Underwater inspection and repair contractor

Marinas, councils, port and harbour operators, water utilities, aquaculture farms and engineering firms.

Day rates or fixed quotes per job, plus extra for reports, equipment hire and travel. Repeat maintenance contracts give steadier income than one-off jobs.

• Commercial diving qualification
• Safety planning and supervision
• Basic underwater repair and inspection skills
• Clear report writing

• Commercial diving is regulated under work health and safety laws, so check the required qualifications and standards with your state regulator
• Public liability and professional indemnity insurance, and check whether your cover includes diving work
• You usually need a team (diver, standby diver and supervisor), so factor in wages and workers compensation once you hire
• Larger clients often ask for safety management plans and contractor prequalification, which takes time to set up
• Diving is high risk, with medicals and equipment servicing needed on a regular basis
• Work can be uneven, so revenue in the early months may sit at the low end of the range while you build contracts

Startup costs are estimates, typically around $25,000 to $120,000, depending on your diving equipment, vessel or vehicle needs, insurance and how much safety documentation you set up. A team of diver, standby diver and supervisor adds wage costs.

Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around $15,000 to $60,000, depending on the contracts you win. Work can be uneven, so early months may sit at the low end while you build relationships with marinas, councils and operators.

Commercial diving is regulated under work health and safety laws, so check the required qualifications and standards with your state regulator. Also check insurance, including whether your cover includes diving, plus workers compensation if you hire and any client prequalification requirements.