Comparison table
Program mixes differ (unrestricted surface supplied vs. occupational SCUBA), so compare like with like.
| School | Program | Duration | Tuition & fees | Gear estimate | Class size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Diving Institute of Canada (CDI) Kelowna, BC | Unrestricted Surface Supplied Diver (DCBC) | 21 weeks, 1,080+ instructional hours | C$24,950 domestic / C$26,950 international, plus C$150 / C$350 registration | not published | not published |
| DiveSafe International Campbell River, BC | Unrestricted Surface Supply Diver (also Commercial SCUBA, Restricted Surface Supply) | 21 weeks / 840 hours | C$28,750 tuition + C$2,950+GST online materials + C$650+GST books + C$170 assessment + C$250 application (C$500 intl) | about C$8,000 (school estimate) | not published |
| Atlantic Commercial Diving Centre Summerside, PE | Unrestricted Surface Supplied Diver; Occupational SCUBA | 23 weeks (typically January to June) | C$25,900 total for 2027 USSD (tuition C$24,975 domestic, incl. listed fees); C$100 application fee | about C$4,358 (school's approximate equipment list) | Maximum 16 students |
| B.C. College of Diving Sidney, BC | SCUBA 30m (DCBC-audited) | not published | not published | not published | 2-8 students |
| Institut maritime du Québec (CFPP) Rimouski, QC | AEC Plongée professionnelle ELW.08 (scuba + surface supplied); AEC ELW.09 autonome (480 h) | 1 year, 1,440 hours (ELW.08) | not published | not published | 12 students per cohort |
| ETSM Horizon Thetford Mines, QC | Professional diver (surface supplied, unrestricted, DCBC) | 16 weeks intensive, March to June, 5-7 days/week, 10 h/day | not published | not published | not published |
| Underwater Skills Institute Whitchurch-Stouffville, ON | Unrestricted / Restricted Surface Supplied, Occupational SCUBA, Dive Supervisor, DMT | not published | not published (DCBC Dive Supervisor course listed at C$850) | not published | not published |
| Canadian Coast Guard (Sea Island) Richmond, BC | not published (internal training; not open enrolment as far as we can verify) | not published | not published | not published | not published |
| CISSS Chaudière-Appalaches (Hôtel-Dieu de Lévis) Lévis, QC | not published | not published | not published | not published | not published |
| Shanfe Research & Consulting North Vancouver, BC | not published | not published | not published | not published | not published |
* Figures are from each school's published pages and the DCBC list. "Not published" means we couldn't find the figure publicly.
Last verified October 2026
Sources
- www.commercialdivinginstitute.com/programs/courses/unrestricted-surface-supplied-program
- www.commercialdivinginstitute.com/programs/courses/unrestricted-surface-supplied-program/admission-details
- www.divercertification.com/training/schools
- www.divesafe.com/unrestricted-surface-supply-diver
- www.divesafe.com/faq
- atlanticcommercialdivingcentre.com/unrestricted-surface-supplied-diver-certification
- bccollegeofdiving.ca/courses
- bccollegeofdiving.ca
- www.imq.qc.ca/formation-continue/cfpp/presentation-du-cfpp-et-ses-installations
- www.imq.qc.ca/formation-continue/cfpp/aec-plongee-professionnelle/description
- etsm.ca/formation
- underwaterskills.ca/About-School
- underwaterskills.ca/%D0%A1ourses