Commercial Divers

Career Description: Work below surface of water, using scuba gear to inspect, repair, remove, or install equipment and structures. May use a variety of power and hand tools, such as drills, sledgehammers, torches, and welding equipment. May conduct tests or experiments, rig explosives, or photograph structures or marine life.

Industry: Installation, Maintenance, and Repair

Other Job Titles for Commercial Divers:

• Realistic: Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
• Investigative: Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
• Artistic: Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
• Social: Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
• Enterprising: Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
• Conventional: Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
• First Interest High-Point: Primary-Rank Descriptiveness
• Second Interest High-Point: Secondary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness
• Third Interest High-Point: Tertiary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness

• Communicate with workers on the surface while underwater, using signal lines or telephones.
• Take appropriate safety precautions, such as monitoring dive lengths and depths, and registering with authorities before diving expeditions begin.
• Check and maintain diving equipment such as helmets, masks, air tanks, harnesses and gauges.
• Descend into water with the aid of diver helpers, using scuba gear or diving suits.
• Obtain information about diving tasks and environmental conditions.
• Inspect and test docks, ships, bouyage systems, plant intakes and outflows, and underwater pipelines, cables, and sewers, using closed circuit television, still photography, and testing equipment.
• Repair ships, bridge foundations, and other structures below the water line, using caulk, bolts, and hand tools.
• Cut and weld steel, using underwater welding equipment, jigs, and supports.
• Recover objects by placing rigging around sunken objects, hooking rigging to crane lines, and operating winches, derricks, or cranes to raise objects.
• Install pilings or footings for piers and bridges.
• Take test samples and photographs to assess the condition of vessels and structures.
• Install, inspect, clean, and repair piping and valves.
• Operate underwater video, sonar, recording, and related equipment to investigate underwater structures or marine life.
• Remove obstructions from strainers and marine railway or launching ways, using pneumatic and power hand tools.
• Salvage wrecked ships and/or their cargo, using pneumatic power velocity and hydraulic tools, and explosive charges when necessary.
• Set or guide placement of pilings and sandbags to provide support for structures such as docks, bridges, cofferdams, and platforms.
• Perform activities related to underwater search and rescue, salvage, recovery, and cleanup operations.
• Supervise and train other divers, including hobby divers.
• Carry out non-destructive testing such as tests for cracks on the legs of oil rigs at sea.
• Drill holes in rock, and rig explosives for underwater demolitions.
• Remove rubbish and pollution from the sea.
• Perform offshore oil and gas exploration and extraction duties such as conducting underwater surveys and repairing and maintaining drilling rigs and platforms.
• Cultivate and harvest marine species, and perform routine work on fish farms.
• Set up dive sites for recreational instruction.
• Measure and mark vinyl material and cut material to size for roof installation, using rules, straightedges, and hand shears.
• Clean, refuel, and change oil in line service aircraft.
• Communicate with other workers to coordinate fitting and alignment of heavy parts, or to facilitate processing of repair parts.
• Trim and shape replacement body sections to specified sizes and fits and secure sections in place, using adhesives, hand tools, and power tools.
• Clean engines, sediment bulk and screens, and carburetors, adjusting carburetor float levels.
• Prepare and paint aircraft surfaces.
• Spread plastic film over areas to be repaired to prevent damage to surrounding areas.
• Check for corrosion, distortion, and invisible cracks in the fuselage, wings, and tail, using x-ray and magnetic inspection equipment.
• Disassemble engines and inspect parts, such as turbine blades and cylinders, for corrosion, wear, warping, cracks, and leaks, using precision measuring instruments, x-rays, and magnetic inspection equipment.
• Determine repair limits for engine hot section parts.
• Cure bonded structures, using portable or stationary curing equipment.
• Listen to operating engines to detect and diagnose malfunctions such as sticking or burned valves.
• Accompany aircraft on flights to make in-flight adjustments and corrections.
• Remove, inspect, repair, and install in-flight refueling stores and external fuel tanks.

Emerging Tasks

• Inspect the condition of underwater steel and wood structures.
• Clean and lubricate bicycle parts.
• Help customers select bicycles that fit their body size and intended use of the bicycle.
• Install and adjust brakes and brake pads.
• Install new tires and tubes.
• Order bicycle parts.
• Sell bicycles and accessories.

• Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Assisting and Caring for Others: Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
• Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
• Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment: Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates: Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
• Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Interacting With Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Monitoring and Controlling Resources: Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Performing Administrative Activities: Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public: Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Performing General Physical Activities: Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Provide Consultation and Advice to Others: Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
• Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment: Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment: Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
• Selling or Influencing Others: Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• Staffing Organizational Units: Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
• Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Detailed Work Activities

• adhere to safety procedures
• assemble, dismantle, or reassemble equipment or machinery
• build or repair structures in construction, repair, or manufacturing setting
• burn (cut), trim, or scarf metal objects
• charge blasting holes with explosives
• cut metal or plastic
• determine amount or kind of explosive needed to complete job
• erect machinery in marine or maritime setting
• estimate time or cost for installation, repair, or construction projects
• fabricate, assemble, or disassemble manufactured products by hand
• identify base metals for welding
• identify properties of metals for repair or fabrication activities
• inspect machinery or equipment to determine adjustments or repairs needed
• maintain or repair boat or ship hull or superstructure
• maintain repair records
• maintain welding machines or equipment
• move or fit heavy objects
• operate cameras
• operate video recorders
• perform safety inspections in industrial, manufacturing or repair setting
• position, align, or level machines, equipment, or structures
• read blueprints
• read specifications
• read work order, instructions, formulas, or processing charts
• repair or replace gas, steam, sewer, or water piping or fixtures
• select ship repair method
• set up specialized rigging
• signal directions or warnings to coworkers
• stretch, bend, straighten, shape, pound, or press metal or plastic
• understand construction specifications
• use acetylene welding/cutting torch
• use arc welding equipment
• use combination welding procedures
• use hand or power tools
• use two-way radio or mobile phone
• weld together metal parts, components, or structures
• repair electronic components, equipment, or systems
• repair or adjust measuring or control devices
• repair or maintain office, vending, or related equipment
• repair or replace electrical wiring, circuits, fixtures, or equipment
• repair or replace malfunctioning or worn mechanical components
• replace electronic components
• solder electrical or electronic connections or components
• stock or organize goods
• test electrical/electronic wiring, equipment, systems or fixtures
• test electronic or electrical circuit connections
• test mechanical products or equipment
• understand service or repair manuals
• understand technical operating, service or repair manuals
• use computers to enter, access or retrieve data
• use electrical or electronic test devices or equipment
• use electronic calibration devices
• use hand or power tools
• use knowledge of metric system
• use oral or written communication techniques
• use precision tools in electronics repair
• use soldering equipment
• use spray paint equipment
• use voltmeter, ammeter, or ohmmeter
• verify bank or financial transactions
• use vehicle repair tools or safety equipment
• use voltmeter, ammeter, or ohmmeter
• weld together metal parts, components, or structures
• write vehicle damage repair estimates
• use machine tools in installation, maintenance, or repair
• use oral or written communication techniques
• use pneumatic tools
• use precision measuring devices in mechanical repair work
• use soldering equipment
• use voltmeter, ammeter, or ohmmeter
• weld together metal parts, components, or structures
• write vehicle damage repair estimates
• use electrical or electronic test devices or equipment
• use electronic calibration devices
• use engine diagnostic equipment
• use hand or power tools
• use knowledge of metric system
• use knowledge of welding filler rod types
• use lifting equipment in vehicle repair setting
• use machine tools in installation, maintenance, or repair
• use pneumatic tools
• use precision measuring devices in mechanical repair work
• use precision measuring tools or equipment
• use soldering equipment
• use voltmeter, ammeter, or ohmmeter
• use x-ray or magnetic inspection techniques
• weld together metal parts, components, or structures

Overall Experience
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

Job Training
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers.

Education
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Some may require a bachelor's degree.

Examples
These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include funeral directors, electricians, forest and conservation technicians, legal secretaries, interviewers, and insurance sales agents.

• Average hourly wage (2007) -$20.01
• Average annual wage (2007) - $41,610.00

• Projected growth (2006-2016): 17.71%
• Projected need (2006-2016): 555
• Employment (2006): 3,133

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