| By definition, commercial diving is a branch of | | | | diving is considered to be the most hazardous of |
| professional diving. While many of us enjoy the | | | | HAZMAT diving duties owing to the multiple health |
| delights of the aquatic world for purely recreational | | | | problems the employees may pick up from the raw |
| purposes, for some people, the underwater | | | | sewage plants despite the heavy protective |
| ecosystem is a place of work. This article covers the | | | | garments and accessories provided. HAZMAT divers |
| detailed description of the distinct branches of | | | | are usually subject to cloudy water bodies and they |
| commercial diving, meant for anyone considering | | | | may have to rely on their heightened touch sense. |
| commercial diving as a career or for those simply | | | | Nuclear diving is yet another form of commercial |
| interested in diving as a hobby. | | | | diving, very similar to HAZMAT diving. The most |
| Offshore diving is the most popular form of | | | | obvious difference is that nuclear commercial divers |
| commercial diving. It mainly consists of professional | | | | are exposed to harmful nuclear substances rather |
| divers working from oil rigs but also covers the gas | | | | than raw sewage. Endless precautions are taken by |
| industry and many others. Offshore diving is very | | | | nuclear dive companies to ensure the safety of their |
| popular in a few select parts of the world such as | | | | employees, nuclear substances can be tricky to say |
| the Gulf of Mexico, the United Kingdom and Norway. | | | | the least. Heat stress is a common problem to many |
| The work revolves around maintaining oil platforms | | | | nuclear divers who in turn use a cold suit. A |
| and submerged structures to be used in production | | | | dosimeter ensures that divers do not become |
| processes. This is a relatively dangerous commercial | | | | subject to too great a radiation output or death may |
| diving career requiring a lot of dedication and hard | | | | follow. |
| work, usually 12-hour shifts for several weeks | | | | Diving can be incredibly challenging work but is no |
| without any day off. | | | | doubt a rewarding career should you choose it. The |
| Inshore diving is another branch of commercial diving | | | | work does require a certain character, working in a |
| sharing quite a few similarities with offshore diving in | | | | dangerous, alien environment on a daily basis is not |
| terms of the nature of the work. The difference lies | | | | for everybody. |
| mainly in the geographical aspect, with inshore diving | | | | A diver must possess not only the personal qualities |
| involving mainly civil engineering assignments in | | | | to perform the job but also a wide range of skills to |
| harbours and rivers. Professional inshore divers are | | | | be able to do the job. After all, diving is simply a way |
| usually expected to be able to work on a large | | | | of getting to work. |
| variety of projects. Unlike offshore work, inshore | | | | For those with an interest in this line of work who |
| divers are usually based closer to home. | | | | would prefer not to get wet, you may consider |
| HAZMAT diving is perhaps the most dangerous | | | | looking into becoming another element of the dive |
| aspect of commercial diving demanding highly skilled | | | | team. Diving supervisors and tenders are an equally |
| and highly trained divers. The workload typically | | | | important role and required by law where any diving |
| constitutes of handling issues with sewage treatment | | | | work is to take place. |
| plants or hazardous chemical plants such as oil sludge. | | | | For more information related to diving and other |
| The divers are vaccinated regularly and the | | | | supporting roles, take a look at Commercial Diving |
| commercial diving company has to meet certain | | | | Magazine online where you can find a range of useful |
| hygiene standards. Some of the common tasks of | | | | information on the subject. If you have any |
| HAZMAT diving include the maintenance of sluice | | | | comments, questions or useful information to share |
| gates, the repair of compromised pipelines, pollution | | | | you can even join in and become an author on the |
| management projects and finding dead bodies. Sewer | | | | site. |