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Plunge into the deep blue

photo: thulasi Kakkat

Hooked to his Job Jestin Jos getting ready for a day at work

Jestin Jos had resigned himself to one of those regular jobs at the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI). That was when he was posted at Lakshadweep as part of a special project involving survey and assessment of ornamental fishes.

He was in unchartered territory finding his way in an environment that was largely different from what he had been trained to do earlier.

Stationed there for more than three years changed Jestin's perspective, his career. From a technical assistant he opted to the less travelled, more challenging choice of a professional diver.

“I was here as part of the team to protect and study the ornamental fish that were being killed and consumed by the natives of these islands. I was trained in scuba diving as it was part of the work. For the first time I became aware of the wonderful, colourful world below. It was a turning point. Later I underwent training by the Indian Navy in commercial diving,” remembers Jestin, whose Dubai-based Interdive Diving Services and the city-based Scuba Cochin attempts to spread information about this career option and to train, recruit divers.

Diving is both personal and professional. Generally people tend to begin through recreational diving, which is purely for enjoyment. “Some remain recreational divers, while many who are hooked seek this as their career. Most of the commercial divers are employed to perform tasks under deep water like civil engineering, oil exploration, underwater welding, off shore construction. There are divers who are engaged in other activities like naval diving, repair and inspection of boats and ships, underwater fishing, salvaging wrecks, military expeditions, as part of rescue teams and so many other professional marine activities, explains this former Zoology student of St. Albert's College.”

Opportunities galore

With this field just opening up in the country Jestin feels that there is a huge career opportunity waiting for those who are ready to take the plunge, literally. “There is still a lack of awareness and willingness among the youth to take this up as a career. One huge impediment is shortage of training institutes. The Navy has their own training centre, which is approved by the International Marine Contractors Association. They give training to civilians too. There are some institutions and universities that offer courses in marine archaeology but training in diving is not part of the curriculum. Most of the divers that we see around us, often engaged in rescue and salvaging operations are not really scientifically trained nor do they have the latest marine equipment.”

So, learning to dive is difficult and expensive. Unlike in the West, diving is not promoted as a water sport in the country. “What we are trying to do is encourage underwater diving. Once people begin to take up this as leisure activity there may be a few who will turn to this as a career. Despite being a specialised job there are still very few job opportunities here. But abroad there is no shortage of jobs. In fact, divers are paid handsomely and are in demand.”

The best part of diving is that it does not demand a basic educational qualification.

“Anyone with guts, willing to work hard and loves water can join. Of course, some basic education, at least school final, is desirable. Here we give them basic training with proper equipment and all that. They are then taken to Dubai where they go through a screening process before being awarded licenses by recognised agencies.”

In Dubai, Jestin's Inter Dive employs 45 trained divers, of which the majority are Malayalis. “We have a tie-up with the training centre of the Cape Town-based West Coast Diving School. We provide underwater workmanship to the industry without compromising on safety and environment. Among the important projects that we have undertaken are quay wall of the race tracks at Ferrari theme park in Abu Dhabi, the sea wall at the ferry terminal at Dubai Maritime City, foundation work at Dubai Promenade, a luxury hotel, and kilometres of break water construction. The work of laying geo textile layers by our divers was shot by National Geographic recently.”

Keep it clean

Jestin and his group of trained divers are also involved in environmental activities. “It is usual for all of us, not just our group, to get together occasionally and help clean up the beach or creeks in Dubai. There's a lot of waste being dumped in the water and we do a thorough cleaning up. I feel that we must do this in our beaches like Cherai. This is a social activity, our commitment to protect the water, the environment.”

So, interested in becoming a water baby? A bit of mettle, a love for challenges, passion to explore the unknown and what awaits you is a heady cocktail of adventure, knowledge, and a ‘cushy' career.

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