DEEP and DDRC Launch a Diver Medic Technician Course

Subsea technology company DEEP and DDRC Healthcare, a specialist in diving and hyperbaric medicine training, have launched a joint Diver Medic Technician program. DeeperBlue reports that the first course will run for 10 days, from November 30 to December 11, 2026, at DEEP's campus in the Wye Valley in south-west England.

Who can take it

The course is open to both commercial and recreational divers, and there are no prerequisites. That openness is notable. Diver medic training has traditionally been aimed at people working in the commercial sector, where dive teams are expected to include someone able to give first-line medical care until a doctor can take over.

What participants walk away with depends on their track. Commercial divers receive accreditation from IMCA, the International Marine Contractors Association, along with direct entry to DEEP's UK HSE Closed Bell Diver course. Recreational divers receive a dedicated qualification certificate from DDRC.

The fee is £1,800 per person including VAT, roughly US$2,384 or €2,093.

Why it matters

Paul Nelson, DEEP's training director, stressed that working safely underwater depends on having people who can respond competently to diving-specific emergencies. Tim Mockridge, professional services manager at DDRC, described giving divers medical knowledge and practical skills for managing diving injuries as fundamental to safe diving.

For recreational divers, most emergency training stops at first aid, CPR and emergency oxygen. A course of this length goes further into the injuries that are specific to diving, and it may appeal to instructors, dive centre staff, expedition leaders and technical divers who spend time far from medical help. At £1,800 plus travel it is a real investment, so it is likely to attract divers who already carry some responsibility for others in the water.

Keeping it in perspective

Advanced medical training does not replace the basics. Diving injuries still need professional medical assessment and, in many cases, a hyperbaric chamber. For most divers, a current first aid and oxygen provider certification, a clear emergency plan for every site and knowing how to contact the nearest chamber remain the most useful preparation. Anyone considering the course can find details through DEEP's training team at training@deep.com.

For instructors and dive centres, the launch is also a good prompt to check their own readiness: whether the emergency oxygen kit is full, whether staff have actually practiced with it, and whether everyone knows who does what when something goes wrong.