Is commercial diving a good career
Emily Dawson
Published May 24, 2026
Commercial diving is a rewarding career, albeit sometimes dangerous. Military veterans have been specifically trained to handle dangerous situations, which is why so many veterans thrive in the commercial diving industry.In fact, when considering a career in commercial diving, military experience is a major plus.
Is being a commercial diver worth it?
No, commercial diving is not a good career option. The pay is low and if you are a fresher you will be exploited like hell if you get a job. This field used to be a professional work and with good day rate job. The safety is not good especially onshore diving you will be working on your own life risk.
Is it hard to get a job as a commercial diver?
Very little. The fantastic thing about becoming a commercial diver is that there are relatively few requirements. Applicants don’t even need to be qualified scuba divers. Commercial diving centers are operated by experienced divers who have years of experience between them.
Is there a demand for commercial divers?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the projected employment growth for commercial divers is faster than average at a rate of 5% through the year 2029.Do commercial divers make good money?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, commercial divers and underwater welders have a mean (average) hourly wage of $26.32, while the mean annual wage is approximately $54,750. Additionally, the top percentile (90%) can make approximately $93,910 or more.
Is scuba diving a good career?
Yes, surprisingly, there are non-diving positions to be had in the scuba industry. … So the opportunities are there – certainly, we are always on the lookout for good instructors, not just in the Andamans but also in the various cities, and so is virtually every other dive center that we know.
How much do commercial divers make a month?
If you want to make saturation diving part of your career, prepare for many hours within a hyperbaric environment. Generally speaking, saturation divers can make up to $30,000 – $45,000 per month.
How often does a commercial diver work?
Usually work about 40 hours a week. May work overtime to meet deadlines or help with emergencies. May work only part of the year. In some areas, commercial divers do not work in the winter.What is the salary of a commercial diver?
The average salary for a commercial diver in California is around $57,020 per year.
How long do commercial divers work for?What is the job like? A commercial diving career is often physically demanding. A diver can expect to be out at sea working for anywhere from two to six weeks at a time, and probably working at least 10-hour days.
Article first time published onWhy do you want to become a commercial diver?
You’ll need the ability to problem solve and work as a team, a professional attitude, good awareness of safety and reliability. A bit of a sense of adventure helps too. If you enjoy working with your hands or tinkering with things like bikes and cars then diving could suit you.
How long do commercial divers live?
As we saw, the TDA study yields 10-15 years of life in the commercial diving occupation. But in the end, an underwater welder’s life expectancy doesn’t solely depend on one factor. The two most important variables of keeping welder-divers safe include proper training and company safety regulations.
Is commercial diving safe?
Commercial diving is a dangerous maritime job. … Instead, much of commercial diving is related to underwater construction work or oil rig work, which means using a lot of heavy, big equipment. Even for trained and experienced divers, this is risky work and accidents, injuries, and even fatalities are possible.
What is the highest paying diving job?
- HAZMAT Diving: Considered one of the dirtiest jobs in commercial diving, HAZMAT commercial diving offers great compensation including benefits an average salary of over $58,000. …
- Saturation Diving: …
- Nuclear Diving: …
- Off-Shore Commercial Diving:
What's the highest paying job?
- Cardiologist. National average salary: $351,827 per year.
- Anesthesiologist. National average salary: $326,296 per year.
- Orthodontist. National average salary: $264,850 per year.
- Psychiatrist. National average salary: $224,577 per year.
- Surgeon. …
- Periodontist. …
- Physician. …
- Dentist.
Can you make a living as a dive instructor?
Some Dive Instructors make as low as US$500/month while others can make US$4000-US$6000/month and others will make anything in between. A scuba diving instructor salary and how much a diving instructor can make, depends on a few important factors. For example: Fixed salary or commission based dive salary.
Is Underwater welding worth it?
For many welder-divers, the variety and scope of the work available, in addition to the earning potential, is what makes underwater welding such an attractive option. Underwater Welders can easily clear more than $100,000 per year if they line up a steady stream of projects year-round.
How long can a commercial diver stay underwater?
Once saturated to a depth, the decompression time is the same regardless of whether the dive lasted one day or 15 days. Most international standards are based on a maximum of 28 days “seal to seal” — the time from entering the chamber to leaving it.
What welding jobs pay the most?
- Rig Welder. Image Credit By: PO3 Patrick Kelley, commons wikimedia. …
- Underwater Welder. Image Credit By: Petty Officer 1st Class Charles White, defense.gov. …
- Nuclear Welder. …
- Industrial Pipeline Welder. …
- Military Support Welders. …
- Welding Engineer. …
- Certified Welding Inspector. …
- Pipe Welder.
Are diving jobs in demand?
Commercial divers are in high demand. Now is a great time to enter the industry.” Another factor is an uptick in the number of storms and hurricanes.
What jobs can you get as a scuba diver?
- #1 Dive Guide or Dive Instructor. …
- #2 Dive Shop Owner or Manager. …
- #3 Boat Captain. …
- #4 Public Safety Diver. …
- #5 Scientific Diver. …
- #6 Marine Biologist. …
- #7 Underwater Archeologist. …
- #8 Golf Ball Diver.
How much do scuba divers make an hour?
The average pay for a Scuba Diver is $60,103 a year and $29 an hour in Canada. The average salary range for a Scuba Diver is between $44,207 and $73,373.
Does underwater welding shorten your life?
Underwater welding by itself will do nothing to shorten the lifespan of a diver. The fumes of the welding rods do not get into the divers air supply. The bigger issues are the depths that these guys work under. The length of time at depths and the depths themselves.
Do underwater welders make good money?
Underwater welders can earn some serious money: With the proper experience, you can easily take home over $100,000 in a year according to divers and diving school representatives I’ve spoken with and researched. Most earn around $25,000 – $80,000 annually.
How much does a diver welder make?
According to commercial divers and global statistics, the average underwater welding salary is $53,990 annually and $25.96 per hour. However, most incomes float around $25,000 – $80,000. Diver welders in the top 10% make $83,730 while the bottom 10% pull in $30,700.
How do you become a professional diver?
- Step 1: Complete High School. …
- Step 2: Prepare for Commercial Diver Training. …
- Step 3: Complete Diver Training Program. …
- Step 4: Gain Work Experience. …
- Step 5: Complete Certification to Pursue Professional Advancement.
What do you do as a commercial diver?
Their job is to help explore, maintain oil platforms, and build underwater structures used in oil and gas production. The job is very demanding and it is even considered by some as the most dangerous diving job. A new diver will have a better chance in starting a career in commercial diving by doing offshore diving.
Is it hard to become a diver?
Is it hard to learn to scuba dive? As active recreational pastimes go, scuba diving is one of the easiest to learn. While you’re gliding around enjoying the underwater sights, you’re engaged in only three basic skills: floating, kicking and breathing. … The necessary skills are not tough for most people to master.
How do I start a commercial diving business?
- Start With a Well-Researched, Realistic Business Plan. …
- Be Prepared to Work 40-50 Hours a Week. …
- Buying a Dive Shop Vs. …
- Avoid the Most Common Mistake New Dive Shop Owners Make. …
- Choose the Right Business Partner. …
- PADI Business Academy. …
- PADI Regional Managers. …
- Other PADI Benefits.
How many years does it take to become a commercial diver?
In just six months, you can gain the expertise, training, and certifications required to enter the satisfying and lucrative world of commercial diving. Our commercial diving program is 25 weeks and 900 clock hours, which makes it a comprehensive but quick way to get your career started!
Is scuba diving bad for your health?
Can I be seriously hurt while scuba diving? Yes. The most dangerous medical problems are barotrauma to the lungs and decompression sickness, also called “the bends.” Barotrauma occurs when you are rising to the surface of the water (ascent) and gas inside the lungs expands, hurting surrounding body tissues.