Commercial Diving Careers

Commercial diving has long been known as one of the most rewarding careers for those who enjoy both being in the water and working with their hands.

The mixture of physicality and intelligence needed to be successful as a commercial diver results statistically in a small percentage of the people calling this trade their profession.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) calculates a relatively low total number of commercial divers in the United States.

In the U.S., Approximately 3720 commercial divers are currently employed by varying companies, and the mean salary of these 3720 is $51360, calculated the BLS.

A Demanding And Rewarding Career

Though physical fitness may not be a priority for many professions in the Unites States, what the BLS fails to say about commercial divers is that a degree of fitness is required for any of these divers to do their jobs well.

Diving is a physical task that, though not necessarily strenuous when working just beneath the surface of a river, lake, or waterway, including the ocean, jobs many times do require diving to a great depth. This in turn requires stamina and a great deal of physical fitness, and is therefore a job that many should expect will challenge them to maintain an above-average physical condition.

This requirement of excellence is reinforced partly by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), a government agency which ensures the safe operation of companies and sufficient employee health.

Commercial divers may have to receive a physical evaluation before working for many companies given certain OSHA enforced regulations.

Though the reason for high regulation in this industry may not be the most obvious, it is upon just how much goes into getting a job done safely and correctly in the deep.

Diving beyond a certain point results in the need for special breathing apparatuses and non-oxygen mixtures that allow for aspiration while preventing compression problems with the body. Certain operations must also take place in extremely cold temperature water and can require what are known as “hot water suits.”

This said, for the ones truly interested in commercial diving, solace is in preparation.

Category: Commercial Diving