Applications open for Closed Bell Diver training program

DEEP opens applications for UK HSE Closed Bell Diver training program

Delivered from a new state-of-the-art facility in the Southwest of England, the courses provide a pathway into commercial saturation diving.

• DEEP has opened applications for its UK HSE Closed Bell Diver training courses, delivered from a new state-of-the-art facility in the Southwest of England.
• The facility is the most advanced closed bell diver training system in the world and the only one of its kind in the Northern Hemisphere.
• Successful candidates will achieve the UK HSE Closed Bell Diver certification, recognized by saturation diving companies worldwide.
• Places on the first courses have already been allocated to divers from an existing waitlist, with applications now open for additional courses beginning January 2027.

DEEP has opened applications for its UK HSE Closed Bell Diver training courses, delivered from a new state-of-the-art facility in the Southwest of England.

The facility at DEEP’s purpose-built campus is the most advanced closed bell diver training system in the world and the only one of its kind in the Northern Hemisphere.

Built on a bespoke barge system within a protected freshwater quarry with depths of up to 80 meters, the facility includes a six-person living chamber and a three-person bell. The protected nature of the campus enables safe, controlled training conditions year-round.

The three-week course, priced at £30,000, is designed to equip experienced commercial divers transitioning into closed bell diving. Combining classroom-based theory with hands-on practical training, the program covers closed bell operations, life-support systems, transfer under pressure, and emergency response procedures.

Dennis Nelson, CEO of DEEP Institute, said:

“Starting in autumn 2026, closed bell diving courses will be available at DEEP. These courses will be delivered from the newest, most state-of-the-art closed bell training facility in the world.

The course is ideal for divers who have completed surface-supplied training and gained industry experience, and who are now looking to take the next step in their career development. It provides a pathway into saturation diving and access to opportunities in the North Sea and around the world.

Longer term, the application of the saturation system will be broader – from habitat diver training, to providing a pathway for experienced divers from scientific, research, military, and other communities to develop the skills needed to work underwater for extended periods.”

Courses at the facility will begin in autumn 2026. Places on the first courses have already been allocated from an existing waitlist, with applications now open for additional courses beginning January 2027.

Upon successful completion, candidates will be awarded the UK HSE Closed Bell Diver certification, the highest-level professional commercial diving certification issued by the UK Health and Safety Executive for saturation and mixed-gas bell diving. This qualification is essential for working as a commercial saturation diver in offshore oil, gas, and renewable energy projects and provides access to career opportunities in the North Sea and the global offshore industry.

Course prerequisites

• A valid, recognized surface-supplied diving qualification to 50 meters (held for a minimum of 12 months).
• A current certificate of medical fitness valid for the duration of the course.
• A valid First Aid at Work certificate.
• A minimum of 100 logged dives and 100 diving hours since qualification as an offshore surface-supplied diver.

Full course details and registration information is available at: www.deep.com/courses

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About DEEP

On its mission to make humans aquatic, DEEP is developing subsea systems and training to enable a continuous human presence in the ocean.

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