Underwater inspection and repair dive crew

Municipalities, water utilities, marinas, port and harbour authorities, hydro and industrial sites, and property managers with waterfront assets.

Day rates or fixed quotes per job, plus charges for equipment, travel and inspection reports. Work often comes through repeat contracts and tender lists.

• Commercial diver certification
• Safe dive planning and supervision
• Basic underwater repair and inspection
• Clear reporting and quoting

• Commercial diving is tightly regulated. Check with your provincial occupational health and safety regulator about crew size, supervisor and equipment requirements, and about how the CSA Z275.2 occupational safety code for diving operations applies in your province
• Insurance is costly and often required for tenders. Check commercial general liability, marine and WCB/WSIB rules in your province
• Equipment such as surface-supplied air, a standby diver kit and a boat or truck is a major upfront cost
• Winter freeze-up and weather can pause work in much of Canada, so plan cash flow for the off-season
• Diving is high-risk work, so check every safety, medical and first-aid requirement before taking jobs

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $100,000 to $300,000, depending on equipment such as surface-supplied air, a standby diver kit and a boat or truck, plus insurance. Equipment is a major upfront cost.

Commercial diving is tightly regulated. Check with your provincial occupational health and safety regulator about crew size, supervisor and equipment requirements, and how the CSA Z275.2 code applies. Also check commercial general liability, marine insurance and WCB/WSIB rules.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on the jobs you win and how many days you can dive. Winter freeze-up and weather can pause work in much of Canada, so plan cash flow for the off-season.