Yellowknife (Apr 21/03) - Arctic Divers has been purchased by Edmonton based Northern Underwater Systems (NUS).

The well-known commercial diving firm has operated throughout NWT and Nunavut from its Yellowknife base since 1973.

The merger of Arctic Divers with Northern Underwater Systems of Edmonton broadens the company's work capability in the North. - photo courtesy NUS Group

As a subsidiary of the NUS group, the company will operate as Arctic Diving (NWT) Ltd.

NUS general manager Jeremy Leondard said the firm will maintain its Yellowknife office and there will be no impact on employees.

"The same people who worked for Arctic Diving will continue to work for Northern Underwater Systems."

Arctic partner Wayne Gzowski will be operations manager in NWT for the new firm. A second Arctic partner, George Pieper, is retiring.

The merger enables the firm to offer a broader range of services to government, mining, and oil-gas clients in the North, said Leonard.

The deal is one of a number of similar acquisitions completed by NUS over the past year, mainly in western Canada.

"The idea is that as a larger firm we can offer a much broader range of underwater services and equipment, including the latest technology."

That includes air and water pumping systems, dredges, barges, underwater scanning systems, and infra-red cameras, he said.

"We also have remote-operation vehicles that can work 1,000 feet down or go 1,000 feet into a pipe for inspections.

"Smaller firms can't afford to run some of the high-tech stuff that is available now because it is just too expensive."

The merger positions the firm for commercial diving work tied in with the Mackenzie Valley pipeline and offshore development in the Beaufort Sea, he said.

"We fully expect expansion of the oil and gas market in the NWT and definitely we are looking ahead to that now.

"We intend to be a major player in terms of commercial diving and underwater services."

Gzowski was on a diving job in the high Arctic and unavailable for comment.