Most commonly reported Work Activities

•   Performing General Physical Activities Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
•   Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
•   Handling and Moving Objects Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
•   Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
•   Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
•   Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
•   Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
•   Operating Vehicles, Mechanised Devices, or Equipment Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanised equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
•   Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
•   Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Working Life

A commercial diver can work in, such as construction, retrieval, maintenance, inspection, welding, repairs, deep sea exploration, and photography.

-Offshore Divers

-Onshore Divers

-Naval Divers

-HAZMAT Divers

-Scientific Divers

-Media Divers

Aquaculture Divers 

-Divers play an important role on fish farms, they are the eyes of management under the water and report on the condition of fish, nets and mooring systems.

-Fish farms need divers to remove dead fish from the bottom of the cages to prevent disease and assist in net changing and in-water net cleaning operations.

-Divers carry out regular mooring surveys and inspections, checking for wear on chains and vital components.

-The work can be very demanding and divers can spend many hours in the water each day

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Take appropriate safety precautions, such as monitoring dive lengths and depths and registering with authorities before diving expeditions begin.
• Check and maintain diving equipment, such as helmets, masks, air tanks, harnesses, or gauges.
• Communicate with workers on the surface while underwater, using signal lines or telephones.
• Descend into water with the aid of diver helpers, using scuba gear or diving suits.
• Obtain information about diving tasks and environmental conditions.
• Supervise or train other divers, including hobby divers.
• Inspect the condition of underwater steel or wood structures.
• Inspect and test docks, ships, buoyage systems, plant intakes or outflows, or underwater pipelines, cables, or sewers, using closed circuit television, still photography, and testing equipment.
• Repair ships, bridge foundations, or other structures below the water line, using caulk, bolts, and hand tools.
• Recover objects by placing rigging around sunken objects, hooking rigging to crane lines, and operating winches, derricks, or cranes to raise objects.

Further Information

• Diver- from: N.C.S. [UK]

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

 Realist

Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.

Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.

To qualify as a professional diver, trainees must obtain a training certificate from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Training combines practical work and theory. It is possible to undertake specialised courses in radiography, photography, and welding, for example. There are several HSE- UK approved training centres. The training courses at these centres are privately run and can be fairly expensive.  These courses are to comply with HSA Health & safety authority Diving guidelines.  

Offshore & Scuba Diving 

Inland & Inshore Diving 

Irish Diving Association Diver training map 
 
You also could work as an underwater robotic technician; piloting and maintaining remotely operated vehicles used when divers are at risk in dangerous or deep locations. An aptitude for physics and electronics is needed for this.  
 
There is a range of courses available in Ireland for those wishing to train as a diving instructor. The Garda and Armed Forces also train divers.

Sample Education and Training Pathways
A number of courses are available throughout the country that focus on learning and skills that may be useful for this career. The examples and links below may guide you in your research. 

Further Education (FET)
Further Education & Training (FET) Courses are delivered by local ETBs, ranging in duration from several weeks up to 20 months. Courses are designed to meet the labour market needs and often include a large element of work experience.

Example search terms include: engineering technology, operations, welding, fabrication.

Search for FET Courses

PLC Courses (FET)
PLC courses are full-time courses, one or two years duration, with awards at Level 5 and 6 on the NFQ. They are offered nationally in Schools and Colleges of Further Education.

Example search terms include: BIM, commercial scuba diving operations, surface supplied diving, engineering, technology, robotics, electronic technology, pre-university mechatronics.

Search for PLC Courses

Apprenticeships: 
Apprenticeships are structured work-based training programs that combine on-the-job training with classroom instruction. They run from 2 – 4 years and are open to individuals of all ages, including school leavers, those seeking a career change, and existing employees who wish to upskill.

Examples: Engineering, Instrumentation, Metal Fabrication Apprenticeships.

Search for Apprenticeships

Higher Education CAO (Undergraduate) 
Higher Education courses at Levels 6 to 8 on the NFQ, delivered in Universities and Technological Universities & Institutes. Courses run from 2 – 5 years and places are allocated on a points-based system, processed by the Central Application Office.

Example search terms include: automation, robotics, automated systems, intelligent devices, electronic, engineering, physics, instrumentation.

Search for CAO Courses

Professional Development 

Professional development (CPD) courses are specialised training, formal education, or advanced professional learning that improves skills, professional knowledge, competency, and overall effectiveness in the professional world.

BIM Board Iascaigh Mhara: National Fisheries College 

HSA Health & Safety Authority of Ireland: Diving 

Irish Diving Association 

Irish Underwater Council

Check the Useful Contacts tab on this page to see if there are any professional bodies listed who may provide training related to this career.

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €26k - €59k

Salaries vary by employer, role, duties, location, shift pattern, and experience. 

Data Source(s):
Indeed / Morgan McKinley/ WRC

Last Updated: March, 2024

Note: The following information relates to occupations that include: Smiths and forge workers; farriers; core makers (metal trades); moulders (metal trades); die casters; sheet metal workers; sheet metal fabricators; panel beaters (metal trades); welders; fabricators/welders; welding technicians; Metal plate workers, Pipe fitters; and riveters

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Despite declines in 2020 and 2021, the five-year annual average employment growth was strong (6%), with employment levels for this occupational group reaching their highest levels to date. The demand for welders has persisted, with employers (Skills for Growth) and the Recruitment Agency Survey both citing welding positions as difficult to fill, typically for roles requiring MIG/TIG and arc welding skills or for the machinery manufacturing sector. Job vacancies advertised through the DSP included welder/fabricators, pipefitters, and sheet metal workers/fabricators, while online job adverts, although small in number, grew by 16% year-on-year, driven by increases for sheet metal workers. Employment permits related to welders/fabricators, pipe fitters and, to a lesser extent, sheet metal workers.

Output from the further education and training system has increased in recent years: compared to pre-COVID levels (in 2019), the number of industry and craft awards in welding and metal fabrication grew by 388 and 77 awards, to reach nearly 1,600 and 145 awards respectively. Smaller numbers of awards were made to qualifying apprentices in pipefitting and sheet metal working (combined 38 awards in 2022).

Recent growth in the number of new apprentice registrations in metal fabrication, pipefitting and sheet metal working are expected to lead to further increased output for these occupations in the medium term. The SOC classification system does not capture the extent of the merging of skills in these roles; welder, fabricator and even pipe fitter skills are merging which span both this and the occupation below. Although welders are employed across sectors, shortages are particularly emerging for qualified and experienced welders/fabricators in industry including high tech.

• Public Appointments Service

  • Chapter House, 26/30 Abbey Street Upper, Dublin 1, D01 C7W6
  • (01) 858 7400 or Local: 1890 44 9999
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA)

  • Carlyle House, 235 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London SW1V 1EJ
  • +44 (0)20 7824 5520
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Irish Underwater Council

  • 78A Patrick Street, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin
  • (01) 2844601
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Professional Diving Academy

  • Unit 19, Sandbank Business Park, Highland Avenue, Dunoon PA23 8PB
  • 01369 701701
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here