How to Become an Underwater Welder in the UK
Underwater welders are commercial divers who weld, cut and repair steel below the surface. You might repair ship hulls in harbours, fix pipelines and offshore platforms, or work on offshore wind foundations. Most of the job is diving work, such as inspection, rigging and cutting, with welding as one of your specialist skills. Work is project-based, often on rotas away from home.
The route is two qualifications stacked together: become a competent, coded welder first, then train at a commercial dive school for an HSE-approved diving qualification. After that, you build dive hours inshore before offshore work.
Quick facts
- Starting salary
- £50,000 - £65,000
- Mid-career salary
- £70,000 - £100,000
- Senior salary
- £120,000 - £200,000+
- Work environment
- Offshore, subsea, rota work
- Time to entry
- 1 - 3 years (commercial dive school after welder qual)
- Degree required
- Not required - HSE Part I / IMCA diving certs
- Category
- Maritime and Offshore
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What a Underwater Welder does
Carry out specialist welding on subsea pipelines, ship hulls and offshore platforms - one of the highest-paid trades in the world.
- Inshore Welder Diver - Subsea welding in UK waters - harbours, locks, oil terminals.
- Offshore Saturation Welder Diver - Saturation dives at depth on North Sea oil and gas.
- Renewables Subsea Specialist - Inspection and welding on offshore wind subsea cables and foundations.
How to become an underwater welder in the UK
Start with welding. A welding apprenticeship, college course or NVQ, plus coded welding tests in the processes you use, gives you the skill divers are hired for. Next, pass an HSE diving medical with an approved medical examiner of divers, then complete an HSE-approved commercial diving qualification at a dive school. The entry level is surface supplied diving, formerly called HSE Part I. Commercial diving in the UK is covered by the Diving at Work Regulations 1997. Offshore work also needs an offshore survival certificate and offshore medical, and saturation diving needs a further closed bell qualification. IMCA guidance and competence schemes are widely used offshore.
- Learn to weld properly through an apprenticeship, college course or NVQ, and get experience on structural or pipe work above water first.
- Pass coded welding tests in the processes you use, such as MMA and TIG, because divers are hired on proven weld quality.
- Book an HSE diving medical with an approved medical examiner of divers before paying for training, as failing it rules out commercial diving.
- Complete an HSE-approved surface supplied diving course at a commercial dive school, and check what is included, such as wet welding or inspection modules.
- Take inshore work in harbours, docks and civil engineering projects to build logged dive hours and a reputation with dive contractors.
- Add offshore survival and offshore medical certificates, then apply to dive contractors for offshore oil, gas and wind work.
- Consider closed bell training later if you want saturation diving, which is the most demanding and best paid part of the trade.
| Route | How long | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welding apprenticeship, then dive school | 3-5 years in total | Apprenticeship paid; dive school varies by provider | School leavers starting from scratch |
| Qualified welder, then commercial dive course | 1-3 years | Self-funded; varies by provider | Experienced welders changing career |
| Commercial diver who adds welding | 1-2 years | Welding courses vary by provider | Inshore divers wanting higher-value work |
How long it takes
If you are already a qualified welder, expect 1 to 3 years to complete commercial dive school and build enough dive hours to get regular welding work. Starting from scratch takes longer, because you need to learn welding first.
Underwater Welder salary in the UK
Underwater welders typically start on around £50,000 to £65,000 in a working year. Experienced welder divers earn roughly £70,000 to £100,000, and senior offshore and saturation divers can reach £120,000 to £200,000 or more. Most divers are paid day rates as contractors, so income depends on how many days you work, offshore versus inshore work, oil and gas activity, and seasonal weather. Quiet periods without pay are common, so budget across the year.
Key skills
- Welding (TIG/MMA)
- Commercial diving
- Subsea engineering
- Safety mindset
Underwater Welder FAQs
How do I become an underwater welder in the UK?
Qualify as a welder and pass coded welding tests, then pass an HSE diving medical and complete an HSE-approved commercial diving qualification. Build experience inshore, add offshore survival and medical certificates, and apply to dive contractors for offshore work.
What qualifications do I need to be an underwater welder?
You need welding qualifications and coded tests, a valid HSE diving medical, and an HSE-approved commercial diving qualification, starting with surface supplied diving. Offshore work adds offshore survival and medical certificates, and saturation diving needs a closed bell qualification. No degree is needed.
How much does an underwater welder earn?
Starting earnings are around £50,000 to £65,000 in a working year. Experienced welder divers earn about £70,000 to £100,000, and senior offshore and saturation divers £120,000 to £200,000 or more. Most are paid day rates, so earnings depend on how much work you get.
Is underwater welding dangerous?
Yes, it carries real risks, including decompression illness, electric shock and equipment failure. UK diving is tightly regulated under the Diving at Work Regulations 1997, with dive supervisors, standby divers and annual medicals. Good training and strict procedures reduce the risk, but it never disappears.
Is Underwater Welder right for you?
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