The Ins and Outs of the Professional Diving Industry

The professionals at American Underwater Services weren't born yesterday. Like most professional divers, they've undergone extensive training to become specialists in their respective fields of expertise. From maintenance and construction to marine salvaging, commercial divers learn a wide range of skills to meet the needs of municipalities, neighborhoods, government agencies, and industries. American Underwater Services professionals handle various tasks like diving in contaminated waters, inspecting underwater facilities, removing silt, providing dewatering services, and dredging ponds. 

But those professionals only acquired their skills with hard work and preparation, the kind of time investments that assure our customers quality services that meet their unique needs. In order for them to meet those needs, they must first learn a variety of trades like offshore, onshore, and HAZMAT diving. They also learn how to use a range of tools for welding, building, cleaning, inspecting, or pumping. Knowing how to swim helps, too. 

So, what kind of professionals fit that kind of description? 

"The basic requirements include a high school diploma or equivalency," said The Ocean Corporation of Houston's Bob Browning, per DiveTraining magazine. "Applicants must also pass a diving physical." 

And, of course, they also have to know what to do once they are underwater. 

"A strong mechanical inclination is another important trait for anybody who wants to be a commercial diver," explained CDA Technical Institute's Allen G. Garber. "A potential candidate ought to at least know what a crescent wrench is and how to use it." 

Experience in the profession certainly is a good thing. Still, younger divers have their places once they adequately complete their training. That said, there is always time to join the profession. 

"We had one student who completed our program at age 59," Garber added. "It was just something he always wanted to do. And as it turned out, he found work in the inland and coastal commercial diving sector." 

Age isn't an issue, nor is gender. Women may not dominate the industry, but they hold their own. 

"They do well and have no more difficulty finding a job as a commercial diver than do the guys," Santa Barbara City College's Judy Lough noted. Divers Institute of Technology executive director John Paul Johnston in Seattle concurred, saying, "We have about 10 percent women attending our school, and they do a fantastic job. I think it's a great career for women to consider." 

Before those students become actual divers, they must first obtain certification from the Association of Diving Contractors International (ADCI), which has existed since 1968. They also attend schools like the Divers Institute of Technology and the International Diving Institute. 

There's no such thing as the prototypical diver. Those interested in mechanics or construction are generally well-suited to the requirements, as is anyone with a passion for exploring underwater conditions (including recreational diving) and inspecting equipment or infrastructure. Advanced technology is also increasingly widespread, creating a need for electronically savvy minds with 21st-century experience. From that perspective, some level of technical education is pivotal. 

"Having at least an associate's degree can be vital for those who want to move up into a supervisory or management position with a commercial diving company," argued College of Oceaneering's Laura Feher. "Many of our graduates will continue with our online programs to improve their resumes and become more competitive in the workplace." 

And, of course, that doesn't have to be the end of a diver's educational endeavors. Beyond on-the-job training, many return to school to hone their skills and expand their horizons. 

"As an educational institution, we encourage our students to complete their associate's degree before entering the workforce," Lough added. "Often, after four to six years of working as a commercial diver, they want to return to school to complete a bachelor's degree and take advantage of other opportunities. It's easier if they already have their associate's degree out of the way." 

Every educational institution and experience differs, but a broad-spectrum awareness of underwater proficiencies is crucial. For example, the Minnesota Commercial Diving Training Center exposes students to various scenarios. 

"We have class 10 hours a day, six days a week, and we break our students up into two pods of six people so that every student gets to do every job, including diving and tending, every day," explained owner and president Bill Matthies. "We also train in various open-water environments so our students get lots of experience. In addition to our 13-foot training pool, we dive in the Mississippi River, which is 'fast and dirty,' and in nearby iron mines that offer depths of more than 500 feet [152 m]." 

Once graduated from such programs, divers possess the diverse and multifaceted capabilities to enter the workforce in stride. From there, the sky is the limit. 

Many divers explore offshore opportunities while others enjoy more stable employment working on inland bodies of water. Some diving jobs require more specialization than others. HAZMAT divers, for example, often work in hazardous conditions when completing maintenance or cleaning up sludge, cement, or radioactive material. Such divers also must wear HAZMAT suits that restrict their movement. 

Companies often call American Underwater Services to handle tasks for projects that need services. There's The availability of work depends mainly on demand—for example, the extent to which parks or homeowners associations decide to have ponds dredged. 

"Right now, there's a boom in commercial diving, and everybody is getting hired, but that won't last forever," notes expert Tamara Brown. The commercial diving industry historically operates in cycles, so anyone entering it should be ready for the slow times. Divers learn many skills that translate to topside jobs as part of Divers Academy International's 30-week training program, including nondestructive testing, welding, hazardous material handling, and rigging." 

Certain events can precipitate the need for even more help. 

"There are roughly 4,000 oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, and about 3,000 of them need repair due to Katrina," Brown adds. "About half of those rigs are just gone – swept away. Completing the task will take at least another five to eight years." 

Unique situations can create demand for a professional diver's services. Shipwrecks or sunken cargo may require debris removal. Intake and outfall systems often need repair or cleaning. Divers also inspect manned digital video. 

As with most careers, pay varies. Divers can command higher salaries as they gain experience and sharpen their skills. Similarly, well-established companies are generally in a better position to afford paying these more experienced divers. The good news is that any trained diving specialist can make a comfortable living. After starting with salaries that range between $40,000 to $60,000 per year, more veteran divers can earn anywhere from $100,000 to $150,000 annually. Sometimes, pay depends on the quality of someone's educational experience and where they work. 

"Most of our graduates start with jobs in the Gulf of Mexico, where they start making around $1,800 per week," Browning explains. 

The jobs themselves can be rewarding, especially for those interested in engineering. However, they aren't easy. 

"Those divers earn every penny they make," Garber said. "Many guys who go into it thinking it's easy to make a fast buck quickly learn otherwise." 

In addition to the physical requirements and travel associated with commercial diving, some projects require extended stays away from home and long workdays. While that lifestyle isn't for everyone, the good news is that the professionals who work with companies like American Underwater Services are dedicated and enjoy their jobs. Each project is unique and requires strategic planning and communication that keeps clients happy, too. 

American Underwater Services has always prided itself on hiring top-of-the-line specialists to handle first-rate equipment and perform any job. We're confident you'll love their work, thanks to their training, professionalism, and client commitment.