Commercial Diver

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.

O*NET reports this occupation under titles such as: Diver; Diver Tender; Diving Coordinator; Hard Hat Diver; NDT UW Welder (Non Destructive Testing Under Water Welder); Salvage Diver; Saturation Diver

Tasks

• Check and maintain diving equipment, such as helmets, masks, air tanks, harnesses, or gauges.
• Take appropriate safety precautions, such as monitoring dive lengths and depths and registering with authorities before diving expeditions begin.
• 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.
• 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.
• Obtain information about diving tasks and environmental conditions.
• Inspect the condition of underwater steel or wood structures.
• Operate underwater video, sonar, recording, or related equipment to investigate underwater structures or marine life.
• Repair ships, bridge foundations, or other structures below the water line, using caulk, bolts, and hand tools.
• Cut and weld steel, using underwater welding equipment, jigs, and supports.
• Carry out non-destructive testing, such as tests for cracks on the legs of oil rigs at sea.
• Take test samples or photographs to assess the condition of vessels or structures.
• Supervise or train other divers, including hobby divers.
• Perform activities related to underwater search and rescue, salvage, recovery, or cleanup operations.
• Recover objects by placing rigging around sunken objects, hooking rigging to crane lines, and operating winches, derricks, or cranes to raise objects.

Knowledge

• Mechanical
• Building and Construction
• Public Safety and Security
• Physics
• Design
• Customer and Personal Service
• Education and Training
• Engineering and Technology
• Mathematics
• Law and Government

Skills

• Active Listening
• Critical Thinking
• Speaking
• Reading Comprehension
• Writing
• Active Learning
• Monitoring

Abilities

• Problem Sensitivity
• Oral Comprehension
• Oral Expression
• Inductive Reasoning
• Information Ordering
• Arm-Hand Steadiness
• Deductive Reasoning
• Extent Flexibility
• Near Vision
• Manual Dexterity
• Control Precision
• Multilimb Coordination
• Finger Dexterity
• Speech Recognition
• Flexibility of Closure
• Perceptual Speed
• Reaction Time
• Static Strength
• Trunk Strength
• Far Vision
• Depth Perception
• Written Comprehension
• Written Expression
• Fluency of Ideas
• Originality
• Category Flexibility
• Visualization
• Selective Attention
• Time Sharing
• Response Orientation
• Dynamic Strength
• Gross Body Coordination
• Gross Body Equilibrium
• Visual Color Discrimination
• Speech Clarity