Please note 1: Every link on this page opens in a new window. If your "Pop-up killer" is too efficient it can also stop new windows. When this happens, please press "Ctrl" and click on the link you want.

Please note 2: Jobs Available are changing all the time. I recommend you come back every one to two weeks and check what is available. Go to the job listings on each individual website below and check for new opportunities. Positions listed indicate the kind of jobs one usually finds on each website. It's very easy if you add this page to your "Favourites" (IE) or "Bookmarks" (Firefox).

Please note 3: When the recruiting agent have an on-line application form, you must use it - if you don't, your application goes straight into the waste basket.

If you come upon an acronym and you don't know the meaning, put your mouse arrow on top of it and you get an explanation.

International list of approved qualifications - Offshore Diving ( UK ) [07/2007]. IMCA runs an internationally accepted offshore diving supervisor certification scheme.

Get guide how to start a career as an underwater welder with an overview of the future career opportunities for welder-divers ( US source ).

Especially the North Sea is a mature oil field and there are several old oil rigs and other structures that are expected to be decommissioned within the next 5 years - before 2015. Part of this work will be done by underwater welders / cutters because of shallow water.

There is a continuous demand for higher quality standards for underwater welding and more certification of underwater welding systems and personnel. Some of these jobs, especially in deep water, will be carried out by UUV, remotely controlled robots.

Rules concerning "Commercial Diver and ROV Pilot / Technician Certification Cards" by ADCI as revised 10/2005 (pdf). International list of approved offshore diving qualifications (07/2007).

Offshore diver medicine training courses are listed on Offshore Medical Jobs.

Current world-wide list of British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing accredited training schools and establishments, mostly in Europe and Asia. You can also download a PDF version giving full details on the courses offered.

Offshore Medical Certificates

For offshore work you must get an "offshore medical" certificate. Use search function to find an authorized doctor (UK listings only) in any town in UK. More information about the offshore medical in different countries.
Americans should check the Medical Guidelines for Offshore Workers.

For the North Sea there are three kinds of offshore medical certificates:
- UK, covers UK only,
- Norwegian, covers Norwegian and UK sectors,
- Dutch, covers Dutch, Norwegian, and UK sectors
All three different certificates are valid for two years for persons below 50 years of age.

Safety and Survival Certificates

• BOSIET: "Basic Offshore Safety Instruction and Emergency Training". Includes Safety, Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting, First Aid and Hypothermia, Helicopter Safety and Escape, and Survival at Sea. Also called "Offshore Survival Certificate" or "Offshore Survival Course". Valid for 4 years.
  
• FOET: "Further Offshore Emergency Training"
  
• HUET: "Helicopter Underwater Escape Training"

For additional information on these certificates, please go to Offshore Training and Certificates.

With the increase of floating drilling and production units there is now an increasing grey area where it's not always clear whether to apply STCW-95 or offshore certification rules. As a "rule of thumb" one can say, if a floating unit is classified as a ship STCW AND OFFSHORE certificates are required. If it's not classified as a ship only offshore certificates are mandatory and work contracts are individual, not ITF based.

Underwater Welder-Diver Training and Certification

Some diving and underwater welding training centres and certificate requirements are listed on this page.

Specific training and certification requirements can vary by geographical location according to local requirements and regulations. When applying for a job it's therefore necessary to apply only to suitable vacancies and to clearly specify what certificates you have.

• CSWIP requirements for underwater certification.
  
  
• Australian requirements for diver certification ( ADAS ).
  
  
• Internationally recognized certification in the Offshore Diving Industry by IMCA.
  
  
• In Canada the only National body to certify offshore commercial divers and diving supervisors is the Diver Certification Board of Canada. The certificates issued are recognized by Australia, France, Norway, South Africa, UK ( HSE ), and the International Diving Contractors Association ( part of IMCA ).
  
  
• Diving manuals and links to NDT & Inspection documentation and equipment manuals.
  
  
• Commercial Diver training, Canada, 12 weeks. Professional divers' training courses list. The diving school / Institute assists with world-wide job placement after completed course. The course gives an Unrestricted Surface-Supplied Diver Certificate, which is recognized by IMCA and most concerned government authorities.
  
  
• Internationally recognized certification by US Diver's Institute. Training and certification for underwater welding and non-destructive testing.

• US diver welding training school in Houston ( Texas ) with courses for commercial divers, underwater welding and burning, and NDT welding inspectors ( level 2 ).
  
  
• Underwater welding school ( US ) with option for International welding certification and non-destructive testing levels I & II from UK.
  
  
• List of commercial diver training schools.
  
  
• Before January 01, 2009, candidates for Canadian Diving Supervisor certificate may get their required experience before taking the training course.
  
  
• Training (9 months) and certification ( Unrestricted Surface Supplied Diver ) of Commercial Divers ( underwater burning / welding and inspection ) and ROV Pilots / Technicians in [ Atlantic ] Canada. The page includes a list of Approved Canadian Diving and Hyperbaric Physicians.
  
  
• UK diving school with underwater cutting and welding courses, AWS or BS certification.
  
  
• UK national commercial diving school with courses for commercial air and mixed gas divers, ROV pilots / technicians, and Assistant Life Support Technicians.
  
  
• Dutch language - Nederlands - website with diver training courses, including details on schools, for professional offshore divers.

Are you still searching for your "dream job" ? If you try my job search engine, type as specific job description as possible. Example: trainee offshore diver-welder asia. Include the word "job" or "employment", otherwise the search engine doesn't "know" you are looking for a job. When you click on "Search" the search engine will check the current vacancies at all companies listed here.

If you don't find what you look for today, come back next week or the week after. There is a new vacancy every day somewhere in the world.


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