Options for a Career in Commercial Diving

Have you asked yourself whether you are happy and fulfilled with your current work? 

Are you considering a career change because you realized what you have worked hard for is not the right career for you?

Finding the right career path can be difficult particularly if you have many interests and desires. But if you have good swimming skills and physically fit, a career in commercial diving might be for you.

Becoming An Underwater Hero

Commercial diving is a growing industry and the demand for commercial divers is on the rise as well. The job does not only involve repairs of oil rigs but is more diverse.

A commercial diver needs to be healthy and agile due to the physical demands of the job. One must be a good swimmer with a mechanical sense to maintain and repair hurricane-damaged oil rigs, inspect, maintain, and repair bridges for fresh and open water, underwater salvage, underwater painting, water line installation, maintenance, and repair, and other important infrastructure. 

The job of a certified commercial diver is not just about repair and maintenance, but being a man-of-all-work, being out at sea for anywhere for at least 10 hours a day.

With an estimated compensation starting from $60,000 annually based on skills and experience, commercial diving is a financially rewarding career. 

With most divers working at least 30 to 35 weeks per year, advanced qualifications and experience in the long run will bring at least $1,000 per day income. However, the job is not for everyone considering the challenges. Plus, you have to be someone passionate about having a meaningful and fulfilling job.

Opportunities in Commercial Diving

The growing opportunity in the commercial diving industry is driven by the number of hurricanes and storms that pass within prescribe distance in oil rigs, bridges, dams, and other major submerged infrastructure that need an outright inspection, repair, maintenance, and replacement.

In addition, commercial divers are needed to perform maintenance repairs and maintenance of nuclear plants, water towers, ports, dams, and wastewater facilities that have poor conditions across the country. 

With an existing 2,000 commercial divers in the United States, the number is not enough to meet the demands in a variety of industries.

Basically, one needs to be of legal age, at least 18 years old, proficient in English both written and oral, have moderate swimming skills and mechanical aptitude, and must pass the diving physical exam to become a commercial diver. 

But beyond the basic requirements, one should also have to be mentally and physically prepared, dedicated, and committed to being one of the underwater heroes.