How to Hire a Commercial Diving Contractor: A 14-Point Vetting Checklist
By Priya Raghunathan, Port authority procurement analyst. Reviewed by Dana Whitcombe, technical reviewer.
Underwater Inspection | Marine Construction Last year I caught a commercial diving contractor billing us for a five-man crew when only two divers were in the water. The other three were “tenders” who spent their shift in a truck cab. That invoice ran $8,000 a day, and we paid it because I hadn’t vetted the job properly. Here’s the checklist I should have used. Commercial diving isn’t a field where you take the lowest bid and hope. Under the waterline, mistakes cost lives. And unlike a bridge inspector who comes with a badge, anyone with a tank and a hard hat can call themselves a diver. So I’ve turned this list into 14 points, grouped by the moment in the procurement cycle where you should be checking them.
Before You Make the Call
Don’t start with prices. Start with paper. A legitimate diving contractor carries ADCI accreditation for its dive teams. That’s the Association of Diving Contractors International, the closest thing our industry has to a universal standard. It’s not legally required everywhere, but if they don’t have it, you need a reason. Ask for certificates, not promises. Verify workers’ comp coverage specifically for inland marine and maritime operations. A general liability policy often excludes diving because underwriters consider it a specialty. And don’t trust a certificate of insurance – call the carrier. Look for a bid that names a designated dive supervisor. That person holds the responsibility for every dive, and their name should be on the contract. I have walked away from a contractor because the supervisor was also the sales rep. You might be negotiating with a diver in the morning and watching them jump in the water by noon. Call it a warning sign, not a rule, but know who you’re buying.
The Dive Team on Paper
Certificates of dive training are not enough. I want the dive supervisor’s logbooks for the last 36 months. I want to see diver entries, and I want to know how many dives each person did in the last year. A diver who works ten days a year is a liability, no matter how many letters they have. And surface-supplied air is the norm for commercial work. Scuba is for hobbyists. If a contractor proposes scuba for anything under a port structure, walk away. The crew’s physicals matter too. Every diver should have a current dive medical, per ADCI standards. You don’t need to see the actual medical file, but you need a statement from the contractor that they’re current. Ask about experience with the actual task underwater: cathodic protection, hydraulic cutting, non-destructive testing, or whatever you’re hiring them for. Some dive companies are great at search and recovery, but they’ve never touched a port wall.
The Equipment and the Plan
On the day of the survey, I walk the deck. In harbor work you’re mostly on surface-supplied systems, so I check the compressors, the umbilicals, and the Kirby Morgan helmets for cracks. A dirty or beat-up rack tells me more than any sticker. If they can’t keep their gear in order topside, I don’t want them underwater. The dive plan should be on paper: depth, bottom time, gas mixture, decompression stops. And they should have a job safety analysis (JSA) for every discrete task. If they tell you a JSA is “just a form from the office,” that’s a red flag. Emergency preparedness is the part that keeps me up at night. What’s the nearest hyperbaric chamber? How long does it take to get there? For a dive to 100 feet, that response time can be the difference between a deco stop and a permanent injury. A good contractor will list the chamber location and a transportation plan. They should also have a contaminated water procedure if your site has dubious sediment. Trust me, Port of Oakland mud is not something you want in a dry suit.
The Money and the Contract
Now we talk numbers. Commercial diving is sold by the day, by the job, or by the hour per diver. I’ve seen rates from $75 to $200 per diver hour on the West Coast, but that doesn’t include dive supervisor, tenders, equipment, and mobilization. Get the full breakdown: laborers, compressor fuel, standby time, dive tender wages. Ask what happens if the tide keeps everyone on the dock for six hours. You’ll pay for half that standby anyway – that’s normal. But make sure it’s in the contract, not invented later. Weather days are the classic contract killer. Define what counts as a stop: wave height, visibility, current speed. If the contractor gets to call weather every time a wave breaks, that’s your risk. Also demand a post-dive written report: date, time, depth, task, any issues, and an inspection photo log. If they can’t commit to that on paper, you’re setting up a pay dispute before the barge even leaves.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a commercial diver and a scuba instructor? Scuba instructors work in resort and recreational settings. Commercial divers are trained in surface-supplied gear, hazardous materials, and underwater construction. They follow the ADCI consensus standards. Don't let a dive shop talk you into home plumbing work. Is ADCI certification required by law? Not by federal law, but it's the universally accepted industry standard. Many port authorities, including mine, require it in the contract. If the contractor doesn't have ADCI, ask why. Be prepared to walk away unless they give a really good reason. How much does it cost to hire a commercial diving contractor? You'll see prices quoted per diver-hour, per day, or lump sum. On the West Coast, diver rates range roughly from $75 to $200 per hour, but total cost depends on mobilization, equipment, supporting crew, and project complexity. Always ask for a full breakdown. Can I use a diving contractor for underwater video surveys only? Some contractors specialize in inspection and survey. They can use ROVs or divers. For a simple visual survey, an ROV might be cheaper and safer. But if you need physical contact or non-destructive testing, you need a diver. Get a few bids and compare the method, not just the price.