Commercial Divers

What do they do?

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.

What kind of training is available in North Dakota?

The there are no official post-secondary training opportunities for this occupation from the public North Dakota University System.

Job Openings in North Dakota by Year

What does the North Dakota market look like for this occupation?

Median Salary
Salary Data Not Available
Median Hourly
Hourly Wage Data Not Available
Short Term Yearly Change
Two Year Projection Not Available
Long Term Yearly Change
Ten Year Projection Not Available

What are some of the daily tasks?

  • Carry out non-destructive testing, such as tests for cracks on the legs of oil rigs at sea.
  • 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.
  • Cultivate or harvest marine species or perform routine work on fish farms.
  • Cut and weld steel, using underwater welding equipment, jigs, and supports.
  • Descend into water with the aid of diver helpers, using scuba gear or diving suits.
  • Drill holes in rock and rig explosives for underwater demolitions.
  • 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.
  • Inspect the condition of underwater steel or wood structures.
  • Install pilings or footings for piers or bridges.
  • Install, inspect, clean, or repair piping or valves.
  • Obtain information about diving tasks and environmental conditions.
  • Operate underwater video, sonar, recording, or related equipment to investigate underwater structures or marine life.
  • 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.
  • Recover objects by placing rigging around sunken objects, hooking rigging to crane lines, and operating winches, derricks, or cranes to raise objects.
  • Remove obstructions from strainers or marine railway or launching ways, using pneumatic or power hand tools.
  • Remove rubbish or pollution from the sea.
  • Repair ships, bridge foundations, or other structures below the water line, using caulk, bolts, and hand tools.
  • Salvage wrecked ships or their cargo, using pneumatic power velocity and hydraulic tools and explosive charges, when necessary.
  • Set or guide placement of pilings or sandbags to provide support for structures such as docks, bridges, cofferdams, or platforms.
  • Set up dive sites for recreational instruction.
  • Supervise or train other divers, including hobby divers.
  • Take appropriate safety precautions, such as monitoring dive lengths and depths and registering with authorities before diving expeditions begin.
  • Take test samples or photographs to assess the condition of vessels or structures.