Diver

A diver performs underwater work in marine, offshore, or inland environments, conducting tasks such as inspection, maintenance, construction, and salvage operations while managing the physiological and safety risks of working at depth. Divers operate under strict compliance with Australian diving standards and work protocols, using specialised equipment and breathing apparatus. They work in industries including offshore oil and gas, marine construction, environmental monitoring, and emergency response.

Conduct pre-dive safety checks on diving equipment including regulators, buoyancy compensators, cylinders, and decompression computers. Plan dive profiles and decompression schedules in accordance with AS/NZS 2299.1 diving standards to manage nitrogen narcosis and decompression sickness risk. Operate surface-supplied air or self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) systems during underwater work. Perform underwater inspections of submerged structures including pipelines, cables, vessel hulls, and marine infrastructure using hand tools and visual assessment techniques. Conduct underwater welding, cutting, or bolting operations using hyperbaric tools and techniques on offshore platforms and marine structures. Maintain underwater communication with surface supervisors and dive tenders via two-way communication systems throughout the dive. Monitor and record diving-related physiological data including depth, bottom time, air consumption, and decompression obligations. Respond to underwater emergencies such as equipment failure or diver distress by following emergency ascent procedures and rescue protocols.

The standard entry pathway requires a Certificate IV or Certificate III with at least two years of on-the-job training (ABS skill level 3). Specific qualification requirements vary by employer and state. Some employers may accept equivalent experience. Check yourcareer.gov.au for available courses and dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for subsidised training options.

You'll need to accept serious physical risk and strict medical requirements. Decompression sickness, nitrogen narcosis, and equipment failure can cause permanent injury or death. You'll need regular medical checks, can't have certain health conditions, and even minor ear or sinus issues can ground you. The offshore work is well-paid but involves long rotations away from home (often 2 to 4 weeks on, 2 weeks off), and you're dependent on weather and sea conditions for work availability.

Remote work doesn't apply. You'll need to relocate or be prepared for FIFO (fly-in, fly-out) arrangements if you want consistent offshore work.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 3999, the wider group this job sits in, not for this job on its own.

This is the median for full-time employees who are not managers and are paid at the adult rate, before tax and salary sacrifice. It is a guide to what the work pays, not a wage rate.

Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.

• Active Listeningcore
• Adaptability and Flexibilitycore
• Attention to Detailcore
• Check diving equipmentcore
• Incident Reportingcore
• Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Team Collaborationcore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Workload Self-Managementcore
• Basic Arithmetic and Numerical Accuracy
• Conduct physical examination in emergency
• Continuous Learning and Upskilling
• Dispatch Documentation
• Goal Setting and Planning
• Report Writing
• Research and Analysis
• Stakeholder Communication
• Written Communication

• ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
• ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
• ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.

Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.

Where our numbers come from.

Last updated: 30 October 2026