What You Need To Know About Underwater Welding

Underwater welders are highly skilled and unique people. They put their lives at risk daily, while performing routine tasks related to their position. There are so many dangers associated with the hyperbaric welding process or the underwater welder.

The underwater welder has many job related dangers at play, underwater. He or she may be exposed to the dangers of the undersea creatures, they risk being in an explosion, due to the gases secreted by the procedure. The underwater welder, can be shocked by electricity or they might experience decompression sickness. Their job takes a toll on their teeth and even their musculoskeletal body, all are risks concerns for the underwater diver. It may also have some effect on the cognitive thinking in the long scheme of things for them later in life.

As an underwater diver, your job entails the repairing of ships that are in the water or oil platforms that are offshore, and you might even aid in the repair of a pipeline. You would most likely have to use welding equipment that can weld steel.

Your welding environment can be classified as either, dry or wet. In the wet environment for the underwater welder, it is usually when you weld under the water. This welder can use most of the well known welding processes, but it is the Gas Tungsten Arc Welding or GTAW procedure that is most common.

The Gas Tungsten Arc Welding procedure is one that consists of the welder using the Tungsten electrode which does not disintegrate while being used. The ability to withstand the arc welding procedure and its high heat without melting, makes this electrode non-consumable. This capability may be the most sought out feature for the underwater diver and his duties.

This welding process is basically known to be somewhat time-consuming, compared to most others. The Gas Tungsten Arc Welding procedure is considered to be one of a high quality and much tougher when compared to other welding processes and procedures. Although, when speaking of the contrasted work environment for the diving welder or the one performed in a drier atmosphere, this procedure is commonly termed, the dry environment welding or one that is used when the diver is placed into a pressure chamber, while they weld. The diver would continue to weld as usual and upon leaving this chamber due to the gases, the diver may or may not suffer decompression sickness.

It is best to get certified as a welder, before you seek training as an underwater diver or from a commercial diving school. There are many diving training schools located throughout the U.S. You should be in great physical shape and obtain a commercial diving certificate from any school offering that training. You will most likely be expected to take a physical exam and oftentimes a written exam, as well.

If you are a trained scuba diver or have any other type of diving training, this will not do. You must have the safety training offered by the commercial diving schools. These schools realize that there are other safety precautions and measures that are involved with the diving welder, that has no relations to other diving types. It is best to be completely trained specifically for this diving profession and your credentials should get your foot in the door.