You may be able to apply for diver training through your employer. For example, if you're in the police, armed forces or work for a marine engineering company. Once qualified, you could work with an underwater unit.

Similarly, if you work in scientific research, like oceanography or archaeology, your employer may put you through specialist diver training, so that you can carry out tasks underwater.

You could apply directly for jobs if you've got the right diving and safety qualifications.

You'll also need experience relevant to the industry you're working in. For example, you'll need a background in welding to work as an offshore underwater engineer, repairing pipelines or cables.

You can do a course with a commercial training organisation or professional body to get your diving qualifications.

Training must be approved by the Health and Safety Executive. Examples include courses offered by the:

• Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI)
• British Sub-Aqua Club

You'll need:

• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• physical skills like movement, coordination and balance
• observation and recording skills
• to be flexible and open to change
• the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
• persistence and determination
• excellent verbal communication skills
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

You'll need to:

• pass a medical check

As a diver, your duties will depend on the type of diving you do. 

You could:

• survey offshore oil and gas drilling rigs and pipelines
• carry out underwater repairs, demolition or salvage on civil engineering jobs
• support teams on underwater filming or photography projects
• carry out scientific research or underwater archaeology
• search for and recover missing persons or evidence for the police
• lead recreational scuba dives or teach scuba diving skills in the leisure sector

You could work underwater or in an office.

Your working environment may be cold, dirty and physically and emotionally demanding.

You may need to wear protective clothing.