Will “Commercial Divers” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔

Job Description

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.

Job Details

• The SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code is 49-9092.00
• The Mean Annual Wage in the U.S. is $ 53,990.00
• The Mean Hourly Wage is $ 25.00
• Currently, there are 3,370 people on this job

Also Known As…

• Tender
• Salvage Diver
• Non Destructive Testing Under Water Welder (NDT U/W Welder)
• Hard Hat Diver
• Diving Supervisor
• Diver Tender
• Diver
• Dive Supervisor
• Dive Superintendent
• Commercial Diver
• Underwater Welder
• Under Water Assistant (U/W Assistant)
• Submarine Diver
• Skin Diver
• Scuba Diver
• Non Destructive Testing Underwater Welder (NDT U/W Welder)
• Navy Diver
• Marine Diver
• Divemaster
• Deep Sea Diver

Tasks for “Commercial Divers”

• Perform offshore oil or gas exploration or extraction duties, such as conducting underwater surveys or repairing and maintaining drilling rigs or platforms.
• Inspect the condition of underwater steel or wood structures.
• Recover objects by placing rigging around sunken objects, hooking rigging to crane lines, and operating winches, derricks, or cranes to raise objects.
• Cut and weld steel, using underwater welding equipment, jigs, and supports.
• Obtain information about diving tasks and environmental conditions.
• Carry out non-destructive testing, such as tests for cracks on the legs of oil rigs at sea.
• Communicate with workers on the surface while underwater, using signal lines or telephones.
• Repair ships, bridge foundations, or other structures below the water line, using caulk, bolts, and hand tools.
• Set up dive sites for recreational instruction.
• Salvage wrecked ships or their cargo, using pneumatic power velocity and hydraulic tools and explosive charges, when necessary.
• Install pilings or footings for piers or bridges.
• Descend into water with the aid of diver helpers, using scuba gear or diving suits.
• Supervise or train other divers, including hobby divers.
• Remove rubbish or pollution from the sea.
• Take test samples or photographs to assess the condition of vessels or structures.
• Check and maintain diving equipment, such as helmets, masks, air tanks, harnesses, or gauges.
• Perform activities related to underwater search and rescue, salvage, recovery, or cleanup operations.
• Drill holes in rock and rig explosives for underwater demolitions.
• Take appropriate safety precautions, such as monitoring dive lengths and depths and registering with authorities before diving expeditions begin.
• 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.
• Cultivate or harvest marine species or perform routine work on fish farms.
• Install, inspect, clean, or repair piping or valves.
• Set or guide placement of pilings or sandbags to provide support for structures such as docks, bridges, cofferdams, or platforms.
• Remove obstructions from strainers or marine railway or launching ways, using pneumatic or power hand tools.
• Operate underwater video, sonar, recording, or related equipment to investigate underwater structures or marine life.

Related Technology & Tools

• Hydraulic hose reels
• Rigging knives
• Gas reclaim system helmets
• Digital thickness gauges
• Underwater cutoff saws
• Rebar locators
• Air tanks
• Divers' knives
• Underwater recording equipment
• Ultrasonic thickness testers
• Closed circuit televisions
• Underwater hydraulic drills
• Magnetic particle inspectors
• Sample jars
• Code alpha flags
• Underwater jackhammers
• Hydraulic breakers
• Underwater power drills
• Hard sole wet boots
• Heavyweight diving helmets
• Welding electrode holders
• Underwater reciprocating saws
• Mechanical pit gauges
• Oxygen analyzers
• Inflatable dive markers
• Diving compressor systems
• Carbon Dioxide CO2 monitors
• Underwater video equipment
• Rebound hammers
• Mixed gas analysis equipment
• Diving masks
• Bailout bottles
• Mechanical sampling buckets
• Diving suits
• Underwater hammer drills
• Umbilical cutters
• Cylinder harnesses
• Snorkels
• Underwater welding oxygen regulators
• Divers' safety harnesses
• Underwater impact wrenches
• Wind sensors
• Closed diving bells
• Ultrasonic pulse velocity meters
• Emergency diver recovery hoists
• Jib cranes
• Hand winches
• Underwater welding equipment
• Closed circuit system helmets
• Hydraulic cutters
• Underwater welding current breakers
• Diving gauges
• Box end wrenches
• Underwater writing slates
• Wet suit gloves
• Measuring jigs
• Pry bars
• Underwater video cameras
• Divers' lights
• Underwater chainsaws
• Hydraulic torque wrenches
• Water dredges
• Weight belts
• Dive computers
• Remote operated vehicles ROV
• Underwater chipping hammers
• Folding knives
• Chain hoists
• Gas blending panels
• Wireless communication systems
• Underwater depth gauges
• Underwater pressure gauges
• Dive timing devices
• Comealongs
• Lightweight diving helmets
• Underwater blow torches
• Fins
• Underwater sonar equipment
• Underwater flashlights
• Underwater compasses
• Water jets
• Open bottom diving bells
• Underwater power grinders
• Hammer wrenches
• Barometers
• Steel sledge hammers
• Rebreathers
• Buoyancy control devices
• Underwater sinker drills
• Submersible pumps
• Dry suits
• Explosive detonation devices
• Adjustable crescent wrenches

• Remote operated vehicle ROV dive log software
• Dynamic positioning DP software
• Diving table software
• Web browser software
• Diving logbook software