Did you know that there is an underwater diver welder profession? Some of you probably just heard of this profession. This profession is not common so that no wonder why a lot of people do not know it. However, this job really exists.
As the name refers, an underwater diver welder works underwater and this job is very challenging. Since it is challenging and even dangerous, how much is the salary of this job? Also, what can we expect from this job? This article will reveal it for you.
The Salary of Underwater Diver Welder
Working as an underwater diver welder is not easy. Usually, the more challenging a job is, the bigger the salary is. How about the salary of an underwater diver welder? According to the American Welding Society, some welder-divers earn $15,000 per year, but some others earn more than $100,000. So, the salary of a welder diver is different based on some factors.
Welder-divers are usually paid on a project-by-project basis and their salaries depend on the variables such as:
- the availability of work
- dive method
- depth of the dive
- diving environment
- the employer
- industry dive experience
Skills Needed to be a Welder Diver
American Welding Society explains that a welder diver is a certified welder who is also a commercial diver that can perform tasks which are associated with commercial subsea work, setting up and preparation of welding and can weld in accordance with the AWS D3.6, Specification for Underwater Welding and other activities which are related to welding.
According to the American Welding Society, an experienced welder diver needs to have:
- The skills of commercial diving where she or he is familiar with the use of specialized commercial diving equipment, has an understanding of diving physiology, diving safety, rigging, communication, the underwater environment, etc.
- The skills of weld setup and preparation where she or he can perform tasks which are usually assigned to a fitter or rigger such as materials alignment and materials preparation including stripping of concrete, beveling, fitting a steel patch or repair plate, etc.
- The ability to guarantee a required underwater weld procedure.
If you have a scuba diver certification such as PADI, NAUI, etc, it does not mean that you can directly be a welder diver. It is recommended for you to attend a commercial diving school because in a sport dive training, the safe use of commercial diving equipment, offshore commercial work environment or safety and other education recommended by the Association of Diving Contractors Consensus Standards for Commercial Diving Operations are not taught. After gaining the basic commercial diving skills, then you have to master underwater welding. It is important for you to note that you need to communicate with the commercial diving firm that you choose that offers underwater welding services and train based on the requirements.
Are there any other skills to be mastered for being a welder diver? Since the commercial diving and underwater welding industry vary, the qualifications required vary as well from project to project. However, a diving contractor usually requires its welder diver to be an expert in all trades and a master of them all. So, mastering the common skills in underwater welding operations is recommended. Here are the other skills that are needed to be mastered by a welder diver.
- Underwater cutting including abrasive water jet, oxyfuel, mechanical cutting equipment, etc.
- Fitting and rigging
- Drafting
- Inspection and non-destructive testing including magnetic particle, visual, ultrasonics, eddy current, radiography, etc.
- Underwater photography including still photos and video.
However, not all welder divers have a lot of skills that are required for an underwater welding project so that diving contractors usually combine personnels to fulfill the skills needed in the project.
When you attend a training, it is better for you to do it in an accredited one or the one which offers a certificate of completion. If you want to know the commercial diving schools accredited by the Association of Commercial Diving Educators in the United States, you are able to contact:
Association of Diving Contractors (ADC)
2611 FM 1960 W., Suite F204, Houston, TX 77068
Phone: (713) 893-8388
Fax: (713) 893-5118
The Responsibilities of Underwater Welder Divers
Underwater welder divers will work underwater where they will use specialized equipment and procedures to cut, weld, fabricate and repair metal structures underwater. Constructing a bridge is one of the examples of underwater welding projects which is done by underwater welder divers. Here are a number of responsibilities which are done by underwater welder divers as explained on the Indeed site.
- They need to cut, fit, rig metal components in construction projects.
- They need to be able to photograph underwater structures for evaluation and project planning.
- They will draft plans, blueprints, outlines and diagrams for underwater welding applications.
- They inspect and test underwater structures where these are done to make sure integrity and safe operation.
- They will weld and attach metal components and structures underwater.
- They will help project managers and engineers to plan projects and develop them.
- They will give input about the efficacy of welding applications and safe operation of equipment.
- They will guide new welders to do the tasks according to the safety policies.
The Age Limitation of a Welder Diver
Some professions may require applicants to be of a certain age. How about being a welder diver? Is there any age limitation of being a welder diver? For being a commercial welder diver, there is no age limitation, but there are physical requirements. People who want to be a commercial welder diver need to pass an annual dive physical because this profession is physical demanding. So, it is not common to see an active commercial welder-diver over the age of 50.
The Risk of Working as an Underwater Welder Diver
The risks of working as an underwear welder diver are:
- The risk of electric shock
- The risk of decompression sickness because of the increased pressure of breathing gases
- Having a metallic taste which is related to the galvanic breakdown of dental amalgam
- Long term cognitive and musculoskeletal effects which are associated with underwater welding
- Drowning
- Explosions
- Long term health issues related to your lungs, nose, and ears if spending too much time working underwater
- Attacks from marine wildlife
Working as an underwater welder diver needs extra safety because it is more dangerous than land-based welding. Besides, a welder diver is often required to work in remote and dangerous offshore locations such as oil rigs and subsea pipelines.
On the website of The Welding Institute (TWI), according to investigations, the fatality rate among underwater welders reaches 15% where the main causes of death are drowning and decompression sickness.
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