top of page

Deep Sea Worker

First things first and in case you didn't know...

 

A deep-sea diver and worker specialising in underwater repairs conducts maintenance, inspections, and repairs on submerged structures such as ships, offshore rigs, pipelines, and bridges. This work often involves welding, cutting, inspecting for damage, and assembling components under challenging underwater conditions. 

 

The role requires advanced diving skills and specialised equipment to work at significant depths, often in low visibility and extreme pressure environments.

 

It can also require, relatively long stints living underwater in a submersible.

 

Some key aspects of the job:

  • Working at sea for several weeks at a time

  • Diving to depths of over 2,500 metres

  • Undertaking saturation diving and living in a cramped diving bell

  • Wearing multiple layers of heavy protective clothing and breathing apparatus

  • Spending time in a decompression chamber after surfacing

  • Travelling to work in remote locations like the North Sea or the Indian Ocean

  • Being expected to work at short notice

Key skills/talents

  • Physical Fitness - This role demands exceptional stamina and strength to handle heavy equipment, withstand water pressure, and perform physically demanding tasks in cold, strong currents. Without robust fitness, a diver risks injury or inability to complete tasks efficiently.

  • Technical Diving Expertise - Proficiency in deep-water and mixed-gas diving is critical to safely operating at depths where repairs are performed. Mastery of diving gear and decompression protocols prevents life-threatening situations.

  • Welding and Cutting Skills - Underwater welding and cutting are often key tasks in this role. Precision in these techniques ensures structural integrity and prevents costly or dangerous failures.

  • Problem-Solving Skills - Unexpected challenges, such as equipment failure or adverse underwater conditions, require quick and effective problem-solving to ensure safety and task completion.

  • Attention to Detail - Low visibility and challenging conditions demand extreme accuracy to avoid errors in repairs that could compromise safety or functionality of the structure.

  • Adaptability - Diving environments are unpredictable, with changing currents, weather, or unforeseen hazards. The ability to adjust plans and techniques is essential for success.

  • Teamwork - Underwater repairs are rarely solo tasks. Collaboration with surface crews and other divers ensures efficient task management, safety, and communication.

  • Stress Management - Underwater repairs occur in high-pressure, dangerous situations. Staying calm and focused is vital to prevent errors, maintain safety, and complete tasks under time-sensitive conditions.

  • Risk Assessment - Identifying hazards, such as structural instability or decompression risks, is crucial to protecting the diver’s safety and ensuring the job is performed without accidents.

  • Mechanical Aptitude - Understanding the operation of mechanical systems is essential for diagnosing and repairing issues efficiently. This aptitude helps divers address complex technical problems underwater.

  • These skills collectively enable a diver to work safely, efficiently, and effectively in challenging underwater environments while ensuring the success of complex repair projects.

​​

​Qualifications required

Becoming a deep-sea diver specialising in underwater repairs requires more than just a love for the ocean. It demands rigorous training, specialised certifications, and a solid foundation in technical skills. From mastering commercial diving techniques to gaining expertise in underwater welding, the qualifications for this role ensure divers can operate safely and effectively in some of the most challenging environments on Earth. 

 

Here's a breakdown of some essential credentials needed to excel in this career.

 

​

Rules and regs

This kind of job is a strict rules and regs job, as you might imagine… It’s pretty much life and death, so you MUST adhere to the following…

 

 

Working as a deep-sea diver involves significant risks, making sure the right insurances are in place is essential. Divers need commercial dive insurance to cover unique risks such as decompression illness, emergency evacuations, and damage to expensive gear. 

 

Professional liability insurance is critical to protect against claims arising from errors or omissions during underwater repairs. 

 

Personal accident and injury insurance ensures coverage for potential diving-related injuries, while public liability insurance is necessary if work involves third-party property or infrastructure. 

 

Securing these insurances provides peace of mind and financial protection, ensuring divers can focus on their demanding roles with confidence. Below are a couple of links that specialise in commercial divers insurance:

 

https://www.daneurope.org/en/diving-insurance 

https://www.divemasterinsurance.com

​

Remuneration framework

As per all jobs, there will be scales depending on how experienced you are and how specialist your skills are.

 

Our brief bit of googling has shown the following…

Divers working regularly on offshore wind projects can earn up to £100,000 a year. Offshore divers in Scotland can earn around £6-800 a day. On average, they work around 120-150 days a year. Experienced saturation divers working offshore can earn £1,500 a day or more.

​

How to get started

Starting a career in deep-sea diving and underwater repairs begins with  enjoying diving. So if you’ve not yet done your basic diver certificate, ‘PADI,  for fun/pleasure, then get on it. Scuba diving is not for everyone, and you have got to really love the water, the sea,  and be comfortable with breathing and moving comfortably underwater (and with tanks etc on) to even consider a career like this: https://www.padi.com/education

 

From there, aspiring professionals should enrol in a reputable commercial diving school offering HSE (Health and Safety Executive) certification, a legal requirement for commercial diving in the UK. 

 

Specialised training in underwater repair techniques, such as welding and cutting, can be pursued at institutions like the National Hyperbaric Centre or similar training facilities: https://www.jfdglobal.com/systems/hyperbaric-reception-facilities.

 

Gaining hands-on experience as an inshore or assistant diver provides valuable exposure to the industry. Networking with marine construction companies, offshore contractors, and experienced divers is crucial for finding apprenticeships or entry-level roles, laying the groundwork for a successful career in this challenging, but rewarding field. 

 

Links below to a few HSE certification courses:

https://www.commercialdivertraining.co.uk/hse-professional-scuba-including-faw-o2/ 

https://dvdiving.co.uk/courses/hse-scuba

​

Job site links

Job opportunities for deep-sea divers, specialising in underwater repairs can be found across industries such as offshore oil and gas, marine construction, and underwater engineering, so be sure to know who (what type of companies) you will be working for, and apply directly, even if there are no jobs advertised - get your CV over to them. Companies managing offshore rigs, shipyards, and underwater infrastructure frequently hire commercial divers. 

 

Job boards like Subsea World News: https://subseaworldnews.com/tag/jobs, Marine People: https://marinepeople.com, and general platforms like Indeed often list roles in this field. 

 

Networking within professional associations (like the pens listed above), attending industry expos, and connecting with established divers or contractors can also uncover opportunities…

 

https://www.subseaexpo.com 

https://subcablenews.com/events

 

Many divers begin their careers with smaller inshore projects before progressing to larger, more complex offshore roles. 

 

Below we have listed some companies that have current vacancies, as examples:

https://diving-services.co.uk/employment-vacancies 

https://www.kaymacmarine.co.uk/careers

​

Associations or official bodies to register with

  • ADC (Association of Diving Contractors): Industry guidelines and certifications:  https://www.adc-uk.info

  • IMCA (International Marine Contractors Association): Standards and training resources: https://www.imca-int.com

  • The British Compressed Gases Association: Safety guidelines for breathing gas systems:  https://bcga.co.uk

  • British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC): Diving clubs and resources.

​

Progression pathway​

There will be a natural progression for this kind of role, like all roles… Team leaders, Group leaders, heads, managers, directors, so it really depends how far into management you want to go. George is in management now and rarely goes out on any physical dives any more, which is a personal choice. Somebody (well many somebodys) have to plan and coordinate these dives, so if your brain is logistical and you're comfortable giving out orders and instructions, then this kind of managerial progression route could be for you.

 

Alternatively, and if you would like more ‘land’ time, you could diversify into search and rescue, because your skills and qualifications will be very transferable to that area.

 

Finally, and perhaps as you might think of retiring, you could just teach diving, along your local coastline, or even in your local pool.

 

But perhaps the best thing with this role, is the travel capabilities. This job will literally take you around the world, particularly if you’re a specialist in a certain area. You can go and end up where you like.

​

Additional Information/links

Who employs underwater welders?

 

Underwater welders can find work in a number of marine industries that require underwater metalwork and fabrication skills. Here are some of the leading industries that underwater welders work in:

  • Offshore oil and gas companies: The oil and gas industry is one of the biggest employers of underwater welders who inspect and repair their deep-sea assets.

  • Defence: The armed forces train or contract underwater welders to work on strategic military projects.

  • Salvage: Hyperbaric welders may work as part of salvage crews, to work on shipwrecks and other deep-sea exploration projects.

  • Alternative energy: Underwater welders instal and repair offshore wind farms.

  • Marine: Underwater welders may be contracted to undertake emergency repairs to damaged vessels.

​

https://www.economist.com/britain/2019/05/09/the-ups-and-downs-of-the-north-seas-professional-divers

bottom of page