Takeover Tracker
22%low risk

Commercial Divers

Work below surface of water, using scuba gear to inspect, repair, remove, or install equipment and structures. May use a variety of power and hand tools, such as drills, sledgehammers, torches, and welding equipment. May conduct tests or experiments, rig explosives, or photograph structures or marine life.

Higher risk than 12% of occupations
Checking for existing plan...

How AI Impacts Each Task

25 tasks analyzed

Take appropriate safety precautions, such as monitoring dive lengths and depths and registering with authorities before diving expeditions begin.

Risk: 84.0%AI: 87EstimatedTime: 6%

Check and maintain diving equipment, such as helmets, masks, air tanks, harnesses, or gauges.

Risk: 41.0%AI: 20EstimatedTime: 6%

Communicate with workers on the surface while underwater, using signal lines or telephones.

Risk: 23.0%AI: 20EstimatedTime: 6%

Descend into water with the aid of diver helpers, using scuba gear or diving suits.

Risk: 9.0%AI: 0EstimatedTime: 6%

Obtain information about diving tasks and environmental conditions.

Risk: 51.0%AI: 60EstimatedTime: 6%

Supervise or train other divers, including hobby divers.

Risk: 19.0%AI: 10EstimatedTime: 5%

Inspect the condition of underwater steel or wood structures.

Risk: 55.0%AI: 70EstimatedTime: 5%

Inspect and test docks, ships, buoyage systems, plant intakes or outflows, or underwater pipelines, cables, or sewers, using closed circuit television, still photography, and testing equipment.

Risk: 57.0%AI: 75EstimatedTime: 5%

Repair ships, bridge foundations, or other structures below the water line, using caulk, bolts, and hand tools.

Risk: 11.0%AI: 5EstimatedTime: 5%

Recover objects by placing rigging around sunken objects, hooking rigging to crane lines, and operating winches, derricks, or cranes to raise objects.

Risk: 13.0%AI: 10EstimatedTime: 5%

Operate underwater video, sonar, recording, or related equipment to investigate underwater structures or marine life.

Risk: 55.3%AI: 55.67ObservedTime: 4%

Take test samples or photographs to assess the condition of vessels or structures.

Risk: 61.0%AI: 70EstimatedTime: 4%

Cut and weld steel, using underwater welding equipment, jigs, and supports.

Risk: 11.0%AI: 5EstimatedTime: 4%

Install, inspect, clean, or repair piping or valves.

Risk: 15.0%AI: 15EstimatedTime: 4%

Carry out non-destructive testing, such as tests for cracks on the legs of oil rigs at sea.

Risk: 55.0%AI: 70EstimatedTime: 4%

Install pilings or footings for piers or bridges.

Risk: 13.0%AI: 10EstimatedTime: 3%

Salvage wrecked ships or their cargo, using pneumatic power velocity and hydraulic tools and explosive charges, when necessary.

Risk: 11.0%AI: 5EstimatedTime: 3%

Perform offshore oil or gas exploration or extraction duties, such as conducting underwater surveys or repairing and maintaining drilling rigs or platforms.

Risk: 17.0%AI: 20EstimatedTime: 3%

Remove obstructions from strainers or marine railway or launching ways, using pneumatic or power hand tools.

Risk: 13.0%AI: 10EstimatedTime: 3%

Set or guide placement of pilings or sandbags to provide support for structures such as docks, bridges, cofferdams, or platforms.

Risk: 13.0%AI: 10EstimatedTime: 3%

Perform activities related to underwater search and rescue, salvage, recovery, or cleanup operations.

Risk: 17.0%AI: 20EstimatedTime: 2%

Drill holes in rock and rig explosives for underwater demolitions.

Risk: 11.0%AI: 5EstimatedTime: 2%

Remove rubbish or pollution from the sea.

Risk: 57.0%AI: 60EstimatedTime: 2%

Set up dive sites for recreational instruction.

Risk: 45.0%AI: 30EstimatedTime: 2%

Cultivate or harvest marine species or perform routine work on fish farms.

Risk: 53.0%AI: 50EstimatedTime: 2%

Skill Impact Analysis

AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)

Information Ordering5%

High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

Reading Comprehension10%

High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

Mathematics10%

High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

Mathematics10%

Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

Memorization5%

Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

Programming15%

Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

AI-Resistant Skills (11)

Adaptability/Flexibility85%

Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Leadership88%

Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Manual Dexterity80%

Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Equipment Maintenance78%

Equipment Maintenance is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Complex Problem Solving75%

Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Coordination70%

Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Instructing75%

Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Negotiation85%

Negotiation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Recommended Courses

Courses matched to Commercial Divers skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.

Get personalized recommendations. Answer a few questions about your experience and skills to get course suggestions tailored specifically to you.

Upskill to Reduce Risk

Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills

DataCampbeginner

SQL Fundamentals Skill Track

by DataCamp

21 hours$25/mo4.7Certificate
Addresses vulnerability: Information Ordering

Estimated Impact

-7.3pt risk+$3K/yr salary

AI-Augmentation Tools

Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity

Courserabeginner

Google UX Design Professional Certificate

by Google

~5 months$49/mo4.8Certificate
Enhances AI augmentation: Critical Thinking

Estimated Impact

-5.2pt risk+$3K/yr salary

Strengthen Your Edge

Double down on skills AI can't replicate

Courseraintermediate

Leading People and Teams Specialization

by University of Michigan

~6 weeks$49/mo4.7Certificate
Strengthens resilience: Leadership

Estimated Impact

-3.9pt risk+$4K/yr salary

We may earn a commission when you enroll through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the Takeover Tracker.

Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.

Alternate Career Paths

See all transitions

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Score History

Risk score over 2 scoring runs

+2.8

overall change

Education & Training

Percentage of workers at each education and training level

Education Level

High School Diploma8%
Some College72%
Post-Secondary Certificate3%
Associate's Degree12%
Bachelor's Degree5%

Prior Experience Needed

Work experience required to enter this job

None25%
Up to 1 month8%
6 months - 1 year24%
1-2 years17%
2-4 years18%
4-6 years3%
6-8 years5%

Training Provided After Hiring

How long it typically takes to learn on the job

None23%
Up to 1 month22%
1-3 months8%
3-6 months8%
6 months - 1 year16%
1-2 years8%
2-4 years10%
4-6 years5%

Last scored March 14, 2026 · Based on BLS employment data and O*NET task analysis