Hi all

My husband and I are thinking of making the move to Canada in the next few years (it can take a few years anyway from what I gather!). My husband is a commercial diver with HSE Scuba, surface supplied and wet bell experience and he's currently working in the UK windfarm industry. He's got his own contacts in Canada but I'm interested in seeing what everyone has to say about what it would be like work-wise out there for him? I am hoping to transfer from UK police (I am a PC) to Calgary police but they won't be recruiting for a few years apparently. We might then have to apply for PR with him as the main applicant. He has about 3 years experience.

Thanks.

G

Hi

Unless he has an approved job offer from a Canadian employer or at least 1 years experience on the list of 29 http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigra...tions.asp#list He won't qualify. I doubt if there is much call for divers in Alberta, there is 1 for the Edmonton Mall paying $17/hour and a total of 4 for Canada on the job bank. None on Workopolis

I'dve thought there would be more call for commercial divers in provinces that, well, have a coastline, as opposed to Alberta? So Atlantic/Maritime Canada, BC and I guess ON for the Great Lakes.

Thanks for the quick reply, and for the links you provided From what I can gather he will be able to work away from home anywhere (where there are jobs obviously!) and then come home between jobs, as he does now in the UK industry. I just wondered if there was anyone else in the area who has been able to do the same thing, they do 'civils' work here between longer term contracts....as you can probably tell I don't know much about his area of work, I'm being a typically overeager wife since my own area of work is not recruiting at the moment and I'm keen to get the ball rolling on moving!

I understand that he falls under the Oil industry section and therefore qualifies. None of this will be happening for a couple of years or so and from what I understand the list of 'approved jobs' for immigrants changes yearly.

I have only just joined the forum today so it's reassuring that people are happy to give advice to us newbies

Thanks again

I know what you mean, and I realise the idea of commercial divers in Alberta may seem initially insane but here in the UK divers don't have to live where they work as they work away on projects and come home inbetween them, so was investigating the possibility that others have managed to do the same from a base in Alberta.

Thanks for your advice though as we've only started looking into Canada this weekend so all help is appreciated!

It sounds like you dont really appreciate the size of the country. To drive from Calgary/Edmonton to Vancouver, you're looking at around 12-14 hours of non stop driving. To drive to the East coast.... well, you're looking at a few days.
I accept air travel is available, but internal flights within Canada are expensive. There is no easyjet equivalent... On a normal day, Calgary/Halifax is around $1000 return, and Calgary/Vancouver around $500-600.

People in Alberta are used to travelling long distances- be it to Fort McMurray, or between Calgary and Edmonton, for instance. However, travelling in to different provinces to work doesnt make sense. Find out where your best chance of work is, and then move there.
Travelling all the time, especially with these vast distances, takes it toll- not only on the person doing the travelling, but with family also.

I'd have a re-think if I was you and consider something a bit more sensible....

Good advice, thank you

It's a lot to think about, especially at these early stages. The thing with diving is that the jobs can be for a few months at a time so it's not like a normal commute at all, however I take on board what you're saying about prices and distances because that's the sort of advice you can only get in easy to understand terms from someone who lives out there!

So thanks again for taking the time to lay it all out for me The UK is only a little island after all so we have no comprehension of distance!

(We have friends who live in Calgary hence the initial thoughts of moving there, just so people don't think it's totally random!)

And the prize goes to ....

Greetings!

I'm retired from commercial diving for some years now, but still maintain an interest in the industry. My advice to your husband is to do his homework as to diving opportunities in Alberta & Canada as a whole. My sense is there is work to be had, but significant competition for that work. The East Coast is providing offshore oil/gas work, & there is talk of returning to the Beaufort Sea for more drilling exploration; the remainder of the work would be inland construction.

Try these links:

http://www.divercertification.com/English/index.html
http://www.dominiondivers.com/
http://www.underwaterindustry.com/ne...ada/Page1.html

Good luck!

Regards,
DSD

Hi DSD

So sorry for the delayed reply, got a bit disheartened at first then went away on holiday...

so, thank you so much for the links and the positivity!

It looks like our move won't happen for a good while yet as we thought that Calgary Police (I am a PC plod in the UK) were recruiting but they won't be for some years, so we're now relying on his application alone.

Thanks again and we'll look at the links