Oceaneering in the states (G.O.M. primarily) hired 180 (+/-) last year and are looking to hire 200 this year. As far as where are the ones going that leave……..they go to Sonsub, Canyon, DMT, Subsea ITech, and several little "new" companies that have popped up all over the place with just two or three systems to their credit. This also includes the experienced guys as well.
But all these companies lose ppl too over the course of the year so its like musical chairs within the industry right now. As far as treatment…..well, its different for different ppl. One might like that company but not this company and someone else might be the total opposite. I can say that Oceaneering will give the best training and backup/support from the beach. But it lacks in other areas whereas other companies dont.
There are alot of new hires out there right now within the industry that are more at home with fixing your steak just the way you order it or how many sugars to add to your coffee than working on multi million dollar high tech equipment. On average out of a crew of 3 offshore rov guys only one of them has any experience what so ever and that is usually the supervisor who not only has to train the two new guys but has to take care of the job also.
I imagine that there is a high ratio of these types of guys that I stated above that dont work out and go back to working at Logans Steak House after a hitch or two. But a few do manage to hang on and learn something useful.
