Commercial Divers (7382)

Job titles

• clearance diver
• commercial diver
• commercial free-diver
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Nature of work

Commercial divers perform underwater activities related to construction, inspection, search, salvage, repair and photography. They are employed by commercial diving contractors, shipping and marine construction companies, and oil and gas companies with offshore operations.

Fields of interest

• Making or building things, constructing, doing repairs, and performing installations
• Working outdoors or with the environment

Main duties

• Commercial divers perform some or all of the following duties:
• - Perform offshore oil and gas exploration and extraction duties such as underwater surveys, nondestructive testing, blasting, construction, and repair and maintenance of drill rigs and platforms
• - Operate underwater video, sonar, recording and related equipment for scientific or exploratory purposes
• - Inspect vessels, buoyage systems, pipelines, sluice gates, plant intakes and outfalls and other materials, visually and by nondestructive testing
• - Perform construction duties such as welding and installing pilings for cofferdams or footings for piers, and maintain these and drydocks, breakwaters, marine ways and bridge foundations using hand and power tools and pneumatic equipment
• - Operate winches, derricks or cranes to manipulate cables and chains to raise sunken objects
• - Set up and detonate explosives to remove obstructions and break up or refloat submerged objects
• - Participate in underwater search and rescue, salvage, recovery and clean up operations
• - Check and maintain diving equipment such as helmets, masks, air tanks, harnesses, gauges, air compressors, diving suits, underwater cutting torches and welding equipment
• - May supervise and train other divers.

Employment requirements

• * Completion of secondary school is usually required.
• * A commercial diver must meet the requirements of CSA Standard Z275.4-02, Competency Standard for Diving Operations.
• * An Occupational Diver Certificate of Competency issued by the Diver Certification Board of Canada (DCBC) or qualification earned through a formal education program, training courses in diving or a combination of education and practical experience is required.
• * Certification of competency for divers is required.
• * Military or police diving experience may be required.
• * A provincial blaster's licence is usually required for the setting and detonation of explosives.
• * A diving medical examination from an approved hyperbaric physician is required.

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