Divers, Commercial

Description

What do you do when the base of a bridge needs welding? Drain the river, get a really big towel...? Nah. Save yourself some time and hire an underwater welder. Commercial divers do lots of things that other workers do--welding, photography, search and rescue, salvage--but they do them all under the water.

Divers may be involved in a wide range of underwater work but some things are common to all divers. They must have good divers and swimmers (to state the obvious!) and good communication and problem-solving skills. They also need to know all about the work they'll be performing underwater, whether it's photographic techniques or construction methods. Divers need to work well under pressure (get it? "work well under PRESSURE"... never mind). They must be continuously alert, safety conscious, and methodical.

Specific duties

Commercial divers will usually specialize in one kind of work. But there is a wide variety of work from which to choose:

• perform offshore oil and gas exploration and extraction duties such as underwater surveys, nondestructive testing, blasting, construction, and repair and maintenance of drill rigs and platforms
  
• operate underwater video, sonar, recording and related equipment for scientific or exploratory purposes
  
• inspect vessels, buoyage systems, pipelines, sluice gates, plant intakes and outfalls and other materials, visually and by nondestructive testing
  
• perform construction duties such as welding and installing pilings for cofferdams or footings for piers, and maintain these and drydocks, breakwaters, marine ways and bridge foundations using hand and power tools and pneumatic equipment
  
• operate winches, derricks or cranes to manipulate cables and chains to raise sunken objects
  
• set up and detonate explosives to remove obstructions and break up or refloat submerged objects
  
• participate in underwater search and rescue, salvage, recovery and clean up operations
  
• check and maintain diving equipment such as helmets, masks, air tanks, harnesses, gauges, air compressors, diving suits, underwater cutting torches and welding equipment
  
• may supervise and train other divers.
  

Related careers

You might be also be interested in these careers that have similar educational and/or training requirements, or that share similar duties.

• Police Officers
• Welders

High school path

A CareerMATTERS consultant suggests these high school courses would be helpful. They are not pre-requisites to post secondary programs, nor are they necessary to obtain employment. You should consult with your school counsellor to make the best choices for your own career path.

Recommended Courses
Grade 9	Grade 10	Grade 11	Grade 12
English
ENG1D English, Grade 9, Academic or ENG1P English, Grade 9, Applied	ENG2D English, Grade 10, Academic or ENG2P English, Grade 10, Applied	ENG3C English, Grade 11, College Preparation or ENG3E English, Grade 11, Workplace Preparation	ENG4C English, Grade 12, College Preparation or ENG4E English, Grade 12, Workplace Preparation
Math
MFM1P Foundations of Mathematics, Grade 9, Applied or MPM1D Principles of Mathematics, Grade 9, Academic	MFM2P Foundations of Mathematics, Grade 10, Applied or MPM2D Principles of Mathematics, Grade 10, Academic	MBF3C Foundations for College Mathematics, Grade 11, College Preparation or MCF3M Functions and Applications, Grade 11, University/College Preparation or MEL3E Mathematics for Work and Everyday Life, Grade 11, Workplace Preparation	MAP4C Foundations for College Mathematics, Grade 12, College Preparation or MCT4C Mathematics for College Technology, Grade 12, College Preparation or MEL4E Mathematics for Work and Everyday Life, Grade 12, Workplace Preparation
Science
SNC1D Science, Grade 9, Academic or SNC1P Science, Grade 9, Applied	SNC2D Science, Grade 10, Academic or SNC2P Science, Grade 10, Applied	SNC3E Science, Grade 11, Workplace Preparation or SNC3M Science, Grade 11, University/College Preparation	SCH4C Chemistry, Grade 12, College Preparation or SNC4E Science, Grade 12, Workplace Preparation or SNC4M Science, Grade 12, University/College Preparation or SPH4C Physics, Grade 12, College Preparation
Optional
TTI1O Integrated Technologies, Grade 9, Open	TCJ2O Construction Technology, Grade 10, Open or TDJ2O Technological Design, Grade 10, Open or TGJ2O Communications Technology, Grade 10, Open or TIK2O Computer and Information Science, Grade 10, Open or TMJ2O Manufacturing Technology, Grade 10, Open or TTJ2O Transportation Technology, Grade 10, Open	TCJ3C Construction Technology, Grade 11, College Preparation or TCJ3E Construction Technology, Grade 11, Workplace Preparation or TDJ3E Technological Design, Grade 11, Workplace Preparation or TDJ3M Technological Design, Grade 11, University/College Preparation or TGJ3E Communications Technology, Grade 11, Workplace Preparation or TGJ3M Communications Technology, Grade 11, University/College Preparation or TMJ3C Manufacturing Engineering Technology, Grade 11, College Preparation or TMJ3E Manufacturing Technology, Grade 11, Workplace Preparation or TTJ3C Transportation Technology, Grade 11, College Preparation or TTJ3E Transportation Technology, Grade 11, Workplace Preparation	TCJ4C Construction Technology, Grade 12, College Preparation or TCJ4E Construction Technology, Grade 12, Workplace Preparation or TDJ4E Technological Design, Grade 12, Workplace Preparation or TDJ4M Technological Design, Grade 12, University/College Preparation or TGJ4E Communications Technology, Grade 12, Workplace Preparation or TGJ4M Communications Technology, Grade 12, University/College Preparation or TMJ4C Manufacturing Engineering Technology, Grade 12, College Preparation or TMJ4E Manufacturing Technology, Grade 12, Workplace Preparation or TTJ4C Transportation Technology, Grade 12, College Preparation or TTJ4E Transportation Technology, Grade 12, Workplace Preparation

* some workplace occupations may require students to take some college-level courses

* students should consider options from Business and Technology

* students should consult their counsellor for appropriate Technology options in Grades 11 and 12

* a job shadowing/co-op experience is recommended

Post-secondary options

• You'll need to complete a recognized commercial diving school program. Military or police diving experience may also be required.
  
• A Category I commercial diver's National Energy Board (NEB) certification or its provincial equivalent is required. And if you'll be working with explosives, you'll need a provincial blaster's licence.
  
• A diving medical report from an approved hyperbaric physician is required.

There may be several different paths to a career. Post-secondary education or training programs will help, but they are not a guarantee. You should research your options carefully before deciding on any program of study. Click here for a comparison chart of institutions or accreditations.

The following programs offered at Ontario post-secondary institutions may be helpful in pursuing a career in this field. In addition to the institutions listed here, please refer to "For more information" (at left) for a list of organizations and associations that may also offer programs of study.

Institution	Programs offered
Registered Career College
Canadian Working Divers Institute	Diving
Other
Dans Dive Shop Inc.	Advanced Open Water Dive Certification

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Career path

Wondering how you could prepare for a career in this field? Or what else you might do once you have some experience?

Some commercial divers start out like recreational divers--just playing around on the weekends and then, with further specialized training, move into commercial diving. Others start as welders or tool and die makers who then decide to make a change and train as divers so they can practise their craft under water. Experienced divers can train other divers or start their own schools for commercial divers.

Employers

These are examples of the places, businesses and industries that employ people in this field:

commercial diving contractors
oil and gas companies with offshore operations
shipping and marine construction companies
police departments

Work environment

The work environment is W-E-T. And divers may need to work in extreme weather conditions--icy cold water, poor visibility, high winds and currents. They work in teams that may include other divers, engineers, or scientists, fishing company personnel, or police staff.

There are hazards associated with diving--drowning (yeah, really), hypothermia, respiratory problems--and from the work being performed. Commercial divers must always be conscious of their own physical condition.

Common job titles

Also Known As....

Commercial diver
Diver
Offshore diver
Commercial skin diver
Underwater contractor
Underwater welder
Underwater worker

For more information

Links to associations, organizations, unions and other places that may be able to provide more information.

• Canadian Association of Diving Contractors