What Do Commercial Divers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

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Job Description, Daily Responsibilities, and Work Life

Commercial Divers

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.

Salary
$71850
Becoming One
Medium
Education
Post-secondary certificate
Job Satisfaction
Job Growth

Personality
Interest Match



Job Description

Job Description

Commercial Divers 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. They also take appropriate safety precautions, such as monitoring dive lengths and depths and registering with authorities before diving expeditions begin.

Other tasks include:

  • 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.

We asked Commercial Divers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

Job satisfaction

67%

How meaningful is this job

52%


67% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 52% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.



Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Commercial Divers check and maintain diving equipment, such as helmets, masks, air tanks, harnesses, or gauges. They obtain information about diving tasks and environmental conditions.

A typical day for a Commercial Diver will also include:

  • Take appropriate safety precautions, such as monitoring dive lengths and depths and registering with authorities before diving expeditions begin.
  • Descend into water with the aid of diver helpers, using scuba gear or diving suits.
  • Supervise or train other divers, including hobby divers.
  • 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.

We asked some Commercial Divers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job? 47% said yes
How important is it to work in a team in this job? 71% said very important
Do you have group discussions everyday in this job? 68% said yes
Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job? 15% said yes
Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job? 3% said yes
Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job? 45% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Commercial Divers also 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. They may also inspect the condition of underwater steel or wood structures.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Commercial Divers Recover objects by placing rigging around sunken objects, hooking rigging to crane lines, and operating winches, derricks, or cranes to raise objects. They might also Cut and weld steel, using underwater welding equipment, jigs, and supports.

In addition, they Take test samples or photographs to assess the condition of vessels or structures.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Operate underwater video, sonar, recording, or related equipment to investigate underwater structures or marine life.

To some Commercial Divers, it is also their responsibility to Carry out non-destructive testing, such as tests for cracks on the legs of oil rigs at sea.


Working life

Working hours

More than 40 hours per week

Working schedule

Irregular work schedule that changes depending on weather conditions, customer demand or contract duration.

In a typical work week as a Commercial Diver, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Do Commercial Divers work in an office-style work environment?

Never
65%


Once a week
17%


Do Commercial Divers work outdoors?

Every day
67%


Once a week
27%



Is this right for me

Best personality for this career

The Builders and The Thinkers

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

You can read more about these career personality types here.



Learn more about Commercial Divers

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Related to Commercial Divers Job Description

Commercial Divers job description, what do Commercial Divers do, typical day for Commercial Divers, what is it like to work as a Commercial Diver, how many hours do Commercial Divers work, day to day work of a Commercial Diver

Additional resources

http://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2007/winter/yawhat.pdf
http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes499092.htm


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