Technical Diving as a career?

[Scuba_Nick27]

Hello, I am sorta new to scuba diving, but I really want to get into technical/commercial and related fun stuff. Does commercial diving make for a good career? Obviously there are risks, but what are the benefits that counter those risks? I have a friend that does commercial diving. He inspects bridges and pipes and machinery, mostly inshore work; but he is hard to reach so I can't get much information out of him... So the question is, how good is commercial diving as a career?

 

[Marie13]

That’s not technical diving. That’s commercial diving. If you’re getting paid for it, commercial diving.

 

[Scuba_Nick27]

That’s not technical diving. That’s commercial diving. If you’re getting paid for it, commercial diving.

My bad. He said he was certified in technical, but now I guess that he is commercial. What do you think of that as a career? Worth the time, money and effort?

 

[KenGordon]

Hello, I am sorta new to scuba diving, but I really want to get into technical and related fun stuff. Does technical diving make for a good career? Obviously there are risks, but what are the benefits that counter those risks? I have a friend that does technical diving. He inspects bridges and pipes and machinery, mostly inshore work; but he is hard to reach so I can't get much information out of him... So the question is, how good is technical diving as a career?

I suspect you mean commercial diving not ‘technical’ diving. Generally technical diving is taken to mean deeper or particular complicated recreation (a season in for fun) diving. Examples might include multi gas deco, caves, wreck penetrations. Here (the UK) most such activity is explicitly not allowed for commercial diving without so much support it becomes impractical without enormous budgets.

If your really mean technical as in the sense of deep trimix etc, then the main thing seems to be teaching. If you want to be a good teacher you ought to really know your stuff and be doing the diving you are teaching for.

 

[broncobowsher]

My technical dive instructor is about as good as they get. Teaches multiple rebreathers. Works as a safety diver on research vessels (makes sure the engineers who are paying more attention to there research projects than to there diving make is back safe). He still has a day job selling flooring, kitchen and bath remodels. So I will say that pure technical diving isn't really a career path. If you find a way into one of the companies that makes gear, you could make a career out of that.

Now if you really mean commercial diving, that is a completely different game. Which is a lot of not diving and supporting the few that dive for a long time. After a lot of that you might start getting to dive a little bit.

 

[Scuba_Nick27]

I suspect you mean commercial diving not ‘technical’ diving. Generally technical diving is taken to mean deeper or particular complicated recreation (a season in for fun) diving. Examples might include multi gas deco, caves, wreck penetrations. Here (the UK) most such activity is explicitly not allowed for commercial diving without so much support it becomes impractical without enormous budgets.

If your really mean technical as in the sense of deep trimix etc, then the main thing seems to be teaching. If you want to be a good teacher you ought to really know your stuff and be doing the diving you are teaching for.

Yeah I messed up, I edited the post. I would make a bad teacher to be honest. I tried teaching different things (not diving) and I'm not good.

 

[Scuba_Nick27]

My technical dive instructor is about as good as they get. Teaches multiple rebreathers. Works as a safety diver on research vessels (makes sure the engineers who are paying more attention to there research projects than to there diving make is back safe). He still has a day job selling flooring, kitchen and bath remodels. So I will say that pure technical diving isn't really a career path. If you find a way into one of the companies that makes gear, you could make a career out of that.

Now if you really mean commercial diving, that is a completely different game. Which is a lot of not diving and supporting the few that dive for a long time. After a lot of that you might start getting to dive a little bit.

Yeah I meant commercial, I edited the post and changed that. So you say that if I were to go into commercial diving, I really wouldn't really dive... why so?

 

[Graeme Fraser]

Yeah I meant commercial, I edited the post and changed that. So you say that if I were to go into commercial diving, I really wouldn't really dive... why so?

The good news is you've got age on your side. The bad news is commercial training does not come cheap.

Regards the comment "not really diving", that comes down to two things;

1 when you start out, you'll be tendering for other divers. Then stand-by diver, then, gradually you'll get some dives once you've earned your stripes.

2 diving is just how you get to work. The actual work itself could be survey, broco, welding, construction, pipe laying, etc. Imagine working on a building site except you're underwater.

I'd suggest doing some internet and YouTube research on commercial diving and training to see if it's something you want to pursue. Just remember, oil prices and the ROV's have an effect on work and there could be quite a few experienced guys fighting for the same limited opportunities.

However, if you're keen and willing to commit, it could be a great career.

Good luck

 

[100days-a-year]

Market is saturated. Schools turned out more divers than needed. I hired two grads a couple years ago who were looking at either offshore oilfield work or high paying inshore work not swimming in poo. Not much available so they ended up spearfishing with me. As we regularly dove greater that 130' with planned deco you could call it technical.

 

[Scuba_Nick27]

The good news is you've got age on your side. The bad news is commercial training does not come cheap.

Regards the comment "not really diving", that comes down to two things;

1 when you start out, you'll be tendering for other divers. Then stand-by diver, then, gradually you'll get some dives once you've earned your stripes.

2 diving is just how you get to work. The actual work itself could be survey, broco, welding, construction, pipe laying, etc. Imagine working on a building site except you're underwater.

I'd suggest doing some internet and YouTube research on commercial diving and training to see if it's something you want to pursue. Just remember, oil prices and the ROV's have an effect on work and there could be quite a few experienced guys fighting for the same limited opportunities.

However, if you're keen and willing to commit, it could be a great career.

Good luck

Did you ever go into commercial? Or do you know anyone that is/did commercial?