Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Diver

🎯 Role Definition

A Diver performs professional underwater work across commercial, industrial and scientific environments, including inspection, maintenance, construction, salvage and emergency response. This role demands strict adherence to safety and decompression protocols, proficiency with surface-supplied and SCUBA systems, and the ability to operate and support subsea tools, ROVs and survey equipment. Ideal candidates combine diving certifications and sea time with practical skills in welding, cutting, rigging, inspection and clear client communication.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Trainee/Apprentice Commercial Diver or Dive Tender
Recreational Dive Instructor or PADI/NAUI Instructor moving into commercial work
Offshore/Maritime Deckhand or ROV Technician transitioning to diving

Advancement To:

Lead Diver / Senior Diver
Diving Supervisor or Diving Safety Officer
Subsea Technician / ROV Pilot
Underwater Welding Foreman or Project Manager

Lateral Moves:

ROV Operator / Technician
Subsea Inspection Technician (NDT)
Offshore Rigging & Lifting Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Plan and execute safe dive operations for underwater inspection, maintenance and construction projects, including pre-dive briefings, risk assessments, dive profiles and decompression schedules in accordance with company procedures and regulatory standards.
Perform underwater inspections of marine structures, pipelines, hulls, piers, pontoons and subsea equipment using visual inspection, video documentation, sonar, and photogrammetry to identify corrosion, damage, marine growth and structural defects.
Execute underwater welding and cutting tasks (SMAW/GMAW and thermal cutting) to repair or modify steel structures, pipelines and fittings while maintaining industry welding quality standards and ensuring appropriate underwater welding procedures are followed.
Conduct complex salvage and recovery operations involving lifting, rigging, airbag deployment and coordinated surface support to recover vessels, cargo or equipment from shallow and deep-water environments.
Operate and maintain surface-supplied diving systems, umbilicals, helmets, full-face masks and life-support equipment, performing pre- and post-dive checks and routine servicing to ensure equipment reliability and diver safety.
Deploy, operate and support remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and sonars to augment diver operations, perform video surveys, and assist with precision placement, survey and inspection tasks in low-visibility or hazardous conditions.
Carry out non-destructive testing (NDT) inspections underwater such as ultrasonic thickness testing (UT), magnetic particle inspection (MPI), dye-penetrant testing and visual measurement to verify material integrity and inform repair decisions.
Coordinate rigging and lifting operations topside and subsea, selecting slings, shackles and lifting gear, calculating load limits and communicating rigging signals to crane and winch operators to safely move heavy components.
Prepare and maintain detailed dive logs, inspection reports, turbine/structure checklists, photo/video records and client deliverables, ensuring accuracy for regulatory compliance and project QA/QC.
Conduct topside and underwater emergency response including rapid deployment for diver rescue, casualty recovery, on-site first aid and coordination with hyperbaric chambers and medical teams when required.
Maintain hyperbaric chamber protocols and participate in decompression chamber operations, including chamber shifts, record-keeping and safe transfer of divers to medical care when necessary.
Supervise and mentor junior divers and dive tenders, providing hands-on training in dive technique, safety procedures, equipment maintenance and emergency drills to build team capability.
Interface with clients, project managers, engineers and surveyors to interpret work scopes, provide technical recommendations, estimate dive time and resources, and ensure deliverables meet project specifications and budgets.
Conduct pre-job site surveys from the surface and underwater to identify hazards such as entanglement, strong currents, submerged debris or biological fouling and recommend mitigation strategies before commencing dive work.
Manage breathing gas systems including gas blending, cylinder handling, fill procedures and gas analysis to maintain correct gas mixes for air, nitrox and mixed-gas dives in accordance with accepted medical and safety standards.
Execute precision installation and removal of subsea equipment, including buoyancy modules, anodes, flange/bolt replacement, subsea connectors and cable routing while ensuring alignment and torque specifications are met.
Troubleshoot and repair underwater hydraulic and pneumatic tools and power packs, conducting functional tests both underwater and topside to restore operational capability with minimal downtime.
Support inspection and maintenance of marine renewable energy assets (e.g., tidal turbines, offshore wind foundations) including blade inspections, scour protection and cable checks to support clean-energy sector projects.
Enforce safety management systems and regulatory compliance including IMCA/ADCI/OSHA/NORSOK/other regional standards, attending safety meetings, contributing to permit-to-work procedures and improving on-site safety culture.
Participate in project planning, logistics coordination and materials handling, including stage planning, equipment mobilisation/demobilisation, tool inventories and coordination with vessel crews to optimize dive windows.
Conduct environmental monitoring and compliance tasks such as documenting protected species presence, adhering to marine protection guidelines and following client/environmental mitigation plans during operations.

Secondary Functions

Maintain and inspect diving plant, tenders’ tools and consumables, ensuring calibration, spares stocking and preventative maintenance schedules are met.
Assist with ROV deployment, tether management and data capture to support survey and inspection tasks when diver access is limited or unsafe.
Support project documentation by compiling as-built records, annotated photos, CAD markups and daily operation summaries for client reports and regulatory audits.
Participate in regular emergency drills, hyperbaric chamber training and first aid/CPR re-certifications to ensure readiness for high-risk events.
Provide technical input during tendering and estimating phases, identifying potential dive risks, required equipment and labour hours to produce accurate time and cost estimates.
Liaise with vessel crews, crane operators and shore logistics to sequence lift plans, loading/unloading and mobilization to minimize vessel time and operational costs.
Train and certify dive tenders and rigging personnel in basic diver assistance procedures, umbilical handling and communications protocol to strengthen team performance.
Support continuous improvement initiatives by documenting near-misses, suggesting corrective actions and contributing to updated SOPs and safety briefings.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Commercial diving certification from an accredited program (e.g., IMCA-recognised, ADCI, local recognized commercial diver school) with demonstrated sea time.
Proficient in surface-supplied diving systems, helmet operations (Kirby Morgan, DESCO), umbilical management and bell/saturation systems where applicable.
SCUBA certification and practical experience with open-circuit and closed-circuit systems, including nitrox and mixed-gas dive planning.
Underwater welding and cutting experience (SMAW/GMAW/oxy-arc), with documented weld samples and adherence to underwater welding quality control procedures.
Non-destructive testing (NDT) methods for subsea inspections: ultrasonic thickness testing (UT), magnetic particle (MPI), dye-penetrant testing and advanced visual inspection techniques.
ROV launch and recovery basics, video logging and the ability to collaborate with ROV pilots for combined diver/ROV operations.
Competency with subsea survey equipment: side-scan sonar, multi-beam echosounder, hand-held sonar units and photogrammetry hardware/software.
Rigging and lifting knowledge for subsea applications, including sling selection, safe working load calculations, taglines and crane signaling.
Gas blending and cylinder management skills, including gas analysis, partial pressure calculations and safe handling of breathing gases.
Hyperbaric chamber familiarization, decompression theory, dive physiology and emergency treatment procedures for decompression sickness.
Proficiency with inspection reporting software, digital imaging/video editing, and the ability to produce professional client-ready documentation.
Mechanical aptitude for maintaining hydraulic, pneumatic and electrical subsea tooling and topside power packs.

Soft Skills

Strong safety mindset with a track record of following and promoting safety-critical procedures and incident reporting.
Clear and professional communication with clients, supervisors and vessel crews, both verbal and written.
Situational awareness and the ability to make calm, confident decisions under pressure in high-risk environments.
Team player who mentors junior staff, supports cross-functional crews and contributes to a positive safety culture.
Problem-solving aptitude to diagnose equipment faults, adapt to changing conditions and propose practical remedial actions.
High physical fitness, stamina and manual dexterity to work in confined, cold and physically demanding underwater conditions.
Time management and organizational skills to balance multiple tasks, meet project timelines and maintain accurate records.
Attention to detail for inspection reporting, welding quality control and adherence to engineering tolerances.
Adaptability to offshore schedules, variable weather windows and extended periods away from shore.
Client-focused attitude with a commitment to delivering quality outcomes and maintaining professional on-site conduct.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or equivalent (GCSE/A-levels, High School Diploma, or equivalent) plus completion of an accredited commercial diving training program.

Preferred Education:

Technical diploma or associate degree in commercial diving technology, maritime studies, welding technology, marine engineering or related field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Commercial Diving Technology
Marine Engineering or Naval Architecture
Welding and Fabrication Technology
Offshore Operations and Safety
Oceanography / Marine Science

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

2 to 10+ years of diving experience, depending on project complexity and operational environment (inshore, offshore, heavy construction, saturation).

Preferred:

3–7 years for offshore projects; 5+ years for senior diver or supervisory positions with demonstrable underwater welding, NDT and subsea construction experience.

Certifications & Medical Requirements (commonly requested)

Commercial Diver Certification (IMCA/ADCI recognized or local equivalent)
Surface-supplied diving and SCUBA certifications
First Aid, CPR and Advanced Life Support for divers (DAN oxygen provider preferred)
Valid medical fitness certificate for diving and offshore work, including hyperbaric clearance
Offshore survival training (BOSIET/FOET) for offshore roles
Saturation diver certification (where applicable) and hyperbaric chamber attendant training for specialized roles

If you want this job description tailored to a specific sector (offshore oil & gas, renewable energy, harbor maintenance, or scientific diving) or to a specific region's certification requirements, tell me the sector and location and I’ll adapt the responsibilities, certifications and salary range accordingly.