Not all Army operations take place on land. Sometimes, repair, construction and patrolling take place beneath the surface. An Engineer Diver in the Army performs such tasks as reconnaissance, demolition, and salvage, all while being underwater.

As an Army Diver, you'll specialize either as a scuba diver, who works just below the surface of the water, or as a deep sea diver, who usually works for long periods of time in depths up to 190 feet. Some of your duties as a Diver may include:

• Inspect and clean watercraft propellers and hulls
• Patch damaged watercraft hulls using underwater welding equipment
• Salvage sunken equipment
• Patrol the waters below watercraft at anchor
• Assist with underwater construction of piers and harbor facilities
• Survey rivers, beaches, and harbors for underwater obstacles
• Use explosives to clear underwater obstacles

Divers must be excellent swimmers and be physically strong.

Job training for a Diver requires nine weeks of Basic Training, where you'll learn basic Soldiering skills, and 29 of Advanced Individual Training and on-the-job instruction, including practice in diving and repair work. Part of this time is spent in the classroom and part in the field. Some of the skills you'll learn are:

• Principles of scuba and surface-supplied diving
• Underwater welding and cutting
• Use and care of hand and power tools
• Maintenance of diving equipment
• Explosives

Helpful attributes include:

• An interest in mechanics and building
• Ability to stay calm under stress
• An interest in underwater diving
• A high degree of self-reliance

Advanced level Divers provides guidance, supervises and trains Soldiers within the same discipline. As an advanced level Diver, you may be involved in:

• Perform as a lead diver during underwater work
• Prepare patching materials and pumps for salvage operations
• Prepare explosives for placement
• Prepare rigging and lifting devices for salvage operations
• Assist diving supervisors in preparing equipment for diving operations

The skills you'll learn as an Army Diver will help prepare you for a future with oil companies, salvage companies, underwater construction firms and police or fire rescue units. You'll receive diving certifications that could help you in the civilian world. Operating and maintaining deep sea merchant ships, tugboats, ferries, excursion vessels and other watercraft may also be career options for you to consider.

• Metal Worker (91W)
• Firefighter (21M)

Learn more about the relationship between military training and civilian certification requirements.