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Professional Diving Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Knowing that diving in your own total diving system is the safest and most comfortable way to dive, the Dive Professional is expected to make product recommendations best aligned with optimizing each ...

Knowing that diving in your own total diving system is the safest and most comfortable way to dive, the Dive Professional is expected to make product recommendations best aligned with optimizing each ...

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Professional Diving information

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$11K

$56.8K

$144K

How much do professional diving jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for professional diving in the United States is $56,841.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $25,000.00 and $46,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

Can saturation divers earn over $300000 with years of experience?

Saturation divers with extensive experience and specialized skills can potentially earn over $300,000 annually, especially when working on high-risk, deep-sea projects or in remote locations. However, such earnings are typically associated with top-tier professionals in the industry and depend on factors like certifications, employer, and project scope.

How do I become a professional diver?

To become a professional diver, you need to complete open water and advanced diving certifications from recognized agencies such as PADI or NAUI, gain experience through dives, and often obtain specialized training like commercial diving or underwater welding. Physical fitness, good health, and sometimes a background in related fields are also important for employment in this profession.

What is the highest paying diving job?

The highest paying diving jobs are often specialized roles such as commercial divers, underwater welders, or saturation divers, with salaries exceeding $100,000 annually. These positions typically require advanced certifications, extensive experience, and work in challenging environments like deep-sea or offshore projects.

How much money do commercial divers make?

Commercial divers typically earn between $40,000 and $100,000 annually, depending on experience, certifications, and the complexity of the projects. Experienced divers working in specialized environments or on hazardous tasks can earn higher wages, often supplemented by overtime and hazard pay.

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 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.
More about Professional Diving jobs
What cities are hiring for Professional Diving jobs? Cities with the most Professional Diving job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Diving jobs? The most popular types of Diving jobs are:
What states have the most Professional Diving jobs? States with the most job openings for Professional Diving jobs include:
Coordinator - Academic Diving Program - 998974

Coordinator - Academic Diving Program - 998974

Nova Southeastern University

Fort Lauderdale, FL • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Retirement

Re-posted 11 days ago


Nova Southeastern University rating

6.9

Company rating: 6.9 out of 10

Based on 24 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

407th of 553 rated colleges and universities


Job description

We are excited that you are considering joining Nova Southeastern University!
Nova Southeastern University (NSU) was founded in 1964, and is a not-for-profit, independent university with a reputation for academic excellence and innovation. Nova Southeastern University offers competitive salaries, a comprehensive benefits package including tuition waiver, retirement plan, excellent medical and dental plans and much more. NSU cares about the health and welfare of its students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors and is a tobacco-free university.
We appreciate your support in making NSU the preeminent place to live, work, study and grow. Thank you for your interest in a career with Nova Southeastern University.
Primary Purpose:
Responsible for the coordinating academic diving program through maintenance of certifications and scheduling as well as analysis of data to improve the program and student experiences.
Job Category: Exempt
Hiring Range:
Pay Basis: Annually
Subject to Grant Funding? No
Essential Job Functions:
1. Teaches academic scuba diving classes.
2. Administers qualitative and quantitative surveys post recreational course offerings; Interprets survey data to improve student experience and shape future program offerings.
3. Facilitates classroom, pool, and off campus trip reservations for academic courses.
4. Schedules staff members assigned to each class within PADI standards and regulations.
5. Maintains academic certifications to ensure proper records of Professional Association of Dive Instructor standards and regulations.
6. Assists in staff development and training through workshops, private sessions, and formal staff training day during each semester.
7. Liaises with admissions to aid in departmental tours for recruitment of new students.
8. Completes special projects as assigned.
9. Performs other duties as assigned or required.
Job Requirements:
Required Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities: Knowledge:
1. Knowledge and understanding of scuba diving instruction; dive theory including physics, physiology, and equipment; marine science and other related fields such as oceanography; leadership development.
2. General knowledge of MS Office Suite (Outlook, Word and Excel).
3. Customer and Personal Service - General knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of user satisfaction.
Skills:
1. Complex Problem Solving - Proficient skills in identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions
2. Speaking - Advanced skills in talking to others to convey information effectively.
3. Critical Thinking - Proficient skills in using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
4. Reading Comprehension - Advanced understanding of written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents
5. Judgment and Decision Making - Proficient skills in considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the appropriate one.
6. Service Orientation - Proficient skills in actively looking for ways to help people.
Abilities:
1. Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
2. Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
3. Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (including finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
4. Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
5. Multi-Tasking - The ability to perform multiple tasks simultaneously without error.
Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:
1. Speech Recognition - Must be able to identify and understand the speech of another person.
2. Speech Clarity - Must be able to speak clearly so others can understand you.
3. Near Vision - Must be able to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
4. May be required to work nights or weekends.
5. Travel - Must be able to travel on a daily and/or overnight basis.
6. May be exposed to short, intermittent, and/or prolonged periods of sitting and/or standing in performance of job duties.
7. May be required to accomplish job duties using various types of equipment/supplies, to include but not limited to pens, pencils, mobile devices, and computer keyboards.
8. Ability to lift 35 pounds with each hand.
9. Ability to spend prolonged time on boats and in the outside environment.
Required Certifications/Licensures: 1. PADI IDC Staff Instructor Certification or Higher
2. DAN DFA PRO Instructor
Required Education: Bachelor's Degree
Major (if required: Marine Science or related field.
Required Experience: Minimum three (3) years as a PADI Instructor including at least six (6) months as a PADI Instructor Development Course Staff Instructor.
Preferred Qualifications:
PADI Course Director
Is this a safety sensitive position? Yes
Background Screening Required? Yes
Pre-Employment Conditions:
Sensitivity Disclaimer: Nova Southeastern University is in full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and does not discriminate with regard to applicants or employees with disabilities and will make reasonable accommodation when necessary.
NSU considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status or any other legally protected status.

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