How to Be Underwater Salvage Diver - Job Description, Skills, and Interview Questions
Underwater salvage diving is a highly specialized form of diving in which objects and materials are recovered from underwater locations. This type of diving is extremely dangerous, and requires divers to have extensive training and experience. Divers must be aware of the potential hazards such as strong currents, low visibility, extreme pressure, and hazardous materials.
For this reason, divers must be equipped with the proper tools and safety equipment to ensure their safety as they work. The rewards of salvage diving are numerous: sunken ships, aircrafts, and other lost artifacts can be recovered, providing insight into our past, as well as valuable items that can be sold or donated to museums or historical sites. hazardous materials can be safely removed from the environment, improving the health of our oceans and the creatures that inhabit them.
Steps How to Become
- Obtain certification as an open water diver. Most underwater salvage diver courses require that participants hold a certification as an open water diver. As part of the certification process, participants must demonstrate basic knowledge of diving safety, equipment, and dive theory.
- Take a salvage diver course. Courses vary in length, but most are two to four days long and include both classroom and pool training. During the course, students learn about the principles of underwater salvaging, safe rigging techniques, and basic salvage operations.
- Demonstrate mastery of the material. To complete the course and become certified, participants must demonstrate mastery of the material through a series of tests and practical exercises.
- Complete a dive to a minimum depth of 30 meters (98 feet). Most underwater salvage diver courses require that participants complete a dive to a minimum depth of 30 meters (98 feet). This dive is used to assess the participants salvage skills and demonstrate their competence in the underwater environment.
- Obtain additional certification or experience as needed. Depending on the type of salvage work that a diver wishes to pursue, additional training or experience may be required. For example, some salvage operations may require specialized underwater welding or cutting experience.
- Maintain your certification. Maintaining a certification as an underwater salvage diver requires ongoing practice and safety awareness. Divers should participate in refresher courses and keep up-to-date on new safety protocols and regulations.
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Job Description
- Plan and execute underwater salvage operations, including the recovery of sunken ships, boats, and other vessels.
- Inspect vessels to determine any damages or hazards that may be present in the area.
- Develop and coordinate salvage plans with other divers and personnel involved in the operation.
- Locate and recover sunken objects using specialized equipment such as sonar and remote operated vehicles (ROVs).
- Operate cutting and welding machinery in order to break apart large pieces of debris or to make repairs to vessels.
- Secure lines, cables, and rigging to move and position equipment and vessels.
- Repair and maintain salvage equipment, including pumps, winches, and other machinery.
- Monitor and inspect the underwater environment for any potential hazards or risks.
- Inspect and document any recovered objects for historical or legal purposes.
- Prepare reports of all salvage operations with detailed information on the materials recovered, the condition of the vessel, and any other relevant data.
Skills and Competencies to Have
- Knowledge of diving safety and emergency procedures
- Demonstrated skill in the use of specialized underwater salvage equipment
- Ability to work independently in an underwater environment
- Ability to communicate effectively with a team of divers and other personnel
- Knowledge of maritime laws and regulations related to underwater salvage operations
- Ability to accurately assess the stability of underwater structures
- Knowledge of underwater construction techniques
- Knowledge of marine biology and oceanography
- Ability to troubleshoot and resolve underwater salvage issues
- Understanding of relevant environmental policies and procedures
Underwater salvage diver is a profession requiring an array of physical and mental skills. The focus of this role is to locate, identify, and recover sunken vessels, equipment, and other objects from underwater locations. To carry out this job effectively, a salvage diver must possess sharp observation skills, be physically fit, and have the ability to think quickly in potentially dangerous situations.
Being able to handle hazardous materials safely is also a must. In addition, successful underwater salvage divers must understand the physics of buoyancy and pressure, which can be of great help when trying to move heavy objects from the seabed. Lastly, having an in-depth knowledge of marine life and its habitats is essential for the safety of all involved.
All these qualities combined make a successful underwater salvage diver who will be able to work confidently and efficiently.
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Frequent Interview Questions
- What experience do you have with underwater salvage operations?
- What safety protocols do you follow when performing an underwater salvage operation?
- What equipment have you used for underwater salvage operations?
- What strategies do you use when assessing a situation prior to beginning an underwater salvage operation?
- How do you manage diver fatigue while engaged in an underwater salvage operation?
- How do you ensure that all necessary dive safety protocols are followed during an underwater salvage operation?
- What techniques do you use to ensure the successful recovery of items from underwater salvage operations?
- How do you determine appropriate depths for dives related to underwater salvage operations?
- How do you address environmental concerns associated with underwater salvage operations?
- What challenges have you faced during past underwater salvage operations, and how did you overcome them?
Common Tools in Industry
- Lift Bags. Devices used to lift large, heavy objects from the ocean floor. (Eg: A large anchor)
- Chain Saw. Used to cut through coral and other hard objects. (Eg: A sunken tree trunk)
- Air Lifting Bag. An inflatable bag that uses air pressure to lift objects from the seafloor. (Eg: A sunken boat)
- Wire Cutter. Tool used to cut wires or cables. (Eg: A ship's mooring line)
- Welding Torch. Used to weld together pieces of metal to create a stronger structure. (Eg: A broken ship hull)
- Grinder. Device used to grind away material, such as rust or corrosion. (Eg: Rust on a metal object)
- Underwater Camera. Tool used to take pictures and video of the underwater environment and salvage operations. (Eg: Documenting the recovery process)
- Digital Sonar. Device used to measure the size and shape of an object underwater. (Eg: Identifying a sunken object)
- Metal Detector. Tool used to locate metal objects. (Eg: Finding a lost anchor)
- Diving Knife. Used to cut through debris or tangled lines underwater. (Eg: Cutting fishing nets or lines)
Professional Organizations to Know
- Association of Diving Contractors International (ADCI)
- International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA)
- American Salvage Association (ASA)
- Marine Technology Society (MTS)
- Underwater Intervention (UI)
- Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI)
- Underwater Society of America (USOA)
- National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI)
- Subsea Industries Association (SIA)
- International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA)
We also have Underwater Camera Operator, Underwater Sound Technician, and Underwater Environmental Consultant jobs reports.
Common Important Terms
- Shipwrecks. Structures or vessels that have sunk or been destroyed in water.
- Underwater Archaeology. The study of submerged remains and artifacts in underwater environments.
- Marine Salvage. The recovery of sunken or damaged ships and other property from the sea.
- Diving. The activity of swimming underwater for a short period of time.
- Submersibles. Small, self-contained underwater vehicles used for exploration and recovery operations.
- Marine Engineering. The application of engineering principles and technology to the design, construction and operation of ships, boats and other vessels.
- ROVs (Remotely Operated Vehicles). Small, unmanned underwater robots used for exploration and salvage operations.
- Sonar. An acoustic imaging technology that uses sound waves to detect objects underwater.
- Marine Insurance. Insurance coverage specifically designed to protect against losses incurred while operating marine vessels or structures.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Underwater Salvage Diving?
Underwater salvage diving is a specialized form of commercial diving that involves the recovery of lost, sunken, or otherwise inaccessible underwater objects and materials.
What qualifications are needed to become an underwater salvage diver?
To become an underwater salvage diver, individuals must possess a valid commercial diving certification and have experience working in an aquatic environment. They must also have a thorough understanding of salvage operations and techniques and possess the necessary physical and mental strength to perform the job safely and effectively.
What tools are used in underwater salvage diving operations?
Underwater salvage operations typically involve a variety of specialized tools and equipment, including underwater cameras and video systems, acoustic positioning systems, side-scan sonar, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), diver-held lifting bags, and lifting slings. In some cases, explosives may also be used to dislodge or break apart large objects.
What safety considerations must be observed when performing underwater salvage diving?
As with all types of commercial diving, underwater salvage divers must adhere to strict safety protocols to minimize the risk of injury or death. This includes using the proper safety equipment and breathing apparatus, adhering to dive time limits, monitoring their own physical condition, remaining aware of potential hazards in the work environment, and following standard operating procedures.
What type of environment do underwater salvage divers typically work in?
Underwater salvage divers often work in challenging environments, including deep-sea areas, shipwrecks, and other submerged locations. They must be prepared to encounter hazardous conditions such as strong currents, cold temperatures, low visibility, and unpredictable marine life.
What are jobs related with Underwater Salvage Diver?
- Underwater Electrician
- Underwater Geologist
- Underwater Construction Worker
- Underwater Videographer
- Underwater Photographer/Videographer
- Underwater Archeologist
- Underwater Pipeline Inspector
- Underwater Acoustic Technician
Web Resources
- Salvage Part I: 5 Rules of Salvage Diving - Divers Institute of www.diversinstitute.edu
- Commercial Diving & Underwater Welding | Divers Academy www.diversacademy.edu
- Commercial Diving Careers - USA | Commercial Divers Int www.commercialdiversinternational.edu
