Occupation · SOC 49-9092
Commercial Divers
Work below surface of water, using surface-supplied air or scuba equipment 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.
Median wage
$61,130
$39,130–$152,580
Projected growth
+7.1%
Faster than average
Annual openings
40
per year
Employed (US)
3,430
Job Zone 3
Typical preparation
Medium preparation
Stackable credential programs
0 mapped
Core skills
Critical ThinkingActive ListeningOperations MonitoringSpeakingQuality Control AnalysisTime ManagementOperation and ControlEquipment Maintenance
Knowledge areas
MechanicalBuilding and ConstructionPhysicsCustomer and Personal ServiceMathematics
Technology & tools
Data base user interface and query softwareAnalytical or scientific softwareInternet browser software
Representative tasks
Take appropriate safety precautions, such as monitoring dive lengths and depths and registering with authorities before diving expeditions begin.Check and maintain diving equipment, such as helmets, masks, air tanks, harnesses, or gauges.Communicate with workers on the surface while underwater, using signal lines or telephones.Descend into water with the aid of diver helpers, using scuba gear or diving suits.Obtain information about diving tasks and environmental conditions.Supervise or train other divers, including hobby divers.Inspect the condition of underwater steel or wood structures.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.Repair ships, bridge foundations, or other structures below the water line, using caulk, bolts, and hand tools.Recover objects by placing rigging around sunken objects, hooking rigging to crane lines, and operating winches, derricks, or cranes to raise objects.Operate underwater video, sonar, recording, or related equipment to investigate underwater structures or marine life.Take test samples or photographs to assess the condition of vessels or structures.Cut and weld steel, using underwater welding equipment, jigs, and supports.Install, inspect, clean, or repair piping or valves.Carry out non-destructive testing, such as tests for cracks on the legs of oil rigs at sea.Install pilings or footings for piers or bridges.Salvage wrecked ships or their cargo, using pneumatic power velocity and hydraulic tools and explosive charges, when necessary.Remove obstructions from strainers or marine railway or launching ways, using pneumatic or power hand tools.Set or guide placement of pilings or sandbags to provide support for structures, such as docks, bridges, cofferdams, or platforms.Perform activities related to underwater search and rescue, salvage, recovery, or cleanup operations.Perform offshore oil or gas exploration or extraction duties, such as conducting underwater surveys or repairing and maintaining drilling rigs or platforms.Drill holes in rock and rig explosives for underwater demolitions.Remove rubbish or pollution from the sea.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Diving equipment (helmets, masks, air tanks, harnesses, and gauges) — inspect and check for defects under direct supervision before each dive at a commercial job site.Safety protocols for dive length and depth limits — follow and record under the guidance of a senior diver during supervised commercial operations.Dive registration requirements and pre-expedition authority notifications — complete using provided checklists under direct oversight on assigned projects.Scuba gear and diving suit donning procedures — execute with the assistance of a diver helper in controlled nearshore or harbor environments.Underwater communication signals and telephone equipment — use to relay basic status updates to surface personnel during entry-level dive tasks.Task briefings and environmental condition reports — receive, read, and confirm understanding before descending on a supervised commercial dive.Underwater steel and wood structure surfaces — observe and document visible conditions using standard forms under the direction of an experienced inspector.Still photography equipment used in underwater inspections — operate to capture assigned image sequences under direct instruction at dockside or pipeline sites.Personal protective equipment and dive safety checklists — apply consistently and report any anomalies to the dive supervisor on every shift.Basic mechanical operation of dive support tools and gauges — monitor and report readings to surface crew during routine supervised descents.
developing
Dive equipment maintenance schedules (helmets, regulators, air tanks, and gauges) — perform routine servicing and log results with reduced oversight at a commercial dive facility.Dive depth and bottom-time safety limits — calculate and monitor independently using dive tables or computers during standard commercial underwater tasks.Signal line and underwater telephone systems — manage two-way communications with surface teams reliably during multi-phase inspection or repair dives.Scuba and surface-supplied diving gear — select, configure, and don appropriate equipment based on site conditions such as current, visibility, and water temperature.Environmental condition data (current, depth, temperature, and hazards) — gather and assess before dive operations to adjust plans within established protocols.Underwater pipeline, cable, and dock inspections — conduct using closed-circuit television and testing equipment with routine accuracy on assigned sections.Underwater structural defect patterns in steel and wood — recognize and classify using established criteria during independently executed inspection dives.Dive buddy and diver-helper coordination — execute pre-dive and in-water teamwork tasks to maintain safety and operational efficiency on commercial projects.Quality control checks on photographic and video inspection data — review captured imagery against project specifications before submitting to supervisors.Time management across dive rotations and decompression schedules — apply to keep multi-diver teams on schedule during full-day commercial operations.
proficient
Full dive safety management plans (depth limits, decompression schedules, and authority registration) — develop and enforce autonomously for complex commercial projects in open-water or industrial environments.Complete inspection and testing of docks, ships, buoys, plant intakes, pipelines, and sewers — execute using CCTV, photography, and analytical testing equipment with independent judgment on non-routine findings.Underwater repair and maintenance tasks on structural steel and wood components — diagnose, plan, and perform with minimal supervision in high-current or low-visibility conditions.Critical equipment failures (regulators, suits, and communication systems) — troubleshoot and resolve underwater or at the surface to restore safe dive operations on active job sites.Dive operation reports and inspection findings — synthesize and communicate clearly to clients, engineers, and regulatory authorities following completed commercial dive projects.Complex problem-solving during live dives (entanglement, equipment malfunction, or unexpected structural hazards) — apply deductive reasoning and prior experience to resolve safely within real-time constraints.Surface-supplied diving and mixed-gas systems — operate and control with precision during deep or saturation dives on offshore or industrial infrastructure projects.Multi-diver job-site coordination (task sequencing, safety watches, and equipment sharing) — manage to maximize efficiency and safety across concurrent dive teams on large-scale commercial assignments.Regulatory and customer service requirements for dive contracts — interpret and fulfill, ensuring project deliverables meet client specifications and public safety standards.Physics principles governing pressure, buoyancy, and gas behavior — apply when calculating gas mixtures, decompression profiles, and equipment load limits for non-standard dive scenarios.
advanced
Organizational dive safety programs (protocols, emergency response plans, and regulatory compliance frameworks) — design and implement across multiple crews and project sites to establish enterprise-wide standards.Diver training and apprenticeship programs — develop curriculum for and instruct, guiding emerging and developing divers through skill progression in commercial dive vocational contexts.Strategic pre-dive environmental and task intelligence processes — lead, establishing systematic methods for collecting and acting on data to reduce organizational risk on high-stakes projects.Dive team performance and quality assurance standards — set and enforce, reviewing inspection data, repair outcomes, and safety records to drive continuous improvement across the organization.Cross-functional coordination with engineers, project managers, and regulatory bodies — direct as the senior dive authority to align underwater operations with construction, maintenance, and safety objectives.Capital equipment procurement and maintenance systems for dive assets (suits, helmets, CCTV units, and analytical tools) — oversee to ensure fleet readiness and cost-effective lifecycle management.Complex incident investigation and root-cause analysis following dive accidents or near-misses — lead, producing corrective-action recommendations adopted as organizational policy.Mentorship and performance development of mid-career and senior divers — provide, identifying capability gaps and designing individualized growth plans within commercial diving teams.Industry best practices and emerging technology in underwater inspection and repair — evaluate and integrate into organizational workflows, keeping the enterprise at the forefront of the commercial diving field.Client relationships and business development for commercial dive contracts — lead negotiations and scope-of-work development, translating technical dive capabilities into customer-valued service offerings.
Also known as
74 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Pararescue Superintendent (Air Force 1Z191)Reconnaissance Man, Parachute and Combatant Diver Qualified (Marine Corps 0326)SO Candidate (Navy O20A)LDO - Special Warfare Technician (Navy 615)Certified DiverReconnaissance Man, Parachutist Qualified (Marine Corps 0323)Deep Sea DiverDivemasterRoute DiverFleet Marine Force Reconnaissance Independent Duty Corpsman (Navy L02A)Fleet Marine Force Reconnaissance Independent Duty Corpsman (Navy 001317)Special Warfare, Special Tactics Officer (Air Force 19Z2A)Dive TenderWheeled Vehicle Repairer (Army 91B)Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) (Navy O26A)Diver TenderExpeditionary Ground Reconnaissance (EGR) Officer (Marine Corps 0307)Special Warfare, Special Tactics Officer (Air Force 19Z1A)Skin DiverPararescue (Air Force 1Z1X1)Navy DiverURL - Special Warfare (Navy 113)TenderScuba DiverSpecial Warfare Operator (Navy SO)URL - Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Warfare Officer (Navy 114)Reconnaissance Marine (Marine Corps 0321)Pararescue Manager (Air Force 1Z100)Medical Deep Sea Diving Technician (Navy 003020)Marine DiverCombatant Diver Marine (Marine Corps 8024)Pararescue Apprentice (Air Force 1Z131)Fleet Marine Force Reconnaissance Corpsman (Navy 001289)Aquarium DiverSteelworker (Navy SW)CWO - Special Warfare Technician (Navy 715)Aviation Survival Technician (Coast Guard AST)Ship Salvage Operations Officer (Navy 9375)Reconnaissance Man, Combatant Diver Qualified (Marine Corps 0324)Non Destructive Testing Underwater Welder (NDT U/W Welder)