Overview
Underwater welding—also called hyperbaric welding—combines commercial diving certification with advanced welding skills to repair offshore platforms, pipelines, ships, dams, bridges, and port infrastructure. Divers work in both wet welding (direct water contact with shielded electrode) and dry welding (hyperbaric habitat or cofferdam), using stick, TIG, or friction-stir methods. Inland divers service locks, dams, and water treatment plants at moderate depths, earning $40K–$80K. Offshore saturation divers on oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, North Sea, or West Africa work 12–28 day rotations under pressure, earning $100K–$300K+ annually. Entry requires commercial dive school (ADCI/IMCA accredited), surface welding certifications (AWS D3.6 for underwater), medical fitness (hyperbaric and cardiovascular), and rigorous safety discipline for decompression, mixed-gas breathing, and hazardous subsea environments.
Career Snapshot: 3,000–5,000 active underwater welders in North America; median dive career 10–15 years; offshore saturation diving premium pays 2–5× inland rates; retirement typically by age 45–50 due to physical demands and decompression cumulative risk.
Training & Certification Path
1
Surface Welding Foundation
- • AWS SENSE Level II or CWB certification: SMAW (stick), FCAW, GTAW (TIG) processes
- • 6G pipe welding qualification (all-position)
- • Minimum 1–2 years topside welding experience recommended before dive school
- • Structural plate and pipe joint inspection & code interpretation
2
Commercial Dive School (ADCI/IMCA)
- • Duration: 6–10 months full-time; tuition $10K–$25K
- • Curriculum: surface-supplied air/mixed gas, scuba, bell diving, decompression tables, rigging, tool operation
- • Medical: hyperbaric physical & pulmonary function test required pre-enrollment
- • Top schools: Divers Institute of Technology (Seattle), CDA Technical Institute (Florida), International Diving Institute (South Carolina)
3
Underwater Welding Specialization
- • AWS D3.6M: Underwater Welding Code (wet & dry)
- • Wet welding with waterproof electrodes (E6013, E7014)
- • Dry hyperbaric chamber welding (TIG, stick in habitat)
- • NDT inspection: visual (VT), magnetic particle (MT), ultrasonic (UT) underwater
- • Friction-stir welding for aluminum structures (ports, ships)
4
Advanced & Saturation Diving
- • Heliox/trimix breathing gas: helium-oxygen for deep (150+ ft) dives
- • Saturation diving certification: live under pressure 12–28 days in deck chamber; depths 300–1,000+ ft
- • Bell & chamber operations: lock-out/lock-in procedures, umbilical management
- • ROV collaboration: remotely operated vehicle coordination for inspection & positioning
Career Paths & Salaries (2025)
Inland Underwater Welder
Rivers, dams, bridges, water treatment, ports (0–100 ft typical depth)
💰 Salary Range
- • Entry (0–2 yr): $40,000–$55,000
- • Mid (3–7 yr): $55,000–$75,000
- • Senior (8+ yr): $75,000–$95,000
- Day-rate typical: $200–$500/day; overtime premium 1.5–2× for emergency repair
🔧 Key Responsibilities
- • Inspect & repair dam gates, sluice structures, trash racks
- • Underwater cutting (oxy-arc, exothermic) & welding of pier pilings, lock walls
- • Install anodes & cathodic protection for bridge substructures
- • Pipeline integrity welding (municipal water/wastewater crossings)
🎓 Training & Certifications
ADCI/IMCA Commercial DiverAWS D3.6 Wet WeldingSurface-supplied airConfined space (OSHA 1926 Subpart AA)Rigging & crane signals
Offshore Diver-Welder (Air Diving)
Oil & gas platforms, pipelines, subsea structures (60–180 ft typical)
💰 Salary Range
- • Entry (0–3 yr): $60,000–$85,000
- • Mid (4–8 yr): $85,000–$130,000
- • Senior (9+ yr): $130,000–$180,000
- Day-rate $400–$900; rotation 14/14, 21/21, or 28/28 (days on/days off); hazard bonuses for harsh weather/deep repair
🔧 Key Responsibilities
- • Jacket leg bracing repair, conductor pipe welding on platforms
- • Pipeline hot-tap & tie-in welding (wet & hyperbaric habitat)
- • Structural crack repair, anode replacement, NDT inspection (MT, UT)
- • Subsea flowline & riser integrity maintenance
🎓 Training & Certifications
ADCI unrestricted surface-suppliedAWS D3.6 wet & dry weldingHUET (helicopter underwater escape)BOSIET (offshore survival)IMCA diver medical (annual)TWIC (US offshore)
Saturation Diver-Welder (Deep Offshore)
Extended-duration pressure living; depths 300–1,000+ ft; Gulf of Mexico, North Sea, West Africa, Asia-Pacific
💰 Salary Range
- • Entry sat diver (0–3 yr): $100,000–$150,000
- • Experienced (4–10 yr): $150,000–$250,000
- • Lead sat diver/supervisor: $250,000–$300,000+
- Day-rate $600–$1,400 in saturation; 28-day rotation under pressure; 28 days off; annual 180–200 days worked
🔧 Key Responsibilities
- • Subsea manifold & PLET (pipeline end termination) welding & tie-in
- • Drilling riser repair, BOP stack maintenance, jumper installation
- • Hyperbaric TIG welding in dry habitat; wet stick welding for emergency repair
- • ROV-assisted inspection & positioning; umbilical & clump-weight management
🎓 Training & Certifications
IMCA Part II Sat DiverHeliox / Trimix breathing gasHyperbaric welding (AWS D3.6 dry)Chamber operations (lock-in/lock-out)Decompression illness recognitionOffshore crane & rigging
Dive Supervisor / LST (Life Support Technician)
Topside coordination, chamber operation, diver safety, gas mixing, emergency response
💰 Salary Range
- • LST / Chamber operator: $70,000–$110,000
- • Air-diving supervisor: $90,000–$140,000
- • Sat diving supervisor: $140,000–$200,000+
- Offshore rotation 28/28 or 42/42; day-rate $500–$1,000; onshore dive company supervisor salary-based
🔧 Key Responsibilities
- • Plan dive operations: depth tables, gas mix, bottom time, decompression schedules
- • Monitor diver vitals, communication, umbilical integrity; emergency protocols
- • Operate deck decompression chamber (DDC), mixing panel, O₂ cleaning
- • Coordinate with client, marine crew, medic; incident investigation & reporting
🎓 Training & Certifications
ADCI/IMCA Dive SupervisorChamber operator (PVHO-1 ASME)Gas blending (heliox, nitrox, trimix)Diver medic / First aid5+ years dive experience
Nuclear Diver-Welder (Specialty)
Power plant reactor inspection, fuel pool maintenance, radioactive environment protocols
💰 Salary Range
- • Entry nuclear diver: $80,000–$120,000
- • Experienced (5+ yr): $120,000–$180,000
- • Senior / radiation safety officer: $180,000–$220,000+
- Project-based contracts; 1–3 month outages; premium for radiation exposure limits (ALARA compliance)
🔧 Key Responsibilities
- • Inspect & repair reactor vessel internals, steam generator tubes
- • Fuel pool rack welding, underwater cutting of irradiated components
- • Contamination control, dosimetry monitoring, ALARA planning
- • Dry underwater welding in spent fuel pool; tool decontamination
🎓 Training & Certifications
NRC radiation worker (10 CFR Part 20)Commercial dive cert + 3+ yr expASME Section XI welding qualDecontamination protocolsSecurity clearance (background)
Major Employers & Dive Contractors
🌊 Offshore Diving Contractors
- Oceaneering InternationalAir & sat diving, ROV, subsea construction; global fleet; Gulf of Mexico, North Sea, West Africa, Asia-PacificCareers →
- Subsea 7Subsea engineering, pipelay, diving services; sat diving fleet; strong North Sea & Brazil presenceCareers →
- TechnipFMCSubsea systems, umbilicals, diving support; SURF (subsea, umbilicals, risers, flowlines) projects worldwideCareers →
- Helix Energy SolutionsWell intervention, robotics, sat diving; Gulf of Mexico focus; Q4000/Q5000 vesselsCareers →
- Divex (James Fisher)Diving systems manufacturing & services; sat systems, chambers, life support; global projectsCareers →
🏗️ Inland & Infrastructure Diving
- Global Diving & SalvageMarine construction, dams, bridges, ports; Pacific Northwest, Alaska; heavy salvage specialistsCareers →
- American Bridge CompanyBridge construction & repair; underwater welding for pier foundations, cofferdams; US nationwideCareers →
- J.F. Brennan CompanyMarine construction, dredging, dam repair; Great Lakes & inland waterways; heavy civil divingCareers →
- Midwest Underwater ServicesIndustrial diving, water/wastewater infrastructure, confined space; Midwest US focusContact →
- T&T Marine SalvageSalvage, wreck removal, underwater welding/cutting; Gulf Coast & East Coast USAContact →
Getting Started: Action Plan
Your Path to Underwater Welding
Step 1: Build Welding Foundation (6–24 months)
- ✓ Enroll in trade school or community college welding program (AWS SENSE Level II or equivalent)
- ✓ Achieve 6G pipe welding certification (SMAW stick process priority)
- ✓ Gain 1–2 years topside welding experience (structural, pipeline, or shipyard preferred)
- ✓ Consider AWS CWI (Certified Welding Inspector) for career diversification
Step 2: Medical & Fitness Preparation (3–6 months pre-dive school)
- ✓ Schedule hyperbaric medical exam (pulmonary function, cardiovascular, ear/sinus clearance)
- ✓ Build cardiovascular endurance (swimming 500+ meters, running, core strength)
- ✓ Quit smoking (mandatory for dive medical clearance)
- ✓ Ensure no disqualifying conditions: asthma, epilepsy, diabetes (insulin-dependent), severe claustrophobia
Step 3: Commercial Dive School (6–10 months)
- ✓ Apply to ADCI or IMCA-accredited school (DIT, CDA, IDI, UCTC)
- ✓ Budget $15K–$25K tuition + living expenses; explore GI Bill, Pell Grants, or employer sponsorship
- ✓ Complete surface-supplied air, scuba, decompression theory, rigging, tool operation modules
- ✓ Pass final dive practical exam & log minimum 100 training dive hours
Step 4: Underwater Welding Certification (concurrent or post-dive school)
- ✓ AWS D3.6 Underwater Welding Code qualification (wet & dry processes)
- ✓ Practice wet stick welding with waterproof electrodes in training tank
- ✓ Hyperbaric chamber dry welding (TIG/stick) qualification if targeting offshore/nuclear
- ✓ NDT certifications (VT, MT, UT) valuable for inspection roles
Step 5: Entry-Level Employment (first 2 years)
- ✓ Start as tender/dive assistant with inland or Gulf Coast dive company; expect $35K–$50K initially
- ✓ Accumulate bottom time (500+ hours) and wet welding reps on real projects
- ✓ Pursue HUET, BOSIET offshore survival certs if targeting oil & gas (cost $1K–$2K; often employer-paid)
- ✓ Network with divers, ask for sea time or rotation coverage to build reputation
Step 6: Specialization & Advancement (years 3–10+)
- ✓ Target offshore air diving roles in Gulf of Mexico or international markets ($90K–$150K range)
- ✓ Pursue IMCA Part II sat diving certification after 3–5 years & 1,000+ dive hours (path to $150K–$300K)
- ✓ Consider nuclear diving specialty (ALARA training, NRC clearance) for stable, high-pay niche
- ✓ Plan long-term transition: aim for dive supervisor, LST, project manager, or ROV trainer role by age 40–45
Explore Underwater Welding & Diving Jobs
Browse live openings for commercial divers, underwater welders, dive supervisors, and offshore positions
❓
Underwater Welder FAQ
Answers to the most common questions about this topic
Salaries range from $40K–$95K for inland divers to $100K–$300K+ for offshore saturation divers. Entry-level inland welders earn $40K–$55K; mid-career offshore air divers $90K–$150K; experienced saturation divers in Gulf of Mexico or North Sea $180K–$300K+. Day rates for sat divers can reach $600–$1,400 during rotation. Nuclear divers earn $120K–$220K. Pay varies by depth, location, rotation schedule, and dive contractor.
You need: (1) Surface welding certification (AWS SENSE Level II or CWB; 6G pipe welding preferred); (2) Commercial dive school graduation (ADCI or IMCA accredited, 6–10 months); (3) AWS D3.6 Underwater Welding Code certification (wet and/or dry welding); (4) Hyperbaric medical clearance (annual); (5) For offshore: HUET, BOSIET survival certs; TWIC (US) or equivalent security clearance. Saturation diving requires IMCA Part II cert and 3+ years experience.
Yes, it is one of the most hazardous skilled trades. Risks include: decompression sickness (DCS / "the bends"), nitrogen narcosis, oxygen toxicity, electric shock (300–400 amp welding current in water), hypothermia, drowning, entanglement, confined space hazards, and marine life. Proper training, surface-supplied air/heliox, dry suit insulation, umbilical redundancy, standby diver, and chamber availability are critical safety measures. Cumulative DCS risk limits career longevity to 10–20 years for most divers.
Total timeline: 2–4 years from zero to working offshore diver-welder. Breakdown: (1) Welding school & experience: 6 months–2 years to earn AWS welding certs and gain topside experience; (2) Commercial dive school: 6–10 months full-time; (3) Entry work as tender: 6–12 months to accumulate dive hours and wet welding practice; (4) Offshore qualification: 1–2 additional years to reach 500+ hours and earn HUET/BOSIET certs. Saturation diving certification requires 3–5+ years and 1,000+ dive hours.
Wet welding: performed directly in water using waterproof stick electrodes (SMAW); electrode arc submerged; rapid cooling and contamination reduce weld quality; used for non-critical or emergency repairs; simpler setup. Dry welding (hyperbaric welding): performed inside a sealed habitat or cofferdam purged of water and filled with air or inert gas; allows TIG, stick, or other processes; higher quality welds meeting structural codes; used for critical pipeline tie-ins, platform repairs, nuclear work; requires chamber construction underwater.
Inland: rivers, lakes, dams (hydroelectric gates, spillways), bridges (pier pilings, cofferdams), ports (dock pilings, ship hulls), water/wastewater treatment plants, lock & canal systems. Offshore: oil & gas platforms (Gulf of Mexico, North Sea, West Africa, Asia-Pacific), subsea pipelines & risers, drilling rigs, offshore wind farms (monopile foundations). Specialty: nuclear power plants (reactor vessel, spent fuel pools), naval shipyards (submarine/carrier repair), salvage operations (wreck removal, emergency ship repair).
Saturation diving: divers live in a pressurized chamber (deck decompression chamber, DDC) at depth-equivalent pressure for 12–28 days, making daily excursions to the seabed in a diving bell. This eliminates repetitive decompression. Used for deep offshore work (300–1,000+ ft). Divers breathe heliox or trimix. At end of rotation, one long decompression (4–7 days). Pay: $150K–$300K+ annually; day rates $600–$1,400 in saturation. Requires IMCA Part II cert, 3–5 years experience, 1,000+ dive hours. Common in Gulf of Mexico, North Sea, West Africa subsea construction.
Yes, existing welders have a strong advantage. If you already hold AWS SENSE Level II or 6G pipe welding certification and have 1–2 years topside experience, you can proceed directly to commercial dive school. Most dive schools require or strongly recommend prior welding experience. After dive school (6–10 months), you'll complete AWS D3.6 underwater welding certification (wet & dry). Total additional time: ~1–1.5 years from welding journeyman to working underwater welder. Your welding skills will accelerate progression and increase hirability with offshore contractors.