Divers and Diving Technicians

The world is increasingly turning to the sea to supply mineral resources, new and additional sources of food and medicine, transportation, and national defense. This growth in marine activity has resulted in a continuing demand for qualified divers and diving technicians. The U.S. Department of Labor reports that employment for commercial divers will grow by 8 percent from 2023 to 2033, or faster than the average for all careers.

New graduates must make a long-term commitment to become successful divers. Entry-level positions can be low-paying and mostly on dry land, but with a few years of experience, gradually spending more time in the water and learning skills on the job, they usually are rewarded both in terms of pay and job satisfaction.

In the past few decades, the greatest demand for skilled divers and diving technicians has been related to the search for more petroleum and natural gas from undersea oil fields. With the production of oil and gas from the oceans, there was a virtual explosion in the amount of work and the numbers of people employed. Whether this activity will be a source of new jobs in the future is uncertain. Employment will depend on levels of drilling activity, which, in turn, will depend on world oil prices. Traditionally, divers have been able to find jobs even during tough economic times, although it will take longer before a newcomer gets "wet" on an assignment. Diving technicians also have the flexibility to switch into the commercial diving areas in order to take advantage of job openings.