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: None of the listed recruiting agents on this page asks for any placement fee - neither in advance nor later.

Please note 4: 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 [like UN for United Nations] and you don't know the meaning, put your mouse arrow on top of it and you get an explanation.

International list of HSE 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 ). A certified welder-diver is required to be both a certified welder and a certified commercial diver ( US Welding-Diving FAQ ). Tips for choosing your first underwater welding school (US). Some of the advice is usable also in other countries.

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   . ADCI is a nonprofit organization that was formed to establish industry wide standards for commercial diving in the United States. International list of approved offshore diving qualifications (07/2007).

Current world-wide lists 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 . World wide directories of NDT Societies by country and of NDT-related websites - A - M and N - Z.

Overview of International CSWIP Certification     including:
- BGAS - British Gas Approvals Scheme
- AWS  - American Welding Society
- FBTS - Brazilian Welding Foundation
- SAIW - South African Institute of Welding
- WTIA - Welding Technology Institute of Australia
CSWIP Requirement Documents.

The Asian Welding Inspectors' forum "How to Become a Welding Inspector ?" shares some light on the profusion of different codes for inspectors, like: CSWIP, PCN, CWI, etc.

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

The right for a commercial diver to cure and compensation for a work related injury is a legal matter. For information ( US ) see: Legal Rights of a Commercial Diver.

Required Skills and Qualifications

I quote here from Commercial Diving Academy ( US ) resource page:

QUOTE "The skills and qualifications suggested for entering the field of underwater welding are generally recognized as an experienced welder-diver with commercial diving skills. This means you should be familiar with the use of specialized commercial diving equipment, have an understanding of diving physiology, safety, rigging, the underwater environment and communication. You should also be proficient in weld setup and preparation skills such as those tasks typically assigned to a fitter or rigger, such as materials alignment and materials preparation including beveling, stripping of concrete, fitting a steel patch or repair plate. In addition, you will have to certify to a required underwater weld procedure." UNQUOTE

Many commercial offshore diver-welders are certified to several different welding standards and procedures. Divers with trade or practical work backgrounds will gain employment more readily than those without, having already demonstrated the type of skills needed for the sub-surface work being undertaken.

I quote an e-mail received: "every piece of paper helps. there are so many people out there looking for jobs. even the experienced guys will not get a look in if they are requiring a specific ticket and don't have ticket. the ticket will get you on the job... it's all an insurance thing."

Read welder-diver work / training background article or a factual description of actual diving work.

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. Individual employers can require more frequent check-ups.

Divers require additionally AMED [ HSE Approved Medical Examiner of Divers ] medical certification, which must be renewed yearly.

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. It's common divers who already know the underwater environment gets additional training as underwater welders and NDT / welding inspectors.

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.

• Required documents for CSWIP certification of offshore Underwater ( Diver ) Inspectors, ROV Inspectors, and Underwater Inspection Controllers ( Grades 3.1U - 3.4U ).
  
  
• Australian requirements for deep sea 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.
  
  
• Training and examinations for Lloyd's Register of Shipping Approved Diver Inspector certification. Scroll all the way down to bottom of page.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• Commercial Diver training in South Africa. Training approved / recognised by IMCA.
  
  
• List of ACDE ( Association of Commercial Diver Educators ) members ( commercial diving schools ) in USA.
  
  
• Non-mandatory welding skills upgrading training courses ( UK ). Welding for instance in stainless steel and/or copper alloys - special purpose pipes. Certification to BS, AWS, and some other standards. Use contact form for enquiries.
  
  
• Internationally recognised underwater wet welding training ( US).
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• Air / Mixed Gas Commercial Diver course ( US - Jacksonville, FL ), 16 weeks (720 hrs), total cost USD 17.400 (about USD 24/hr). Including NDT underwater levels I & II, ACDE Commercial Diver Card, which is recognised by IMCA
  
  
• List of commercial diver training schools. After January 01, 2009, candidates for Canadian Diving Supervisor certificate cannot any more get their required experience before taking the training course.
  
  
• Commercial diver training in South Africa. South African ticket ( certificate ) level 3 is recognized by IMCA.
  
  
• NDT and welding Inspection / Inspector training in Singapore. AWS and API certification. Get onshore /offshore API, AWS, and NDT training schedule for year 2009.     Enquiries by e-mail.
  
  
• Worldwide list of Welding Inspection and NDT courses ( UK ) - certification ( CSWIP ).
  
  
• 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. CSWIP 3.1U Non Destructive Testing course for divers with a minimum qualification of HSE Surface Supplied or equivalent, 2 weeks.
  
  
• Offshore wet welding diving courses at The Underwater Centre, Freemantle - Australia. ADAS [ ADAS Part 1, 2, and 3 ] certification up to Dive Supervisor. The training centre can assist in finding employment after successful training.
  
  
• Dutch language - Nederlands - website with diver training courses, including details on schools, for professional offshore divers.

Salary Examples

Offshore salaries ( wages ) are calculated and based on a 84 hrs work week, i.e. 12 hrs per day 7 days per week. When the job listings give a day rate you won't get paid when you relax at home. If the day rate is USD 300 and rotation two weeks on / two weeks off, you get about 15 x 300 = USD 4.500 per month.

Many employees offshore are being turned into sub-contractors. This means mostly short time contracts with a day rate pay. Each sub-contractor is then individually and personally responsible for his own taxes, social security, pension fund, insurance etc.

Note that the actual salary paid a certain person depends very much on number of years offshore, his/her actual work experience, and the geographical location of the job site. Underwater welders are typically paid per project ( i.e. a lump sum ). The final amount depends very much on skills required to complete the project successfully. With a long history of completed complicated projects the chargeable amount rises considerably.

One UK £ ( GBP ) equals about 1.2 € (Euro) or about 1.5 USD (Dec. 2008).

Underwater welder - Gulf of Mexico, USD about 80.000 per year.
CSWIP 3.2 Inspection Divers, Gulf of Thailand, USD 450 per day (Aug. 2008).
Underwater welder-diver, offshore Australia, about AUD 1.300 per day (abt. 870 USD ).

There are more salary examples to be found in many of the vacancy lists - follow the links below.

Diving Employment Opportunities

When the salary ( wage ) offered is stated as a day rate you are paid only for the time working, not when you are at home resting. If the day rate is USD ($) 300 per day and your rotation is 14 days on / 14 days off, you get about 15 x 300 = 4.500 US $ per month.

• Diving personnel careers in North Sea, Europe, and occasionally International, with subsea, offshore diving, and ROV operations. Salaries offered are given in list of vacancies, mostly UK £ (GBP) per day. You have to register before you get full employer's contact details.
  
  For Angola, Africa - rotation 60 days on / 60 days off (2-3 years contracts), Brazilian and/or Portuguese nationals preferred - IMCA class 2 or higher certification: Divers ( Air ), Dive Superintendents and Supervisors ( Air ). Salary indications are not available. Use diving personnel link above.
  
  
• International US based subsea job listings like Senior Electronic Dive Technicians and occasionally Experienced ROV pilots. Click on position name for more info and to apply.
  
  
• US based diving and underwater construction company offers jobs for local diver and dive supervisor applicants in USA and Turkey. Must have minimum one year commercial diver experience. Use online form.