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Commercial and saturation diving blog

Guides, pay, career, equipment and market — 215 articles and counting.

Blog articles

Reader question·9 min readGuide

An American's route into North Sea diving

Training in Norway and working the UK sector: which certificates the HSE accepts, what the study permit needs, and where the saturation plan breaks.

In-depth guide·25 min readGuide

Underwater welding: the pay, the training and the myth

US commercial divers have a median of US$72,990 and a 90th percentile of US$157,790. What underwater welding really pays, what it costs and who gets hired.

In-depth guide·25 min readGuide

What a saturation diver actually earns

The 2026 North Sea minimum is £2,137.53 for a day in saturation. Here is how that is built, what a tour pays, and why the annual figure is far lower.

In-depth guide·29 min readGuide

Commercial diving certification: HSE, IMCA, ADCI, ADAS and DCBC

Five schemes, no automatic equivalence. Not one US qualification appears on HSE's approved list. What each ticket covers, costs and where it works.

In-depth guide·28 min readGuide

Commercial diver requirements: the medical, eyesight and age limit

What the commercial diving medical actually tests, scheme by scheme: HSE's 6/9 eyesight bar, the VO2 max bands, what disqualifies you, and the 12-month clock.

In-depth guide·23 min readGuide

What commercial diving school really costs

Commercial diving school costs US$1,852 to US$34,850 in the US alone, and £30,000 for closed bell. Every price dated, linked and itemised, with hidden costs.

In-depth guide·23 min readGuide

How to become a commercial diver with no experience

The honest route from zero: entry courses run 4 to 28 weeks, UK packages cost £14,995, and the 10th percentile of US divers earned US$43,330 in 2025.

In-depth guide·23 min readGuide

Commercial diver salary, country by country

Commercial diver salary by country: US median US$72,990 (May 2025), Canada C$34.72/hr, UK £33,400, Australia's award floor — and the honest gaps.

In-depth guide·26 min readGuide

How dangerous commercial diving really is

The often-quoted 180 deaths per 100,000 divers comes from a 1998 US estimate. Here is what HSE, BLS, IMCA and peer-reviewed research actually show.

In-depth guide·22 min readGuide

How deep a commercial diver can actually go

Commercial divers work to about 300 m: 17 of the 22 rated dive support vessels stop exactly there. The deepest working dive on record is 534 m, from 1988.

In-depth guide·29 min readGuide

28 days in saturation: what the month is actually like

Twenty-eight days is the ceiling, not the norm: 8-hour bell runs, 12 hours' rest, oxygen near 0.4 bar and decompression measured at 5 days 13 hours.

In-depth guide·22 min readGuide

Saturation Diving in Roblox vs the real thing

The Roblox game has over 5.6m visits. Here is what real saturation diving is: 28-day limits, four-hour lock-outs inside an eight-hour bell run, heliox.

7 October 2026·13 min readResearch

Who actually runs saturation diving

Just 17 of the 876 companies in our directory publish that they operate saturation systems, or one in 52. The full list, with country and category counts.

7 October 2026·14 min readResearch

The saturation fleet is 46 vessels, and it is middle-aged

We counted 46 saturation dive support vessels worldwide. Of the 24 that publish a build year the median is 2009.5, and one has arrived since 2020.

7 October 2026·13 min readResearch

The 300 metre wall: why the saturation fleet stops there

Of the 22 dive support vessels that publish a rated depth, 17 stop at exactly 300 metres. Why that number is an industrial standard, not a physical limit.

7 October 2026·13 min readResearch

493 berths: the closest thing to a saturation diver headcount

We added up the diver capacity of every dive support vessel that publishes one: 493 berths across 28 ships, plus 18 vessels that publish nothing at all.

7 October 2026·13 min readResearch

Who owns the saturation dive support fleet?

We counted the operator of every active saturation DSV: 22 companies hold the 45 ships, the largest of them holds five, and 10 hold one vessel each.

7 October 2026·13 min readResearch

How much of the offshore estate is beyond diver depth?

We measured the water depth of 87 offshore platforms. Only 35 sit in 300 m of water or less — 41.2%. The median platform sits in 500 m, beyond any bell.

7 October 2026·14 min readResearch

Same job title, different job: North Sea against the Gulf of Mexico

Our 87-platform directory: the 22 North Sea platforms sit in a median 140 m of water, the 19 in the Gulf of Mexico in 1,330 m. Why basin decides the job.

7 October 2026·13 min readResearch

The global map of commercial diving, counted

We sorted all 876 companies in the satdiver directory by country. The United States and the United Kingdom hold 26.8% of them; the top ten hold 54.5%.

7 October 2026·13 min readResearch

Five of 34 schools teach saturation diving

Of the 34 diving schools in satdiver's directory, just 5 publish a saturation course: one each in Australia, the US, Norway, Singapore, South Africa.

7 October 2026·12 min readResearch

We checked how reachable 876 diving companies are

We audited how all 876 commercial diving companies publish contact details: two thirds give a phone or email, but just 3.1% name a person to ask for.

23 September 2026·16 min read

TM-035: The Diving Regulation for Professional Divers, Explained

What Chile's TM-035 diving regulation covers, where to find the official PDF, and why it doesn't fix depths by category, despite what other sites claim.

23 September 2026·17 min read

Professional diver's licence in Chile: the full guide to the process

Guide to the commercial diver's licence in Chile: documents, ages, exact fees, who examines you, and why its one-year validity confuses almost everyone.

23 September 2026·18 min read

Chile's Diving Law: what Ley 21.789 is and what it changes

Ley 21.789, Chile's diving law, regulates divers' employment contracts for the first time: what changes, what's still missing, and what to demand now.

23 September 2026·18 min read

Where to Study Commercial Diving in Chile, City by City

Which commercial diving schools in Chile have verified data, city by city, and what to ask any other one in writing before you enrol and pay anything.

23 September 2026·16 min read

From the Chilean Licence to International Saturation: The Real Route

There are no saturation schools in Chile. Here's the real route: licence, years of water time, international certification, and only then the closed bell.

23 September 2026·16 min read

How Much a Commercial Diver Really Earns in Chile

WageIndicator's real 2026 range, one concrete supervisor job offer, and why diver pay data in Chile is so scarce. Nothing invented, everything sourced.

23 September 2026·17 min read

How Much Does a Commercial Diving Course Cost in Chile

The real breakdown: the SIS Capacitaciones course, DIRECTEMAR fees, medical certificate, equipment and the annual licence renewal, with verified sources.

23 September 2026·17 min read

How to Become a Commercial Diver in Chile

The step-by-step route to becoming a commercial diver in Chile: DIRECTEMAR licence, requirements, duration, cost, and what to expect in your first year.

23 September 2026·15 min read

Basic and intermediate shellfish diver: the real entry point into the trade in Chile

What each licence authorises, how the exam works, where to study, and what work basic and intermediate shellfish diver really gives you in Chilean aquaculture.

23 September 2026·17 min read

Diving on salmon farms: the work, the pay and the risks

What it's really like to dive at salmon farm sites: operations, pay, the subcontracting problem, and the accident figures you should know before you go down.

22 September 2026·9 min read

Underwater work at thermal power station water intakes

Inspection and cleaning of cooling intakes and outfalls at thermal power stations: screens, pipework, circuit isolation, and why it's critical-client work.

22 September 2026·9 min read

Underwater work at open-water fish farms

What ocean aquaculture diving is like: moorings, nets, mortality, cage inspection and the risks specific to working in open water.

21 September 2026·9 min read

What an HSE coordinator does on a diving project

The role of the HSE coordinator on a diving project: risk assessment, permits to work, equipment audits, incident investigation and the relationship with the supervisor.

21 September 2026·9 min read

What a dive logbook is, and how to keep one properly

The record that proves a professional diver's experience: what it should contain, who signs it, common mistakes and why it decides hiring.

20 September 2026·9 min read

Maintenance of ro-ro ramps and passenger gangways

Underwater work on ferry ramps and boarding gangways: supports, submerged hinges, foundations, wear from intensive use and windows between port calls.

20 September 2026·9 min read

Underwater inspection assisted by side-scan sonar

How side-scan sonar is used to locate objects and plan a dive: what it detects, what it doesn't, and how it combines with the diver's work.

20 September 2026·10 min read

How a quay inspection campaign is planned

From the client's request to the report: scope, grid, resources, port coordination and window management in an underwater quay inspection.

19 September 2026·8 min read

Commercial diving in Tunisia and Algeria: market and access

How commercial diving works in Tunisia and Algeria: ports, hydrocarbon terminals, Mediterranean gas pipelines, fishing, and the real ways into the market.

19 September 2026·10 min read

Commercial diving in Ireland: market and access

How commercial diving works in Ireland: ports, aquaculture, cables and interconnections, offshore wind, and what it takes to work there.

18 September 2026·12 min read

Underwater work at LNG terminals

What diving at LNG terminals is like: inspecting berths and water intakes, cathodic protection, permits to work and coordination with the control room.

18 September 2026·8 min read

Commercial diving in the Greek islands and the Aegean

How commercial diving works in the Greek islands and the Aegean: ferries, ship repair, small ports, inter-island cables and seasonality.

17 September 2026·12 min read

Hyperbaric systems technician on land: what the job involves

The trade of onshore hyperbaric chamber technician: assembly, maintenance, gas lines, pressure testing and vessel documentation.

17 September 2026·11 min read

Maintenance of navigation buoys: underwater work

Maintenance of navigation and marker buoys: sinkers, chains, shackles, periodic inspection and coordination with the port authority.

17 September 2026·12 min read

Non-destructive inspection of submerged concrete

Non-destructive testing of submerged concrete: what each method measures underwater, what limits the medium imposes and how the result is documented.

16 September 2026·10 min read

Commercial diving in Sweden and Finland

Commercial diving in Sweden and Finland: Baltic ports, hydraulic works, under-ice diving, and a small but technically demanding market.

16 September 2026·13 min read

Commercial diving in Morocco and the North African Atlantic

What underwater work exists in Morocco, how commercial diving works in Morocco for a European diver, and what to expect from ports, fishing and port works.

15 September 2026·11 min read

Commercial diving in France and the Atlantic coast

How commercial diving works in France: Atlantic tides, harbour works, nuclear and offshore wind, and its own national qualification scheme.

15 September 2026·10 min read

Commercial diving in the Philippines: market and access

Commercial diving in the Philippines: salvage, harbour works, hull work and why foreign access runs through the regional offshore circuit.

15 September 2026·10 min read

Commercial diving in the Black Sea: Romania and Bulgaria

Commercial diving in the Black Sea: ports in Romania and Bulgaria, harbour works, coastal energy activity and how to access the market from abroad.

14 September 2026·10 min read

Underwater work in marinas and sailing harbours

Diving in marinas and sailing harbours: pontoons, moorings, propellers, dropped objects and maintenance, with its own client and pricing structure.

14 September 2026·10 min read

Commercial diving in Colombia and the southern Caribbean

Commercial diving in Colombia: Caribbean and Pacific ports, port construction, hull work and offshore activity, with the keys to accessing the market.

13 September 2026·9 min read

How a diving equipment mobilisation is organised

Mobilising a diving team step by step: preparation, transport, customs, assembly on board, pre-dive testing, and the failures that delay campaigns.

13 September 2026·10 min read

How to write up an underwater inspection report

What goes into an underwater inspection report: structure, referencing photos and measurements, assessment criteria and what the client expects.

12 September 2026·10 min read

Diving in tunnels and penstocks: how it's done

Diving in submerged tunnels and penstocks: guideline, umbilical management, lighting, circuit isolation and exit planning.

12 September 2026·9 min read

Commercial diving in Poland and the southern Baltic

Commercial diving in Poland: southern Baltic ports, port construction, the gas terminal and offshore wind. What work is available and how to get in from outside the country.

12 September 2026·10 min read

Commercial diving in Argentina and Uruguay: what the market looks like

Commercial diving in Argentina and Uruguay: the ports of the Río de la Plata, river works, Atlantic offshore, qualifications, and the real routes into the work.

11 September 2026·9 min read

Electrical risk and isolation (LOTO) in underwater work

How hazardous energy is controlled before a dive: lockout-tagout, physical verification, suction hazards, pumps and electrical equipment.

11 September 2026·9 min read

Commercial diving in Germany and its river ports

Commercial diving in Germany: North Sea and Baltic ports, its river and canal network, locks, hydraulic works, and its own qualification scheme.

10 September 2026·10 min read

Removing lost fishing gear: a niche for divers

How lost nets and gear are removed underwater: locating them, entanglement risks, cutting technique, lifting, and what happens to the material afterwards.

10 September 2026·9 min read

What a diving superintendent does in the office

The diving superintendent manages projects from shore: planning, equipment, crew, client and safety. What they do, what it requires and how to get there.

10 September 2026·10 min read

Work dry suits: how to choose and maintain one

A practical guide to the professional diving dry suit: materials, necks and cuffs, booties, helmet compatibility, leak testing and maintenance.

9 September 2026·10 min read

How to put together a technical diving proposal

What an underwater work proposal needs: scope, method, equipment, personnel, risks, exclusions and price. A practical guide to putting one together.

9 September 2026·9 min read

Breathing air quality and diving compressors

What breathing air in professional diving requires: contaminants, filtration, intake location, periodic analysis and compressor maintenance.

8 September 2026·9 min read

Diving in contaminated water: equipment and procedure

How diving works underwater in contaminated media: risk classification, watertight equipment, encapsulated helmets, decontamination and health surveillance.

8 September 2026·9 min read

Commercial diving in Vietnam and Malaysia: market and access

How commercial diving works in Vietnam and Malaysia: offshore oil and gas, ports, companies, accepted certifications, and how to get into the market.

7 September 2026·9 min read

Underwater blasting: how a port's seabed rock is lowered

How rock is broken up underwater to gain draught: surveying, borehole drilling, the diver's role, safety and removing material after the blast.

7 September 2026·9 min read

Commercial diving in Portugal and the Iberian Atlantic

What the professional diving market in Portugal looks like: Atlantic ports, marine construction, aquaculture, marine energy, training and access to work.

7 September 2026·9 min read

Commercial diving in New Zealand and the South Pacific

How professional diving works in New Zealand: aquaculture, ports, marine construction, accepted certification and the reality of the South Pacific market.

6 September 2026·10 min read

How a professional diving accident is investigated

What happens after a professional diving accident: preserving evidence, panel and gas data, interviews, root cause and industry lessons learned.

6 September 2026·10 min read

Diving in drinking water: inspecting a tank without draining it

How a drinking-water tank is inspected and cleaned by a diver without draining it: dedicated equipment, disinfection, what's checked and why it's a diving job apart.

5 September 2026·9 min read

The environmental impact of underwater work and what's expected of the diver

Paint, sediment, noise and oils: what environmental impact underwater work generates and what's required today of a commercial diving team on site.

5 September 2026·10 min read

From diver to ROV pilot: how the jump really happens

How a commercial diver moves into ROV piloting or technician work: which skills transfer, what has to be learned from scratch, how you get in and how the career changes.

5 September 2026·9 min read

Commercial diving in South Africa and southern Africa: what work is available

The commercial diving market in South Africa: ports, hull work, Cape swell and offshore activity in Namibia and Mozambique.

4 September 2026·9 min read

Commercial diving in Italy and Greece: a very local market

How commercial diving works in Italy and Greece: ports and shipyards, cables and interconnections, aquaculture, seasonality and how to access the market.

4 September 2026·9 min read

Commercial diving in the Baltic Sea: civil works, cable and offshore wind

What commercial diving in the Baltic is like: cold, low-salinity water, short visibility, winter ice, harbour works, offshore wind and cables.

3 September 2026·9 min read

Commercial diving in Egypt: Suez, the Red Sea and gas fields

What commercial diving is like in Egypt: ship servicing at the Suez Canal and its anchorages, offshore gas fields, working conditions and how to get in.

3 September 2026·10 min read

Diving system audit: what they check and how to prepare

What a diving system audit checks: documentation, maintenance, gases, emergencies and competencies. Typical findings and how to arrive prepared.

2 September 2026·9 min read

Moving a diving system: the part of the job nobody sees and that decides the campaign

How a diving system is transported between countries: offshore containers, dangerous goods, customs, lifting certificates and mobilisation timescales.

2 September 2026·9 min read

Desalination plants: diving work on intakes and brine diffusers

What professional diving at a desalination plant is like: intake towers, screens, biofouling, brine diffusers, suction risk and working method.

2 September 2026·10 min read

Client rep: who represents the client on an underwater project and what they decide

What the client representative does on a diving operation, what they sign, where their authority ends, and why it is a natural path for the veteran diver.

1 September 2026·9 min read

Measuring thickness underwater: how it's done and where people go wrong

How to measure the thickness of a metal structure underwater with ultrasound: multi-echo, preparation, calibration, common mistakes and qualifications.

1 September 2026·10 min read

Fenders, piles and bollards: the berth maintenance nobody sees

How fenders, piles, sheet piling and caissons at a quay get inspected and repaired underwater: degradation, methods, risks and which diver does this work.

31 August 2026·9 min read

The subsea project engineer: the one who decides how the work will be done

What a subsea project engineer does: procedures, auxiliary equipment, planning, interfacing with the offshore team, and how to get into the role.

31 August 2026·10 min read

What to check in a campaign contract before signing it

What to check in a diving campaign contract: who's employing you, what does and doesn't get paid, medical cover, repatriation, termination and governing jurisdiction.

30 August 2026·10 min read

From daily report to invoice: how a diving job actually gets paid

How a diving job is invoiced: proposal units, the daily report, waiting time, change orders, certification and payment terms.

30 August 2026·9 min read

Chile and Peru: two commercial diving markets that aren't alike

What commercial diving is like in Chile and Peru: aquaculture, ports, fishing and industry, which authority regulates each country, and what to look at if you're coming from abroad.

30 August 2026·9 min read

Alaska and extreme cold water: how commercial diving changes when the water is at zero

What commercial diving is like in Alaska and in very cold water: equipment freezing, thermal protection, ice, remote logistics and what the work demands.

29 August 2026·10 min read

Hyperbaric rescue: getting a saturation team off a ship that has to be abandoned

What hyperbaric rescue is, how a saturation evacuation capsule works, who receives it ashore, and why it is the most complex scenario.

29 August 2026·10 min read

Gates and locks: the diving work that keeps inland navigation running

How a gate or lock gets inspected and repaired underwater: seals, guides, sills, cofferdams, current risks and which diver does this work.

28 August 2026·9 min read

The equipment that keeps you alive also expires: inspection and maintenance

How commercial diving equipment is inspected and certified: helmets, umbilicals, panels, cylinders and lifting gear. What the diver checks and what the workshop checks.

28 August 2026·10 min read

Inland diving in the United States: the other American commercial diving

What inland diving is in the United States, what work it includes, how to get in starting as a tender, and how it differs from Gulf of Mexico offshore.

28 August 2026·9 min read

Pressure water underwater: cleaning, breaking out concrete, and not ending up in hospital

How high-pressure water is used underwater to clean and break out concrete, what lance reaction force is, and why it demands so much respect.

27 August 2026·10 min read

Documentation and as-built: the half of underwater work nobody sees

What an as-built is on a subsea project, how video, measurements and anomalies get recorded, and why the report is worth as much as the work itself.

27 August 2026·9 min read

Diving supervisor course: what they'll expect of you and how to arrive prepared

What a commercial diving supervisor course assesses, what prerequisites it asks for, what the tests are like, and what you can prepare before enrolling.

26 August 2026·10 min read

Connecting pipe underwater: flanges, clamps, and why torque is sacred

How a subsea pipeline is connected: flanges, mechanical clamps, alignment, controlled tightening and leak testing. What the diver does at each step.

26 August 2026·9 min read

Caspian Sea: commercial diving in the world's largest enclosed sea

What commercial diving in the Caspian Sea is like: offshore energy, a sea with no outlet to the ocean, local content and what a foreign professional can expect.

25 August 2026·10 min read

Deep-sea mining: why it isn't a job for divers

What deep-sea mining of nodules, sulphides and crusts is, why it happens beyond any diver's reach, and what real role commercial diving plays.

25 August 2026·11 min read

Concreting and repairing underwater: real techniques and limits

How underwater concreting is done: why conventional concrete fails, what anti-washout mixes are used and how a structure is repaired underwater.

25 August 2026·9 min read

Lifting bags: the physics that turns a help into an accident

How lifting bags work underwater, why the load accelerates as it rises, what types exist, and the basic rules for using them properly.

24 August 2026·10 min read

Offshore green hydrogen: what it means for commercial diving

What role commercial diving plays in offshore green hydrogen: what infrastructure sits underwater, what work it generates, and how cautiously to read it.

24 August 2026·10 min read

Digital twins underwater: what changes for the diver

What a digital twin of a subsea asset is, how it's built from inspection data, and what role the diver plays in feeding it reliable information.

23 August 2026·11 min read

Taxes and offshore work: the concepts you need to understand

General tax concepts for anyone working offshore on rotation: tax residency, double taxation, documentation and common mistakes.

23 August 2026·11 min read

Outfall and intake pipelines: the diver's job

How submarine outfalls and seawater intakes are inspected and repaired, why they fail, and the risks this work carries for the diver.

23 August 2026·10 min read

CO₂ storage under the sea: what it means for the diver

How geological CO₂ storage under the seabed works, what subsea infrastructure it involves and what kind of commercial diving work it generates.

22 August 2026·11 min read

Türkiye and the eastern Mediterranean: an underwater market unlike the one in the north

An overview of commercial diving in Türkiye and the eastern Mediterranean: shipyards, harbour work, cables, gas and salvage, and how to get into that market.

22 August 2026·10 min read

South Korea and Japan: two underwater work markets that are hard to read from outside

How commercial diving works in South Korea and Japan: what underwater work sustains those markets, why it's hard to get in, and what realistic routes exist.

21 August 2026·9 min read

How to negotiate the day rate: what you can ask for and what you can't

What makes up a commercial diver's day rate, how much real room there is to negotiate based on experience and certifications, and how to spot a bad offer.

21 August 2026·11 min read

Working underwater above sea level

What changes in commercial diving at altitude: why decompression isn't the same as at sea level, and what risks cold water and remote access add.

20 August 2026·9 min read

Sonar and underwater navigation: how they know where a diver is

How divers and ROVs are positioned underwater: USBL, LBL, imaging sonar, bell-mounted sonar and what a commercial diver needs to understand about all of it.

20 August 2026·9 min read

Second career: what to do when you stop diving

Career exits at the end of a working life as a commercial diver: supervision, LST, inspection, training, ROV, project management and safety.

20 August 2026·8 min read

Underwater metrology: how measurements are taken underwater to fabricate a spool

What underwater metrology is, why it's done, what methods exist (taut wire, acoustic, photogrammetry, laser) and what role the diver plays in the measurement.

19 August 2026·9 min read

Floating offshore wind: what underwater work it creates for divers

How underwater work changes with floating wind versus fixed-foundation wind: moorings, dynamic cables, inspection and the split between diver and ROV.

19 August 2026·11 min read

Inland commercial diving in the United Kingdom: how the inland waters market works

What commercial diving in the United Kingdom's inland waters is like: the HSE framework, required certifications, types of work and differences from offshore.

18 August 2026·10 min read

Commercial diving in the Netherlands: market, companies and how to get in

Commercial diving in the Netherlands: dredging, marine construction, offshore wind and the southern North Sea, required certifications and routes in for divers.

18 August 2026·9 min read

Commercial diving in India and Indonesia: markets, standards and cautions

Commercial diving in India and Indonesia: offshore and port work, the standards that apply, rates and what to check before signing.

18 August 2026·9 min read

Commercial diving in Canada: how it's regulated and where the work is

Commercial diving in Canada: CSA Z275 regulations, provincial jurisdictions, Atlantic and Pacific markets, and steps for foreign divers.

17 August 2026·10 min read

The diver medic: first aid at the dive site

What a diver medical technician is, what they can and can't do, how they work under remote medical direction, and how the diver medic certificate is obtained.

17 August 2026·8 min read

Self-employed diver or payroll: what really pays off

The real differences between working as a freelance diver by campaign and being on payroll: income, continuity, insurance, paid training and social protection.

16 August 2026·10 min read

Monoboyas and oil terminals: underwater maintenance

What a loading monoboya is, what underwater inspection it needs, how often, and in which markets this work provides steady employment for divers.

16 August 2026·10 min read

Afloat ship repair: work without dry-docking

Hull work without dry-docking: propellers, rudders, sea chests and patching, and the limits classification societies place on afloat diving.

15 August 2026·8 min read

Rigging for divers: slings, shackles and loads

The fundamentals of underwater slinging: angles and load sharing, choosing slings and shackles, signalling with the crane operator, and the mistakes that cause accidents.

15 August 2026·11 min read

How a saturation diving campaign is planned

Planning a saturation campaign step by step: scoping, gas, crewing, weather windows, permits and contingencies.

15 August 2026·10 min read

Commercial diving in Mexico: how to get into the sector

Accepted certifications, active companies in the Bay of Campeche and realistic routes to landing your first commercial diving contract in Mexico.

14 August 2026·8 min read

What a jack-up is and how diving works on one

What a jack-up or self-elevating platform is, how it's positioned on its legs and spudcans, what subsea work it generates and what risks it adds to diving.

14 August 2026·8 min read

Cathodic protection: why the diver measures potentials

How submerged steel is protected from corrosion with sacrificial anodes and impressed current, how potentials are measured and what electrical risk it involves.

13 August 2026·8 min read

Chronic injuries and a diver's professional working life

What wears down a professional diver's body over the long term, what the medical exam monitors, and how to plan a career that doesn't end before its time.

13 August 2026·8 min read

Underwater visual inspection: what a CVI and a GVI are

The difference between general (GVI) and close (CVI) underwater visual inspection: prior cleaning, photographic recording and how it's documented for the engineer.

12 August 2026·9 min read

Inspection of mooring chains and lines

How an offshore mooring system is inspected: chain wear, shackles, buried sections, link measurement and replacement criteria.

12 August 2026·8 min read

Hypothermia: the professional diver's silent enemy

How a professional diver loses heat, why helium makes the problem worse, what heating systems are used, and what signs mean the dive has to be aborted.

12 August 2026·8 min read

The deck recompression chamber: what it takes to have one

What a recompression chamber at the dive site is, when it's mandatory, how it's operated, who can run it and what it takes to have one ready on deck.

11 August 2026·8 min read

Subsea cables: laying, burial and repair

What the diver does in laying and repairing subsea power and telecommunications cables: burial, protection, landfall and work with the ROV.

11 August 2026·8 min read

Underwater scaffolding and work platforms

Why support structure goes in underwater: types of work platform, how the diver is secured, and the effect on underwater work productivity.

10 August 2026·9 min read

Maritime salvage and refloating: the diver's role

How maritime salvage teams work, what the diver does in a refloating, why it's a race against the clock, and what profile salvage companies look for.

10 August 2026·8 min read

Recertification and ongoing training for the commercial diver

Which commercial diver certificates expire, how often the medical is renewed, which courses need refreshing, what it costs to stay current, and what happens if something lapses.

10 August 2026·8 min read

Nitrogen narcosis: why air has a ceiling

What nitrogen narcosis is, at what depth it appears on air, how it affects judgement and why deep work is done with helium mixes and not air.

9 August 2026·9 min read

Stress and mental health for the offshore diver

Isolation, confinement, family separation and shift work: what factors affect the offshore diver's mental health, what signs shouldn't be ignored, and what resources exist.

9 August 2026·8 min read

Underwater comms: why the voice sounds like that on helium

How hard-wired comms work in commercial diving, why helium distorts the voice, what a helium unscrambler does and why clear communication is critical.

8 August 2026·8 min read

What a day is like aboard a dive support vessel

Shifts, meals, briefings, free time and shared living: how day-to-day life is organised on a DSV during an offshore diving campaign.

8 August 2026·8 min read

Diving in ports: dredging, caissons and quays

Diving work in port infrastructure: caissons, rock armour, dredging, quay and pile inspection, real conditions, and the profile companies look for.

7 August 2026·8 min read

Commercial diving in Spain: a picture of the sector

What commercial diving work exists in Spain, which qualifications are recognised, what kind of companies operate, and why saturation isn't a realistic path within the country.

7 August 2026·9 min read

Commercial diving in the Gulf of Mexico: what the market is like

How the commercial diving market works in the Gulf of Mexico: activity, companies, the certification required in the United States, and differences from the North Sea.

7 August 2026·8 min read

Underwater archaeology: is it commercial diving?

Differences between underwater archaeology and commercial diving: training, employers, pay, and when a professional diving certification is required.

6 August 2026·8 min read

Transfer under pressure: the most delicate moment

How the bell mates to the saturation system, what interlocks protect it, and why historical accidents happened precisely at this point.

6 August 2026·7 min read

Oxygen toxicity: why every mix is controlled

Pulmonary and central nervous system toxicity, partial pressure of oxygen, operating limits and why the panel monitors the diver's mix in detail.

5 August 2026·7 min read

High-pressure nervous syndrome: the limit of depth

What HPNS is in saturation diving, at what depth it appears, what symptoms it causes and how it's mitigated with compression speed and gas mixes.

5 August 2026·8 min read

Helium recycling: why it makes saturation diving expensive

Why helium is expensive and scarce, how gas recovery systems work, and how much weight this line item carries in a campaign's budget.

5 August 2026·8 min read

What is a LARS: how a diving bell is launched and recovered

The diving bell's launch and recovery system: main wire, guide wires, motion compensation, and what happens if it fails mid-dive.

4 August 2026·8 min read

Permit to work and risk assessment in industrial diving

How the permit to work, the prior risk assessment and the safety briefing work, and why the paperwork is a real barrier and not a formality.

4 August 2026·7 min read

The gas panel: the post that decides what the diver breathes

What the gas panel does on a diving operation, how the primary and reserve supply are managed, the pneumofathometer and why it's the heart of the system.

3 August 2026·8 min read

Inspection of dams and submerged civil works

Diving in reservoirs, gates and concrete works: the risk of differential pressure, zero visibility and the professional profile companies look for.

3 August 2026·8 min read

What the final decompression of a saturation campaign is like

Decompression rate, medical monitoring, what the final days feel like, and why the process can't be sped up even when the system is needed.

2 August 2026·8 min read

Underwater thermal cutting: how steel is cut underwater

How underwater oxy-arc cutting with an exothermic electrode works, why accumulated gas is the main hazard, and when mechanical cutting is preferred.

2 August 2026·8 min read

Who's in charge on a diving operation: the chain of command

The role of the supervisor, the life support technician, the tender and the client, who can stop the work, and how every decision on board gets documented.

2 August 2026·8 min read

Commercial diving in aquaculture: a growing niche

Diving work in sea cages and fish farms: the real tasks, specific risks, seasonality, markets with demand, and what training employers ask for.

1 August 2026·8 min read

Working in commercial diving in Norway: its own rules

Commercial diving in Norway: its own regulatory framework, accepted certification, safety culture, language and the real routes in from outside.

1 August 2026·8 min read

Insurance and social protection for the offshore diver

What an offshore commercial diver's insurance covers: accident, disability, repatriation and hyperbaric evacuation, and what to check in a campaign contract.

31 July 2026·8 min read

What a tender does: the role you start in

What a tender or diver's assistant is, what they do, how they handle the umbilical, and why it's the real way into professional commercial diving.

31 July 2026·8 min read

How to prepare for the physical test in commercial diving

What the physical test in commercial diving and the medical examination assess, how to train endurance and functional strength, and what mistakes close off access.

31 July 2026·8 min read

Women in commercial diving: the real picture and the barriers

How many women work in commercial diving, what documented barriers they face, how equipment and onboard accommodation are adapting, and what's changing.

30 July 2026·8 min read

Hull cleaning and biofouling: a little-known market

How underwater ship hull cleaning works: what biofouling is, what environmental rules govern it, what equipment is used, and what the job is like.

30 July 2026·8 min read

The commercial diver's logbook: what to record and why it matters

What counts as a valid commercial diver's logbook, what data each dive needs, who signs it, what mistakes invalidate hours, and how it shapes your career.

29 July 2026·8 min read

Underwater hydraulic tools: what a commercial diver uses

What hydraulic tools a commercial diver uses: grinders, impact wrenches, saws and water jetting. Safety, reaction torque and maintenance.

29 July 2026·8 min read

Decompression sickness: what it is and how it's treated

What decompression sickness is in diving, why it happens, what symptoms it causes, how it is treated with oxygen and recompression, and what changes in saturation.

28 July 2026·8 min read

Rotations and time at home: what an offshore diver's calendar looks like

How an offshore commercial diver's year is organised: rotations, campaigns, mandatory rest, and the real effect on personal life.

28 July 2026·8 min read

What dynamic positioning is and why it matters to the diver

What dynamic positioning on a dive vessel is, how it works, and why a loss of position is a direct risk to the diver.

28 July 2026·7 min read

Diving in nuclear and hydroelectric power plants

What industrial diving in nuclear and hydroelectric power plants looks like: dose control, energy isolation, suction risk and specific training.

27 July 2026·8 min read

English for offshore divers: what level you actually need

What level of English an offshore commercial diver needs, which vocabulary is essential, and how to prepare it without wasting time.

27 July 2026·8 min read

History of saturation diving: from an experiment to an industry

From the Genesis and SEALAB experiments to North Sea campaigns: how saturation diving was born and the milestones that turned it into an industry.

26 July 2026·8 min read

Heliox: why saturation divers don't breathe air

What heliox is, why it's used in deep diving, how it affects the voice and body heat, and what other mixtures exist in commercial diving.

26 July 2026·8 min read

What happens if a diver falls ill inside saturation

How a medical emergency is handled in saturation: life support, pressurised medical kit, remote hyperbaric doctor and rescue capsule.

25 July 2026·8 min read

Platform decommissioning: the work coming for divers

What offshore decommissioning is, what underwater tasks it involves, and why it generates stable demand for commercial diving in the sector.

25 July 2026·8 min read

What life is like inside a saturation chamber

What it's like living under pressure for weeks: shifts, food, hygiene, heat, noise and shared life inside a dive vessel's saturation system.

25 July 2026·8 min read

Underwater inspection diver: what it involves and why it pays off

What an underwater inspection diver does, what qualifications exist, what's studied, and why inspection extends and stabilises a career.

24 July 2026·9 min read

Hot water suits in saturation diving: how they work

How a hot water suit works in saturation diving: why heliox cools you, how water is supplied through the umbilical, and what the risks are.

24 July 2026·8 min read

Commercial diving in offshore wind farms

What commercial diving work is like in offshore wind: what tasks are involved, how it differs from oil and gas, and where the demand is.

23 July 2026·9 min read

Working as a commercial diver in Australia and the ADAS standard

How commercial diving works in Australia: what the ADAS standard is, where the offshore activity is and which schools train under that scheme.

23 July 2026·9 min read

ROV vs diver: will the robot replace saturation diving?

ROV vs saturation diver: what each does better, why the diver remains irreplaceable, and where remote underwater intervention is heading.

23 July 2026·10 min read

What a Life Support Technician (LST) does in saturation

What a Life Support Technician does in saturation diving: atmosphere, gas and temperature control, how people get into the role, and what certification IMCA requires.

22 July 2026·9 min read

What IMCA is and why it matters so much in commercial diving

What IMCA is, the association of marine contractors: what it certifies, what it doesn't, how it sets offshore diving standards and how it affects your employability.

22 July 2026·9 min read

Is saturation diving dangerous? Real risks

Is saturation diving dangerous? The real risks, what historical accidents taught, and how today's protocols control them.

21 July 2026·10 min read

From diver to diving supervisor: how the career progresses

How you become a diving supervisor: the route from air diver to trainee, air diving supervisor and bell supervisor, with lock-out hours and IMCA exams.

21 July 2026·8 min read

How many saturation divers are there in the world?

How many saturation divers there are in the world: why they're a small elite, what limits their number and how demand is spread across the major basins.

20 July 2026·8 min read

Underwater welding: wet vs hyperbaric dry

Differences between wet and hyperbaric dry underwater welding: technique, quality, where each one is used, safety and how to train.

20 July 2026·9 min read

How much does a commercial diving course cost and what does it include

How much a commercial diving course costs by country and level, what tuition includes, what expenses are left out and how training is financed.

20 July 2026·9 min read

Saturation diving in West Africa: Angola and Nigeria

How saturation diving works in West Africa: the deepwater of Angola and Nigeria, the contractors operating there, and the local content rules.

19 July 2026·8 min read

What a DSV (dive support vessel) is and what it's like inside

What a DSV or dive support vessel is, what's on board (saturation system, bell, moonpool, DP, ROV) and what work and life are like aboard.

19 July 2026·8 min read

What the closed bell (closed bell) is and how it works

What the closed bell or closed bell is in saturation diving: how it holds pressure, the lock-out, the bellman's role and how it differs from the wet bell.

18 July 2026·8 min read

Piper Alpha: what happened and how it changed offshore safety

What happened on the Piper Alpha platform in 1988, why 167 people died, and how the Cullen report transformed offshore safety and diving.

18 July 2026·7 min read

Best commercial diving schools in Europe

Commercial diving schools in Europe: what certification each one gives, how long the courses take, and how to choose a centre for the market you want to work in.

18 July 2026·8 min read

Saturation decompression: why you only decompress once

Why a saturation diver only decompresses at the end of the campaign: tissue saturation, decompression times, risks and safety protocols.

17 July 2026·9 min read

Commercial diving schools in Spain: which ones there are and what they qualify you for

Commercial diving schools in Spain: what professional qualifications exist, what each one qualifies you for, career paths and validity outside the country.

17 July 2026·8 min read

Kirby Morgan helmet: why it's the standard in commercial diving

Why the Kirby Morgan helmet dominates commercial diving: history, the SuperLite 17, KM 37 and KM 97 models, maintenance and technician training.

16 July 2026·8 min read

Saturation diving in the Persian Gulf: market and reality

What the saturation diving market in the Persian Gulf is really like: operators, contractors, working conditions, certifications and what to genuinely expect.

16 July 2026·9 min read

Offshore crewing agencies: how they work and which ones exist

What offshore crewing agencies are, how they hire by campaign, how to register with them, and how they differ from a conventional job board.

15 July 2026·11 min read

What you should know before getting into commercial diving

The requirements for commercial diving go beyond the course: medical fitness, physical condition, hands-on trade skill and technical English before you enrol.

15 July 2026·12 min read

What the diving umbilical is and what's inside it

What the diving umbilical is, what's inside each hose and how it's handled: gas, hot water, communications, pneumo and the strength member.

15 July 2026·12 min read

The most famous oil platforms in the world

A look at famous oil platforms: Troll A, Thunder Horse, Perdido, Prelude, Piper Alpha and the role of divers and ROVs in their maintenance.

14 July 2026·11 min read

Commercial diving trade fairs and events 2026-2027

Commercial diving subsea trade fair calendar 2026-2027: Underwater Intervention, Subsea Expo, Ocean Business and more, with verified dates and advice.

14 July 2026·12 min read

Common mistakes when starting out in commercial diving

The most common mistakes beginners make in commercial diving: picking the wrong school or certification, unrealistic salary expectations, and shortcuts to saturation.

13 July 2026·10 min read

Saturation diving in Mexico: Pemex, Campeche and contractors

Saturation diving in Mexico is concentrated in Campeche: how Pemex operates, what contractors like Diavaz or Cotemar do, and what's expected of a diver.

13 July 2026·13 min read

How long it takes to become a saturation diver

How long it takes to become a saturation diver from scratch: the length of the commercial diving course, years of offshore experience and the closed bell course.

13 July 2026·12 min read

Saturation diving in Singapore and Southeast Asia

How saturation diving works in Southeast Asia: Singapore as a hub, the Malaysia and Brunei markets, the monsoon, contractors and real rates.

12 July 2026·11 min read

Inland commercial diving vs offshore: which to choose

Inland vs offshore commercial diving: differences in work, rotations, pay, risks and certifications, to choose a market with your eyes open.

12 July 2026·11 min read

Who to follow to understand commercial diving (YouTube and more)

Commercial diving YouTubers, forums and bodies that actually add value: which channels to follow, how to verify what they say, and what content to avoid.

11 July 2026·8 min read

Working as a saturation diver in Brazil (pre-salt)

Saturation diving in Brazil and the pre-salt: the Campos and Santos basins, Petrobras, Macaé and contractors like Belov and Oceânica. Requirements and the real market.

11 July 2026·8 min read

What depth pay (saturation premium) is and how it's calculated

What depth pay in saturation diving is, how it's added to the day rate, and why a 28-day campaign concentrates a large part of a year's income.

10 July 2026·8 min read

Why the North Sea is the capital of saturation diving

Saturation diving in the North Sea is centred on Aberdeen: the ODIA agreement, mature fields and the decommissioning boom. Key employers.

10 July 2026·8 min read

HSE, IMCA, ADCI, ADAS or DCBC: which certification to choose

Which commercial diving certification to choose — HSE, IMCA, ADCI, ADAS or DCBC — depending on the market where you want to work, and how mutual recognition works.

10 July 2026·9 min read

How much a saturation diver really earns a year

How much a saturation diver earns a year: how pay is made up (day rate, depth pay and days on board) and why it varies by market.

9 July 2026·7 min read

How long does a saturation diving campaign last, and what are the limits

How long a saturation diving campaign lasts: the 28-day standard under pressure, the final decompression, the equivalent rest and the limits set by IMCA.

9 July 2026·9 min read

How to get started in commercial diving with no experience

How to get started in commercial diving with no experience: medical fitness, certified course, first inshore jobs and how to build up hours, step by step.

8 July 2026·8 min read

How to get your first job as an offshore diver

How to get your first job as an offshore diver: applying directly to contractors, crewing agencies, job boards like cDiver and DiveWork, and the role of reputation.

8 July 2026·8 min read

Commercial diving medical certificate: what it assesses and how often

Commercial diving medical certificate: what the examining doctor assesses (heart, lungs, neuro), how often it's renewed and why you can't work without it.

8 July 2026·8 min read

Saturation diving vs surface-supplied diving: key differences

Difference between saturation diving and surface diving: depth, decompression, closed bell, type of work and pay, explained clearly.

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