Diver

Also known as:

Deep Sea Diver

Introduction

Divers are involved in underwater inspection, testing, repair, maintenance or search work. Some divers specialise in particular techniques such as photography or welding. The work can be hard, demanding and sometimes dangerous.

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Work Activities

Divers carry out underwater inspection, testing, repair, maintenance or search work. This could be inland (in rivers, canals, reservoirs or lochs) or inshore (up to 12 miles from the coastline) but in Scotland is more commonly offshore (on the sea bed around oil or gas installations). Some divers use other skills and techniques, such as photography or welding, depending on the industry they work in.

They may use a wide range of equipment such as hand tools, hydraulic and pneumatic power tools, and sometimes explosives.

The work can be hard and dangerous. Divers may have to use equipment in awkward positions and with very restricted vision underwater.

Divers can specialise in different types of professional diving which include:

Surface: in waters up to 50 metres, with an air supply from an air line above the water, sometimes using a hot water suit SCUBA (self-contained underwater breathing apparatus): in waters up to 40 metres using an air tank and flippers Saturation (deep sea): more than 50 metres down, using a diving bell (an airtight chamber) and mixed gas breathing equipment.

Divers who work at extreme sea depths may have to spend time in a decompression chamber being monitored by life support technicians for a period after a dive. This allows their bodies to adjust gradually to normal air pressure.

Inland and inshore divers work mainly on civil engineering or marine projects. They help build and repair harbours, sea defences and sewage outfalls. They may dive for shellfish or work in fish farming, for example renewing sea pumps and pipelines.

Media divers work for film and television companies as camera operators, photographers, sound and lighting technicians, presenters and sometimes as stunt performers.

Military and police divers undertake a range of duties: army divers carry out concreting, welding and demolition work, navy divers remove and dispose of underwater mines and explosives and carry out engineering tasks and police divers search for missing persons and look for stolen property and evidence of crimes.

Offshore divers work in the oil and gas industries, helping to build, maintain and repair offshore platforms and rigs.

Recreational and sports divers lead and train people who wish to dive for enjoyment, sport and as a hobby.

Archaeological and scientific divers investigate historical underwater sites and carry out projects for educational purposes and for scientific research.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

Diving is highly skilled work. You will work in challenging conditions and will need to maintain a high level of physical fitness. You must be a strong swimmer.

You must be self-reliant, responsible, and pay close attention to safety rules. The work demands technical skill and the ability to use your initiative.

You must be able to stay calm and work well both alone (sometimes with a communication line your only contact) and within a team. Some scientific and mechanical skills may be needed, depending on the industry you work in, along with the ability to use a wide range of tools. You must also be able to tolerate extreme working conditions.

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Pay and Opportunities

Pay rates vary depending on a diver's range of skills and the type of diving they do.

The pay rates given below are approximate.

Inshore divers can earn around £120 a day. Working around 150 days a year, they earn around £18,000 a year. Offshore divers can earn around £270 a day. Working around 150 days a year, they earn around £40,500 a year.

Divers in supervisory/management roles can earn higher rates.

Saturation divers in the North Sea can earn around £1,000 a day.

Inshore and offshore divers work around 180-200 days a year. Saturation divers normally work on a rota of one month on/one month off. Offshore divers usually work 12-hour shifts.

Employment is mainly in short-contract work with firms of diving contractors.

Opportunities exist in the UK, particularly in the North Sea oil and gas industry and elsewhere, in countries overseas.

Divers may also work as sports diving instructors, and with the police or in the armed forces.

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Adult Opportunities

It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits. There are some exceptions - see reference to Royal Navy (below).

Commercial divers usually have experience and qualifications in another technical skill, such as welding or photography.

The upper age limit for Royal Navy divers is 32. Preference is given to those with previous diving experience: commercial or sub-aqua.

Adults considering training as divers must be in excellent physical condition, be able to pass a medical examination (renewable annually) and be confident working under water.

• 70% of people in occupations such as diver are self-employed.
• 6% work part-time.
• 4% have flexible hours.

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New Developments

Some people working in this occupation may be involved in the green jobs sector in areas such as conservation or countryside management.