Top 10 Tips for Commercial Divers

1. You Cannot Be Claustrophobic or Afraid of Isolation in Cold, Dark, Wet Spaces.

As you will be underwater for long periods of time either by yourself or with one or two other dive team members, this is a key ingredient to success in the industry. If you can’t handle that type of environment, commercial diving might not be right for you. Commercial Divers who are successful in this industry are the ones who overcome their psychological boundaries and can put themselves in uncomfortable positions. Anyone with an interest in becoming a commercial diver needs to assess their level of claustrophobia before they decide to take on this career path. Those who may not like these types of spaces may eventually overcome this psychological discomfort with practice. It takes putting yourself in uncomfortable positions over and over again for a long period before you actually start enjoying it.

3. You Must Have Common Sense.

The funny thing about common sense is, it’s not always that common. Usually, common sense is gained from on-the-job experience but a lot of people naturally have it while others don’t. Now it’s important to know that whenever you’re doing a task it needs to be thought out properly and you need to have contingency plans for what exactly is going on and have action plans for several different scenarios. Always be able to find your escape route and understand the job completely before you undertake it. In the simplest terms, just take the time to think about what you’re doing

5. Be Attentive to Every Aspect of the Job

Commercial Diving is no different than any other industry: knowledge is power. Make sure you’re involved in the setup, the discussions, and everything that happens with anything that’s going on. You need to be focused and have your mind on the job. When you’re on board you build a reputation and it’s up to you what that reputation becomes. If you’re attentive, proactive, and always ready to get in the water, you’re going to be asked to come back for the next job. It really is that simple.

7. Respect People’s Personal Space.

Offshore commercial divers work on barges, sharing rooms or set chambers with two, three, four other guys at a time. Being on top of personal hygiene is paramount when you’re sharing a small space with other people. Cleaning up your hair in the sink after shaving, tidying your bag away so that no one trips over it in, and clean up in the galley after you’ve finished eating. You also need to respect other people’s sleeping patterns. Some divers are on opposite shifts or just need to get their heads down early. Even if you’re a night owl, tiptoe around them, don’t make too much noise, and don’t turn the lights on. It’s about putting other people’s comfort in front of your own for the sake of the team.

9. Have A Clear and Focused Mind.

Commercial Diving is a high-risk activity. It’s important that commercial divers maintain 100% focus. This industry requires traveling for a living taking you away for months at a time. If you’ve got issues going on in the background that takes your mind off of what you’re supposed to be doing, it can affect the safety of yourself and your crew. Communication can be difficult when you’re working offshore or when you’re working in isolated places, but it’s important to make every effort possible to touch base with your loved ones to let them know you’re okay. This translates to a clearer headspace and ultimately, a better ability to focus on the task at hand.