Commercial Diver

Work below surface of water, using surface-supplied air or scuba equipment 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.

AI will likely enhance safety and efficiency for commercial divers by deploying autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) for initial inspections, mapping, and data collection, thereby reducing direct human exposure to hazardous conditions. While complex repairs and installations will still require human dexterity, AI could improve predictive maintenance, optimize dive plans, and process vast amounts of underwater imagery and sensor data, making operations smarter and safer. However, the hands-on precision work in challenging environments will remain a human domain.