There have been many advances in welding in recent years. One of the numerous advances has led to the development of underwater welding. In fact, there are several different kinds of welding techniques that can be used underwater. The most common of these techniques is arc welding. There are also many reasons that underwater welding skills are in demand. Underwater welding can be used to maintain underwater pipelines, repair ships, and work on oil platforms. Those who have the skills used in underwater welding can find work anywhere in the world.
When a welder works underwater, everything is wet. The welder has to wear a dive suit and the equipment used is customized for use in wet environments. The equipment that is used in underwater welding has been designed with safety in mind. It reduces the risk of dangerous situations developing and reduces the risk of electric shock. Anyone who wants to be an underwater welder has to be a skilled diver as well as a skilled welder. They also have to be able to prepare welding scenes safely and effectively while also being able to provide high quality welds.
Hyperbaric welding is one kind of underwater welding. This is where the diver creates a chamber that is dry around the objects that are supposed to be welded. Those divers who do hyperbaric welding have to have diving skills and need to have the special skills required to weld in high pressures. These welders are not working in an environment that is actively wet. The process of making a dry chamber is time consuming but there are many advantages to it. For some situations, this is the best kind of welding to do, such as repairing certain types of underwater equipment.
Anyone who wants to have a career in underwater welding needs to have both welder training and dive training. Some people start out as commercial divers. Instead of continuing to take people on tours or teach others to dive, they decide to expand their skills and learn welding, opening the door to new career paths. Others begin as welders and gain all the welding skills that they need, then they pursue their dive training and add those skills. Either way is a good way to get into begin the career of underwater welding. In training, there are lengthy discussions about safety and proper procedures. Successfully passing certification tests is required in order to work as an underwater welder.
Entry level welders will be able to find work in any number of environments. Some companies will pay for dive training or for welding training, if an employee seems like they would be a good candidate for being an underwater welder. The more experience that an underwater welder has, the larger and more complex the projects that they are eligible to work on. They can even act as consultants for other companies, or become a trainer to train other underwater welders. Many people who are underwater welders belong to trade organizations. These organizations help to promote high performance standards.
The pay for underwater welders varies widely depending on the task they perform. Jobs that are more dangerous or are done in more dangerous areas pay more than other jobs. There are some underwater welders who only earn around $20,000 a year but the potential is there to earn well over $100,000. It depends on the skills a welder has and what kinds of jobs they are willing to take on as to what kind of pay they can expect to bring home. The good news is that these kinds of welding jobs are expected to increase throughout the United States as things such as bridges are repaired. Jobs are also expected to increase around the world, so underwater welders will be able to have their pick of jobs around the globe.
