1

Professional Diving Jobs in Raleigh, NC (NOW HIRING)

Successful SkillBridge applicants will have the opportunity to learn, develop, and enhance professional skills that can lead directly to career advancements in the field of diving research and job ...

Successful SkillBridge applicants will have the opportunity to learn, develop, and enhance professional skills that canlead directly to career advancements in the field of diving research and job ...

Safety Services Specialist

Durham, NC · On-site

$65K - $75K/yr

Certified scuba diver - a professional scuba diving rating is desired. * Hyperbaric facility safety officer, operator or technician * DAN First Aid Instructor or appropriate equivalent * Dive safety ...

Certified scuba diver - a professional scuba diving rating is desired. * Hyperbaric facility safety officer, operator or technician * DAN First Aid Instructor or appropriate equivalent * Dive safety ...

... diving equipment while managing records and readiness. What to Expect Highly physical, safety ... professional degree for officer positions * Meeting age limits that vary by program and are set in ...

... diving equipment while managing records and readiness. What to Expect Highly physical, safety ... professional degree for officer positions * Meeting age limits that vary by program and are set in ...

... diving equipment while managing records and readiness. What to Expect Highly physical, safety ... professional degree for officer positions * Meeting age limits that vary by program and are set in ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Professional Diving information

See Raleigh, NC salary details

$10.7K

$55.3K

$140K

How much do professional diving jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for professional diving in Raleigh, NC is $55,254.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $24,300.00 and $44,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How much do professional divers make?

Professional divers' salaries vary based on experience, specialization, and industry, but they typically earn between $30,000 and $100,000 annually. Commercial divers, for example, often earn higher wages due to the demanding nature of underwater construction, inspection, and repair work, especially when working in hazardous environments or requiring specialized certifications. Salaries can also increase with overtime, bonuses, and advanced skills.

What is the difference between Professional Diving vs Commercial Diving?

AspectProfessional DivingCommercial Diving
CertificationsOpen Water, Advanced, Rescue Diver certifications, plus specialized trainingCommercial diving certifications like ADC, IMCA, or equivalent
Work EnvironmentUnderwater sports, research, film, and recreational activitiesUnderwater construction, inspection, welding, and salvage
Industry UsageUsed in entertainment, research, and recreational sectorsPrimarily in construction, oil & gas, and industrial sectors

Professional Diving typically involves recreational, research, or entertainment activities requiring specialized certifications and a focus on safety. Commercial Diving is more industrial, involving underwater construction and maintenance, with certifications aligned to industrial standards. While both roles require diving skills, their work environments and industry applications differ significantly.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a professional diver, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Professional Diver, you need strong swimming ability, physical fitness, diving certifications (such as PADI or commercial diver qualifications), and knowledge of underwater safety protocols. Familiarity with specialized equipment like scuba gear, underwater communication systems, and sometimes remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) is essential. Attention to detail, problem-solving, and the ability to remain calm under pressure are critical soft skills for this role. These skills and qualities are crucial to ensure safety, effective underwater operations, and successful completion of complex tasks in challenging environments.

What jobs can you get with professional diving?

Professional divers can work in roles such as commercial diver, underwater welder, marine archaeologist, scientific researcher, underwater photographer, and underwater construction worker. These jobs often require specialized certifications, knowledge of diving equipment, and the ability to work in challenging underwater environments.

What is professional diving?

Professional diving refers to diving performed as part of one’s occupation rather than for recreation. This includes commercial divers who work on underwater construction, inspection, maintenance, and repairs, as well as scientific, public safety, and military divers. Professional divers undergo specialized training to handle the technical, safety, and environmental challenges associated with working underwater. They use specialized equipment and must adhere to strict safety regulations to minimize risks.

What are some common challenges faced by professional divers during underwater operations?

Professional divers often encounter challenges such as limited visibility, strong currents, and the need to manage air supply efficiently. Maintaining clear communication with the surface team through underwater radios or signals is crucial, as is adhering strictly to safety protocols to prevent decompression sickness and other hazards. Additionally, working for extended periods underwater requires strong physical fitness and the ability to troubleshoot equipment issues on the spot.
What cities near Raleigh, NC are hiring for Professional Diving jobs? Cities near Raleigh, NC with the most Professional Diving job openings:
Infographic showing various Professional Diving job openings in Raleigh, NC as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 71% Full Time, 21% Part Time, and 7% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $55,254 per year, or $26.6 per hour.

Research Assistant-Diving Science

DAN

Durham, NC • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 13 days ago


Job description

DIVERS ALERT NETWORK - SkillBridge Program
SkillBridge is a Defense Department (DOD) program designed for transitioning service members. It provides employment training, internships, and apprenticeship opportunities at over 3,000 public and private organizations across the country. The program aims to help service members gain civilian experience while still on active duty, ultimately leading to a higher probability of employment after leaving the military.
Divers Alert Network (DAN) is a global organization headquartered in Durham, North Carolina. As the leader in civilian dive safety research, DAN employs and collaborates with dive science experts to conduct research regarding all aspects of dive safety.
Successful SkillBridge applicants will have the opportunity to learn, develop, and enhance professional skills that can lead directly to career advancements in the field of diving research and job placement within DAN. The location of this SkillBridge placement is Durham, NC.
They will participate in activities that originated in the DAN Internship Program. This program was created more than 20 years ago to give qualified candidates valuable experience in dive safety research. Today - over 100 interns later - the program continues to help people develop the knowledge and skills they need to pursue careers in diving-related and scientific fields.
The DAN SkillBridge participant will work alongside a mentor at DAN Headquarters in Durham, North Carolina for 2-6 months. Participants will work 40 hours per week in person.
The broad goal of training a SkillBridge participant at DAN will be to expand upon the applicant's existing diving experience and knowledge and apply it to diving research in physiology, population health, and accident investigation. This will include understanding how to generally do good research, independent of diving, primarily focusing on human subject research (e.g. IRB protocols, data collection/storage, statistics). Then observe and participate in our ongoing research activities, with exposure to a range of projects, including the early idea stage, proposal writing, regulatory approval, data collection, data analysis and manuscript writing/presentations. The goal for our SkillBridge team member is to find a good, long-term fit in our Research Department (preferred), another department in DAN, or in another diving research-related field or organization.
The training will be tailored to the needs of the applicant and the department at the time of the SkillBridge placement.
A full list of potential courses and skill development opportunities can be found here:
DOD SkillBridge - Divers Alert Network
SkillBridge participants will:
• Gain a deeper understanding of diving physiology, dive injury monitoring, and current diving research efforts worldwide
• Learn to prepare, plan, conduct, and communicate scientific experiments and take responsibility for their own research project
• Learn data acquisition and research techniques
• Engage with divers while collecting data in the field, and communicate DAN Research
endeavors to the dive community at large
Prerequisites:
Service members with experience or expertise in diving, population health, or accident investigation are particularly encouraged to apply. Ideal candidates must be organized, detail-oriented, demonstrate excellent communication skills, demonstrate an established commitment to diving, and be able to clearly communicate how participation in this program will help them achieve their career goals. While diving is not required during the program, all activities are diving-focused, and as such, certified scuba divers with some experience would be most qualified. College education and experience in research is encouraged but not required for SkillBridge participation with Divers Alert Network.