Underwater welders work in many industries around the world. Welding is a necessary skill to work in the construction industry, but underwater welders are also used in a range of other sectors, from shipbuilding and oil rigs to undersea machinery and car manufacturing.
Have you always dreamed of being a professional underwater welder? Are you looking to get started on that journey? If so, you’ve come to the right place!
In this article, I want to guide you to understand the underwater welding requirements and how to become an underwater welder. Keep reading!
What is Underwater Welding?
Underwater welding is the process of joining metal underwater. It’s a skill that takes years of training to perfect, but it’s a vital part of many industries.
A diver who has been trained in welding can use this skill to make repairs on ships or even create new parts from scratch.
For more information about underwater welding criteria and requirements, read the full article.
How To Become An Underwater Welder? Steps to Follow
- Acquire a Diploma Degree or G.E.D.
- Acquire a Welding Certification
- Give Application for Diving School
- Get a Certificate from Diving School
- Go for an Underwater Welding Job
- Acquire Experience and Perform Well
If you love being underwater and want to make a living doing it, you should consider becoming an underwater welder. This job requires expertise in welding and diving, so it’s not easy to get. But if you’re up for the challenge, it could be worth your while!
Now I will explain all of these steps in detail to get the better to become an underwater welder.
1. Acquire a Diploma Degree or G.E.D.:
To become an underwater welder, you’ll need at least 12 years of education. From grade 12, you’ll want to start by earning your high school diploma or G.E.D. (General Education Development), which will give you the basic skills necessary for entry-level positions in this industry.
After that, there are two main paths: attending college or getting trained through an apprenticeship program.
If you decide to go to college, expect to spend about four years earning an associate degree or bachelor’s degree in welding technology or another relevant area.
While these programs exist at community colleges, universities, and trade schools across the country, some states offer special opportunities for underwater welders by providing financial aid or scholarships specifically for this occupation.
2. Acquire a Welding Certification:
Before you can become an underwater welder, you’ll need to earn experience and certification in topside welding.
To become a certified topside welder, you must have at least 2 years of experience welding above water. You’ll also need to pass a written test that proves your knowledge of welding principles and practices.
There are two programs that teach underwater welding: one by the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI) and one by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI).
Both programs involve classroom work, but only NAUI’s program includes actual hands-on training in an actual pool. After completing these programs, you’re ready to start working as an underwater welder!
Once you’ve earned your topside welding certification, you can move to the next step for admission to a diving school, which I will discuss in the next step.
3. Give Application for Diving School:
Becoming an underwater welder is not as easy as it sounds. It requires years of training, which includes both classroom and on-the-job experience. You must first apply to a commercial dive school and pass out their test in the time duration of 1 month.
After this, you will begin the program, which consists of classroom work and actual underwater welding work.
The program lasts anywhere from 2 to 4 years, depending on whether or not you have prior experience in welding or underwater welding.
During this time, you will learn how to use cutting torches, underwater cameras, air hoses, etc., while also learning safety procedures for working underwater.
When you are ready to take your job as an underwater welder, there are many different places where you can find employment, including oil rigs, shipyards (such as those found in Louisiana), or even sewage treatment plants!
4. Get a Certificate from Diving School:
You can get a certificate from a diving school to become an underwater welder.
To be successful, you should earn certifications to increase your welding and commercial diving skill set. This will take about 5 – 18 months, depending on the program.
Diving schools usually have courses for both commercial divers and welders. You will learn about ship hulls, pipelines, bridges, oil rigs, and more. You will also learn how to use tools such as torches, saws, and other equipment used in underwater construction projects.
Commercial diving schools often teach students how to use air compressors and regulators so they can feed oxygen into their tanks while they’re underwater.
They may also teach students how to use scuba gear or hookah systems so they can breathe without using oxygen tanks at all times during their dives (which can be very dangerous!).
5. Go for an Underwater Welding Job:
Once you’ve found a job, it’s time to get ready for it! During the application process, make sure that you’re honest about your experience—you don’t want to waste anyone’s time if you have no relevant experience.
If possible, try to get qualified as soon as possible by taking some classes or by learning on your own with books and online resources. This will give you a head start on everyone else who is applying for the same job!
3. Acquire Experience and Perform Well:
Once you’ve landed the job and started working there, it’s important that you do well so that you can keep getting hired by other companies down the line!
Make sure that all safety regulations are followed at all times when operating equipment or performing tasks underwater; this includes making sure that proper equipment is used and maintained correctly at all times (including but not limited to breathing apparatus).
I suggest you complete all the above-mentioned requirements to become a professional underwater welder.
Underwater Welding Requirements
Underwater welding is an important skill for any underwater worker to have. In this article, I will discuss the basic requirements for becoming an underwater welder.
- Complete an underwater welding training course
- You must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or equivalent.
- You must pass the American Welding Society (A.W.S.) test for your certification level. This can be done online or in person at an A.W.S. testing center.
- You must have a current first aid certificate that is valid in all 50 states (this can be obtained through an online course).
- You must have your diving certification before you begin a job as an underwater welder.
- Have at least three years of experience in the field of welding, or at least two years of experience if you have been certified as an X-ray operator
- You need to be able-bodied and able to swim well enough so that you don’t drown while performing your job duties.
- Your employer must provide you with a wet suit, mask, fins, and other necessary equipment.
How Long does it Take to Become an Underwater Welder?
There are a few ways to learn the trade of underwater welding, but most people who train to become welders do so at a vocational school.
The exact length of time it will take for you to become an underwater welder depends on the type of program that you choose and your ability level when you start your training.
If you choose a two-year program, it will typically take about two years to complete. If you choose a four-year program, it will typically take about four years to finish your training.
In the past, I became an underwater welder in 2 to 3 years.
How to Get into Underwater Welding?
If you’re thinking of getting into underwater welding, there are a few things you should know.
Underwater welders must be able to hold their breath underwater for long periods of time and be able to swim confidently in deep water. They also need to have excellent vision and be able to see clearly when they’re working underwater.
You will need to pass an exam before you can become an underwater welder, but if you have the right qualifications, it’s not too difficult to get started.
You’ll need at least a high school diploma or equivalent, as well as two years of experience working with oxygen-saturated gases. You may also need additional training if you want to work on commercial or military vessels.
Which Skills Must Have to Become an Underwater Welder?
If you want to become an underwater welder, there are a few skills that you need to have.
| No. | Skills Must Have | Description |
| 1 | Good Eyesight | To be an underwater welder, and you must have good eyesight, physical strength and endurance, and the ability to perform tasks in a limited space. |
| 2 | Physical Ability | If you want to become an underwater welder, you need good eyesight and physical strength. You will be working inside of a small area where it is hard to see and move around easily. |
| 3 | Good Vision | You will need a good vision so that you can see what needs to be done without bumping into anything or losing any tools. |
| 4 | Strong | It is also important that you are physically strong enough to hold yourself against the pressure of water on your body while working with tools underwater. |
| 5 | Patience | To become an underwater welder, you need to have a lot of patience because it takes a long time to learn. |
| 6 | Good Communication Skills | Also, it’s important that you’re able to speak clearly and with confidence so that other people can understand what you’re saying. |
| 7 | Reading & Writing | You should also be good at reading and writing because underwater welding is all about being able to communicate with your crew members. |
| 8 | Blueprints Ability | You’ll need to be able to read blueprints and have good math skills. You should also have experience with welding, cutting metal, and using heavy machinery. |
| 9 | Attention | The job of an underwater welder requires precision and attention to detail since it is a very dangerous environment where mistakes can lead to death or serious injury. |
How Can you Polish your Underwater Welding Career & Skills?
If you’re looking to polish your underwater welding career and skills, then I recommend going for a few things you can do.
- Advancement in your underwater welding career is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s easy to get excited about moving up the ladder and getting promoted, but it’s important to focus on the long-term goals that will actually help you advance in your career.
- Join professional organizations and attend seminars and conferences. This will give you access to new information, new people in your field, and new opportunities—all of which can help advance your career.
- Find mentors who can help guide you through the process of advancing in your career. You might not realize what types of skills or connections are needed to advance until someone shows them to you!
- Keep learning new things! Studies show that people who stay current with their education are more likely to advance in their careers than those who don’t keep learning new skills or trying new things out for themselves (source).
- Another way to advance in your career is by networking with others in the industry. This can be done through local groups or online forums, as well as through social media platforms like LinkedIn (or even Twitter!).
Which Qualities Can Exist in a Good Underwater Welder?
If you want to become a successful and good underwater welder, then you should have the following qualities:
| No. | Qualities |
| 1 | Good underwater welders have good eyesight, excellent hand-eye coordination, and the ability to think clearly under pressure. |
| 2 | They are able to work under stressful conditions and in adverse weather conditions. |
| 3 | Good underwater welders must have strong communication skills. They must also be able to communicate with the crew, as well as with the divers and other workers on the job site. |
| 4 | In addition, good underwater welders should be able to use their hands for delicate work such as welding and cutting. It’s also important that they have a sense of balance and can easily move around in tight spaces. |
| 5 | Able to work in tight spaces. |
| 6 | Knowledgeable about welding and the materials they will be working with |
| 7 | Has experience in underwater welding. |
How Much Can Underwater Welders Earn?
The average underwater welder can earn between $21 and $42 per hour, depending on their experience level.
Underwater welders are a type of welder who works underwater. They usually work in the oil and gas industry, but they can also be hired by other industries that need underwater welders to help with their projects.
The amount an underwater welder earns depends on many different factors, including where they live, how much experience they have, and what kind of equipment they use.
The average annual salary for an underwater welder is $56,000 per year. This figure includes both part-time and full-time workers as well as those who work less than 40 hours per week or more than 40 hours per week.
The median annual wages for the various industries employing underwater welders include:
- Construction of buildings: $48,920
- Ship and boat building: $47,340
- Oil and gas extraction: $44,500
I assure you that underwater welder earns a handsome amount.
Final Words!
The career of an underwater welder is certainly a unique one, and taking the certification course is no easy task.
However, if you have the willingness and dedication it takes, it shouldn’t be too difficult to become a certified diver and an underwater welder—just keep working at it!
So, now you have gotten enough idea about how to become an underwater welder through this article.
FAQs:
How hard is it to be an underwater welder?
Surprisingly, being an underwater welder is not a simple process. There are several steps that go into the job of being a welder; however, unlike many other careers, the steps are very detailed. From the time you start your training to the moment you step into an underwater workshop, an extensive amount of schooling must be completed before you ever touch anything remotely related to welding.
What qualifications do I need to be an underwater welder?
As a first step, you should research the training organizations and courses available in your area. The American Welding Society has a course locator that can help you find schools near you that offer welding training. Some certifications are also industry-specific, like those from the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER).
How long does underwater welding take?
Underwater welding can take as little as 6 months to 2 years if you are able to devote your time and focus fully on it. It would be safe to say that the more time you put into it, the more quickly you can become a certified welder. Yet, time is not the only variable in underwater welding training. It also depends on the quality of your instructor and training facility, whether or not you pass the assessments, and your own determination to learn underwater welding as rapidly as possible.
