had allowed a buffer of an extra week for working in another language, but we didn’t need it.
‘The process worked really well and the on-site interpreter was fantastic. It also helped that the candidates were some of the best divers we have ever assessed on the HSE ECA.’
The centre has also delivered non-English speaking courses at its school in Tasmania.