Annual Salary
variable
Average UK salary in 2022 was £33,200
(source Office for National Statistics)
Swap to Fishing or Port management or go back to all job sectors
Swap to Fishing or Port management or go back to all job sectors
Divers work underwater at sea, or in rivers, lakes, canals and reservoirs.
Average UK salary in 2022 was £33,200
(source Office for National Statistics)
You could work: evenings / weekends / bank holidays; away from home
There will be
1.1% fewer Diver jobs in 2027.
As a diver, your duties will depend on the type of diving you do.
You could:
You may need to wear protective clothing.
You could work underwater or in an office.
Your working environment may be cold, dirty and physically and emotionally demanding.
You can get into this job through:
You may be able to apply for diver training through your employer. For example, if you're in the police, armed forces or work for a marine engineering company. Once qualified, you could work with an underwater unit.
Similarly, if you work in scientific research, like oceanography or archaeology, your employer may put you through specialist diver training, so that you can carry out tasks underwater.
You could apply directly for jobs if you've got the right diving and safety qualifications.
You'll also need experience relevant to the industry you're working in. For example, you'll need a background in welding to work as an offshore underwater engineer, repairing pipelines or cables.
You can do a course with a commercial training organisation or professional body to get your diving qualifications.
Training must be approved by the Health and Safety Executive. Examples include courses offered by the:
You'll need to:
You might find it helpful to have experience of recreational scuba diving before training as a commercial diver.
Many diving schools offer assessments to help you decide whether you'll be suited to working underwater.
You can find out more about commercial and leisure diving careers through the:Health and Safety Executive; British Sub-Aqua Club; Professional Association of Diving Instructors; International Marine Underwater Contractors Association
You'd normally be self-employed as a commercial diver.
With experience and further training, you could take up roles with extra responsibility like a dive leader or instructor, or a life support technician, supporting divers in a compression chamber.
If working in a dive centre, you might move into management.
You could also set up a business, or work in a related field where diving skills are useful, like swimming pool or aquarium maintenance.
You'll need: