Divers and Diving Technicians

Employers

Approximately 4,000 commercial divers are employed in the United States. The major employers of divers and diving technicians are companies in search of petroleum and natural gas from undersea oil fields. Hydroelectric power generating plants, dams, heavy industry, and sanitation plants that have cooling water lines or water discharges are also a source of work for divers and surface crews. Certain ship repairs, usually of an emergency nature, require divers who can repair the trouble at sea or in dock, without placing the ship in dry dock to correct the problem. Some also work as diving instructors at diving schools or at resorts.