Occupational Diving CareersVideo Clips & Information
What is Occupational Diving?
Call it what you will, these are all variations on a theme of a job as a working diver. A good definition of occupational diving is: “Diving in the course of employment (irrespective of whether or not diving is the principal function of employment or merely an adjunct to it) and comprising all diving work carried out:
The important thing to note is that divers are not employed to dive, as such, but to carry out some specified work tasks whilst underwater. With the exception of the recreational sector, diving is primarily a method of getting to a work site that happens to be underwater. The work task may range from civil engineering to archaeology. Diving is only the means of getting the worker to and from a work site and carrying out their tasks. Career OptionsThe “diving industry” can be considered as a number of sectors where people need to go underwater to work. There are different types of working divers, each demanding different skills and competencies. These include: Offshore Diving in support of the offshore oil and gas industries. Usually it is contract based and seasonal. Offshore diving is probably the most well known sector of commercial diving, with divers working in support of the exploration and production sector of the offshore oil and gas industry around the world – the Middle East, the South China Sea, the Gulf of Mexico in the United States and the North Sea in the United Kingdom and Norway. The work in this area of the industry typically revolves around the maintenance of oil platforms and the building of underwater structures used in the production process. Onshore Diving is conducted in support of civil engineering or marine-related projects and fish farming. The number of dive sites this covers is varied however, and divers can be found working in harbours and lakes, on hydroelectric dams, in rivers and around bridges and pontoons, with the bulk of this work being undertaken in freshwater. Onshore divers typically earn less per hour than their colleagues who work offshore, but the ability to work from home for many divers is an advantage. Seafood or Aquaculture Diving is conducted in support of marine-related projects and fish farming is a growth industry around the world. Divers undertake a number of support roles in wild harvesting of fish stocks such as Tuna and then farming them in sea cages. Similar diving support is undertaken in the salmon, finfish and abalone farm industries. Wild catch is undertaken by occupational divers in support of the pearling, abalone, beche de mer, crayfish and similar industries. Scientific and Archaeological Diving in support of scientific research and education, and archaeological investigation of sites of historic interest. Media Diving in support of film or TV productions which require divers to work as stunt performers, journalists, presenters, photographers, camera operators, sound and lighting technicians, and unit crews. Police and Armed Forces These divers are specialists who are generally chosen from personnel already in the service. They undertake a variety of tactical and support roles involving underwater search and rescue, evidence recovery, reconnaissance, amphibious assaults, demolition and salvage, mine clearance and anti-terrorist operations. Diving is physically and mentally demanding. Some potential divers drop out of the training because they find they are not suited to working underwater. Good health is absolutely essential. At the earliest possible stage you should consider completing an initial medical questionnaire to see if there is anything in your medical history that might preclude you from a career in diving. Please see "Medical fitness” More to come!! (Under construction) Approved QualificationsUnder most Australian diving legislation and AS/NZS 2299.1:2007, occupational divers are required to be trained in accordance with the provisions of the standard and to have a certificate from the Australian Diver Accreditation Scheme or occupational diver training establishment or the relevant regulatory authority.To see which qualification is appropriate for the diving work you are considering, go to Overview of ADAS Qualifications Commercial Diving CompetenciesAS/NZS 2299.1:2007 requires that occupational divers be trained and qualified in accordance with the appropriate part of the Australian Standard 2815 Parts 1 – 4‘Training and certification of occupational divers’.The various parts relate to occupational Occupational SCUBA to 30 m (Part 1), SSBA to 30m (Part 2), SSBA to 50m (Part 3) – and Closed Bell Diving (Part 4). See Overview of ADAS Qualifications.
To be eligible for a Closed Bell Diving qualification a diver must have one year’s experience diving offshore using surface supplied diving equipment and techniques If a person fails to reach the required competence, the ADAS diver training establishment will refuse to recommend that ADAS award the qualification. If this happens the person can appeal within 28 days for a review of the decision using the ADAS appeals procedure. What is Diving at WorkDivers are not employed to dive, as such, but to carry out some work tasks underwater. These tasks may range from civil engineering to archaeology. Diving is only the means of getting the worker to and from a work site and carrying out tasks. Potential working divers should ideally already possess the technical skills that are relevant to the job. For example, construction workers may require welding, non-destructive testing or rigging qualifications, while divers involved in an archaeology project may require a degree in archaeology. You need to have both the diving skills and work skills that employers want - the more skills that you possess - or develop - the more sort after you will be, the better paid you will be and the better the work you will be offered.
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