So You Want To Be A Commercial Scuba Diver?

So you have been a recreational diver for several years, traveled the world and plan at least one Scuba Dive Vacation every year, and every time you are down there beneath the waves, you think to yourself, "wouldn't be great if I could do this for a living?" Well you can - by training to become a Commercial or Professional Scuba Diver.

Now Commercial Divers usually work for Commercial Dive Companies. Most commercial divers are not technically Scuba Divers - most Commercial divers will work under water in special environments, utilizing special skills like underwater construction, while tethered to a surface air supply. Unlike lightweight self-contained Scuba gear the commercial Diver will wear the familiar helmeted or deep diving suit. Depending on the job to be done, or the environment the commercial diver is diving in, will determine the type of suit to be worn. In some instances Commercial Divers will work in Diving Bells. Commercial Diving training must be done by a Certified Commercial Diving Company or received through the military. Commercial dive companies look for skilled scuba divers who are comfortable in the water and also have other skills such as in engineering, construction, electronics and hydraulics.

While Commercial Divers require specialized training and are not Scuba Divers per see, there are also opportunities for professional Scuba Divers, and these are not limited to becoming a Scuba Instructor or Dive Tour Operator. As one of the fastest growing recreational sports worldwide, Scuba Diving supports a rapidly expanding industry, and opportunities for trained professionals are cropping up everywhere. Opportunities are plentiful from instructor/sales positions with retail dive centers to Dive Master/Instructor roles in the world's most exotic dive destinations. Dive Master or Dive Instructor Certification is the top rung of the certification ladder from whichever certifying organization you started with. Every dive you have made previously counts toward Dive Master or Instructor Certification. The majority of dive operations in the world teach PADI certification courses, so if you are thinking about a career as a Scuba Diving Instructor, just based on the numbers, you will have more opportunities with a PADI Dive Master certification. To qualify to train for Dive Master you will have to already be PADI Advanced Open Water and Rescue Diver certified. If you love Scuba Diving and want to make it a career, then Dive Master training is a must. It not only will give you the Scuba skills required but also emphasizes gaining management and leadership skills and building the confidence needed by a professional Scuba Diver.

Another exciting career for the Scuba Diver is Public Safety or Search and Rescue Diving. Most community rescue squads especially those in ocean communities or communities with many lakes and other waters employ Scuba Divers or Water Safety Technicians as part of their rescue squads, fire departments, or police or sheriff's department. Depending on how the community is set up - to be a Search and Rescue Diver, you may have to take specialty-training courses on top of already being a police officer, firefighter, or paramedic. It is best to check with your local municipality for details. And of course such opportunities abound with the Navy, Coast Guard and other branches of the Military