Divers and Diving Technicians

Commercial divers must possess numerous technical job skills. Working conditions may vary tremendously depending upon the nature of the work, the duration of the job, and the geographic location. Recreation specialists are frequently responsible for the welfare of inexperienced divers. Although they may work in a resort, under seemingly idyllic conditions, satisfying the needs of a group of diverse individuals may sometimes be stressful.

Some offshore sites include boats ranging from under 100 feet long to much longer oceangoing ships. Also, oil drilling vessels and many types of barges provide working and living bases for diving technicians.

Working hours or shifts offshore may only require the diving crew to be available if needed, as is common on drilling vessels. More often, however, as in construction work or jobs that are continuous and predictable in nature, the dive crew will work up to 12 hours a day, seven days a week. As might be expected, the more rigorous work provides greater pay.

Living conditions aboard ship or barge are usually comfortable, if not cramped. Rooms may accommodate from two to as many as eight people, depending on vessel size. Food, of course, is furnished on all rigs where crews must live aboard.

Diving technicians are taught to be conscious of appropriate clothing and safety practices and to follow these guidelines as they work in the potentially dangerous conditions encountered in deepwater diving.

Offshore work, especially construction diving, is rigorous and often physically demanding. Persons entering this field must be physically fit. Companies commonly place a maximum age limit, usually 30 to 32 years, for entry-level employees seeking to become divers. Although many divers work well into their 40s or 50s or older, long-duration deep diving is considered a young person's work.

Travel, excitement, and some amount of risk are a part of the diving technician's life. While on the job, technicians should be self-starters, showing initiative and the ability to work independently as well as on a team.

People who choose a career in diving should be ready to adapt to a lifestyle that seldom offers stable home and family life. They must be able to follow the work and can expect occasional changes in job locations. There is also the reality of an uncertain work schedule, where a job might last for months or where the only available work may be on a short-term basis. Offshore work tends to run in a "feast or famine" pattern.

Divers and diving technicians must be confident of their own ability to cope with the uncertainties and risks of deepwater diving. They must be able to analyze and solve problems without panic or confusion. For most divers, there is real satisfaction in confidently and successfully performing tasks in an unconventional setting.