Practical, hands-on experience is everything when it comes to commercial diving training. And at Divers Academy International, students get that experience in spades – with the undisputed favorite class project being the salvage of the U.S.S. Bulldog. This is where the students’ commercial diving training is put to the test!

The U.S.S. Bulldog is a 20-foot steel boat that was custom-designed for Divers Academy International. Each term, it is sunk into the mud at the bottom of our 32-acre warm-water, spring-fed, deep water quarry.

This phase of the students’ commercial diving training typically takes a full week. First, they  have to locate the U.S.S. Bulldog. No easy task in the murk and the mud! They then complete a bottom survey to determine how the boat is sitting. Based on that data, the students develop two different salvage plans to prepare the boat for a lift. Both plans are incorporated into the project so that students have a well-rounded experience.

Salvage requires the use of jetting to free the boat from the mud, de-watering the holding compartments, and patching holes. Heavy rigging, including lifting straps, chains, cables, is then applied. Once rigging is complete, the boat is raised with air buoyancy by the use of lift bags – a challenging task, since flipping over is all too easy during a vertical lift! Finally, the students use a surface crane to bring the boat clear of the water.

Students are graded on proper techniques at every stage, and are also evaluated based on teamwork and leadership skills. The salvage of the U.S.S. Bulldog encompasses all aspects of our underwater construction, welding, and commercial diving training. Once the water has been pumped out of the boat, there is truly cause for celebration!