Key People
All our Instructors and Assessors are drawn from our sister contracting company’s (Commercial Diving and Maritime Ltd) regular staff, or direct from industry
The team has extensive experience in both inshore and offshore diving procedures along with significant media, scientific and archaeological project experience. All our personnel still also work in the “real world” rather than just working full time in theoretical sterile teaching environments, so are current in the latest industry practices.
CDT is supported by a whole army of support staff including standby divers, technicians, maintenance crew, chef, housekeeper and our accounts team.
Our key people include:
George Gradon (Director)
George Gradon, born 1970, has spent the last 20 odd years employed as a professional diver, half of which has been with Subsea 7, aboard Saturation Dive Support Vessels, operating throughout the North Sea, Norwegian and Canadian waters. George has been training commercial divers to HSE standards since the late 90’s, and operated a successful marine civils company since 2007.
Disappointed by the standard of newly qualified divers entering the industry, both inshore and offshore, he felt it was time for a new school, that offered relevant programmes, delivered by a current instructional team utilising up to date equipment in a real environment.
Warren ‘Sal’ Salliss (Director)
Sal served 15 years in the Royal Marines which is where his diving career started. After leaving the RM in 2003 he continued his diving career working on numerous marine civils, harbour moorings, salvage, shipping, and media projects all over the world before becoming a supervisor.
Sal runs our contracts company, teaches on the courses where possible and supervises the Offshore Top-Up Phase so as to ensure the high standards that our instructional team strive to deliver are met. Sal also is a highly qualified equipment technician responsible for all diving equipment, plant and vessels. As well as this he is an ADC Inshore Supervisor, IMCA Offshore Air Supervisor, Kirby Morgan Technician and Instructor and a Commercial Skipper who operates our 24m dive vessels.
Tamsin Salliss (Operations Manager)
Tamsin has been a diver and instructor for over 20 years owning and operating her own successful diving company. She is an Appointed Diving Supervisor, HSE First Aid at Work Instructor Trainer, Powerboat Skipper and an Offshore Commercial Diver.
When not at the helm of CDT she works within Commercial Diving and Maritime Ltd. Failing that, you’ll find her in the office as she is normally the first point of contact for new students of CDT.
Graham Weston (Senior Instructor / ADC Supervisor)
‘Graham is our senior instructor and has been working with CDT from the start. He comes from a Royal Naval background where he served for 8 years and reached the rank of Lieutenant serving on HM submarines. He started his diving career here and when he finished in 2008, he spent time as a manager for a busy recreational diving centre. Since completing his commercial courses, Graham has enjoyed working with various inshore civils companies as both a diver and supervisor.
Graham is an experienced instructor having previously taught for Plymouth University within their Professional Scuba program. He is an ADC approved supervisor (ADC Supervisor of the Year 2021), a Commercially Endorsed Skipper and is a regular supervisor for our inshore civils sister company.’ Graham is a qualified HSE Closed Bell diver & has worked on numerous projects both inshore & offshore.
Will Finnemore (Equipment Technician / ADC Supervisor)
‘Will joined CDT in 2016 having moved back to Cornwall from the Channel Islands where he worked in the diving industry.
He is a highly qualified dive technician, Kirby Morgan Technician, ADC Supervisor and Commercially Endorsed Skipper. When not working for CDT Will rotates back to Commercial Diving and Maritime Ltd to assist the teams with diving, supervising and technical support.’
John Duffy – ADC Supervisor / Instructor
Following 47 years supervising and diving within the inshore & offshore industry John joined CDT in 2020. He brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to the instructional team & is extremely happy to pass on his experience to those starting out.
John has worked inshore & offshore as a diver & supervisor & is a regular supervisor for our inshore civils team. He regularly supervises inspection jobs, repairs, and shipping work within the south west.
Rob Adkins (Equipment Technician & Support Staff)
Rob joined us in early 2025 as a dive technician and support staff member. He rotates into the Commercial Diving & Maritime team as a diver and supports Will in the workshops.
James Richardson – Standby Diver & Support Staff
James completed his courses at CDT in 2022.
He joined us a standby diver for the courses but also works within the CDM contracts team.
Ollie Luck – Marine Engineer (Level 3)
Ollie’s role is to look after the CDT & CDM fleet. He is a skipper for all our shipping jobs within the south west & boat man at CDT. He recently completed his diving courses & is now a fully qualified commercial diver working within CDT & Commercial Diving & Maritime Ltd.
He supports the CDT team & is a valuable member of Fowey RNLI.