Energy
Commercial Diver

Commercial Diver

Do you pride yourself on your driving ability? Never stressed out in tough driving situations? Make money for it!

Perform underwater construction, inspection, welding, and demolition work on bridges, dams, ships, and offshore platforms.

Salary Range

$40,000 $80,000

per year (10th–90th percentile)

Median Salary

$54,800

per year

Growth Outlook

Average Growth

2024–2034 projected

Commercial divers are employed in a variety of industries, including construction, oil and gas, and marine

Tasks & Responsibilities

  • Take appropriate safety precautions, such as monitoring dive lengths and depths and registering with authorities before diving expeditions begin.
  • Check and maintain diving equipment, such as helmets, masks, air tanks, harnesses, or gauges.
  • Communicate with workers on the surface while underwater, using signal lines or telephones.
  • Descend into water with the aid of diver helpers, using scuba gear or diving suits.
  • Obtain information about diving tasks and environmental conditions.
  • Supervise or train other divers, including hobby divers.
  • Inspect the condition of underwater steel or wood structures.
  • Inspect and test docks, ships, buoyage systems, plant intakes or outflows, or underwater pipelines, cables, or sewers, using closed circuit television, still photography, and testing equipment.
  • Repair ships, bridge foundations, or other structures below the water line, using caulk, bolts, and hand tools.
  • Recover objects by placing rigging around sunken objects, hooking rigging to crane lines, and operating winches, derricks, or cranes to raise objects.

Tools of the Trade

Diving instruments or accessoriesMasks or fins or snorkelsUnderwater camerasHoistsUtility knivesPower drillsUltrasonic examination equipmentWater samplersOxygen gas analyzersFlashlightDredge pumpsDepth gaugesAnemometersBouyancy compensatorsSonarsCircuit breakersGeological compassesUnderwater communication systemElectrode holderPick or place robotsScuba tanksDetonatorsBlow torchPressure gaugePullersHose reelClosed circuit television CCTV systemJib craneScuba regulatorsHammer drillsClock timersConcrete or cement testing instrumentsMagnetic particle examination equipmentMetal detectorsImpact wrenchesThickness measuring devicesWelding regulator oxygenPneumatic hammerCorrosion testersPower grindersHydraulic shearsSpecialty wrenchesDemolition hammersSledge hammerTorque wrenchesPower chippersWetsuitsWire or cable cutterChain sawDrysuitsAdjustable wrenchesSingle gas monitorsReciprocating sawWater hosesGas mixerDiving bootWinchesMulti gas monitorsDiving air pumpShielded metal arc welding or stick welding machineSinker drillsPower sawsMeasuring jigsBarometersPry barsSubmersible pumpsBox end wrenches

Knowledge Areas

Mechanical

Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance. 77/100

Building and Construction

Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads. 69/100

Physics

Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes. 64/100

Customer and Personal Service

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. 55/100

Mathematics

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications. 54/100

Public Safety and Security

Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions. 53/100

Education and Training

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects. 50/100

English Language

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar. 50/100

Design

Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models. 44/100

Medicine and Dentistry

Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures. 44/100

Work Profile

Physicality
5/10
Training
6/10
Structure
4/10

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