Work below surface of water, using scuba gear to inspect, repair, remove, or install equipment and structures. May use a variety of power and hand tools, such as drills, sledgehammers, torches, and welding equipment. May conduct tests or experiments, rig explosives, or photograph structures or marine life.
Overview
Tasks
Skills
Median Annual Wage: $45,890
Education: Post-secondary certificate (72%); Associate's degree (12%); High school diploma or equivalent (8%)
Projected Growth: Much faster than average (22% or higher)
Related Job Titles: Diver; Commercial Diver; Dive Supervisor; Diver Tender; Salvage Diver; Non Destructive Testing Under Water Welder (NDT U/W Welder); Tender; Dive Superintendent; Diving Supervisor; Hard Hat Diver
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.
Operate underwater video, sonar, recording, or related equipment to investigate underwater structures or marine life.
Recover objects by placing rigging around sunken objects, hooking rigging to crane lines, and operating winches, derricks, or cranes to raise objects.
Take test samples or photographs to assess the condition of vessels or structures.
Cut and weld steel, using underwater welding equipment, jigs, and supports.
Install, inspect, clean, or repair piping or valves.
Carry out non-destructive testing, such as tests for cracks on the legs of oil rigs at sea.
Install pilings or footings for piers or bridges.
Salvage wrecked ships or their cargo, using pneumatic power velocity and hydraulic tools and explosive charges, when necessary.
Remove obstructions from strainers or marine railway or launching ways, using pneumatic or power hand tools.
Set or guide placement of pilings or sandbags to provide support for structures such as docks, bridges, cofferdams, or platforms.
Perform activities related to underwater search and rescue, salvage, recovery, or cleanup operations.
Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Quality Control Analysis - Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.