Go Deeper—Train for a Career Beneath the Surface
Some careers keep you behind a desk. This one takes you beneath the waves, where every job is an adventure. From underwater welding to salvage operations, commercial divers are the unsung heroes of the deep—keeping industries running, building underwater structures, and exploring places few will ever see.
And right now, skilled commercial divers are in high demand.
Oil rigs, shipyards, marine construction, and salvage teams all need trained professionals who can work where others can’t. But mastering commercial diving isn’t just about strapping on a tank—it requires specialized training, hands-on experience, and certification to ensure you can handle the depths safely.
That’s why we’ve put together a list of top commercial diving schools—places where you’ll train with industry pros, learn the latest techniques, and gain the skills to thrive in one of the most exciting and physically rewarding trades out there.
Ready to take the plunge? Explore the best commercial diving schools below.
Commercial divers make higher than average salaries. This is largely in part to the danger these jobs bring. If you are one who loves a thrill, this may be a great career option.$39,430
$61,300
$136,990
Commercial Divers International - Estimated Cost: $29,823
Location: ArizonaPrograms Offered
Commercial Diver Trade SchoolsSchool Details
Programs offered:
Commercial Diver
The College of the Florida Keys - Estimated Cost: $16,338
Location: FloridaCommercial Diving Technologies Institute
Location: FloridaPrograms Offered
Commercial Diver Trade SchoolsSchool Details
CDTI offers several programs including unrestricted surface supplied diver, national surface supplied diver, diver medic, and underwater burning specialist.
The unrestricted surface supplied diver program is a 26-week course (900 hours) and will provide you the training needed to do diving jobs to a depth of 165 feet. This program will allow you to graduate with several certifications in various areas which will increase your job opportunities. You can also achieve a DCBC certification which will allow you to work worldwide.
The national surface supplied diver is a 17-week (625 hour) course which will allow you to weld and burn underwater, do decompression dives, and work on offshore projects. The diver medic technician course is a 2-week program that will allow you to provide medical services to injured divers. The underwater burning specialist is a 1-week course where a diver can learn more about oxy-arc cutting in a more hands-on environment.
Minnesota Commercial Diver Training Center
Location: MinnesotaPrograms Offered
Commercial Diver Trade SchoolsSchool Details
The Minnesota Commercial Diver Training Center offers a commercial diver.tender course which is an introductory class for diving. Students will learn about diving apparatus, regulations, and fundamental diving techniques. The course is 11-weeks (625+ hours).
Upon graduation students will achieve a variety of certifications including:
- ADCI Entry Level Tender/Diver Certification
- DSI Dive Lab
- TDI and PADI Nitrox I
- TDI Advanced Nitrox
- TDI Nitrox Gas Blender
- American Red Cross: 02 Provider
- American Heart Association: CPR & First Aid
Ocean Corporation - Estimated Cost: $26,240.00
Location: TexasPrograms Offered
Commercial Diver Trade SchoolsSchool Details
The Ocean Corporation delivers hands-on training and coursework that can have you in the workforce in as little as 8 months.
Courses include:
- Offshore oilfield diving
- Inland diving
- Surface and underwater welding
- Mixed-gas and lock-out diving
- Recompression chamber operations
- Nuclear/contaminated environment diving
- Rigging certification
- Hazardous environment intervention
- Offshore survival and safety
- Underwater nondestructive testing
- MT & UT Level I & II
Divers Institute of Technology - Estimated Cost: $38,105.00
Location: WashingtonPrograms Offered
Commercial Diver Trade SchoolsSchool Details
DIT has over 50 years of experience helping commercial divers learn the tricks of the trades. Their graduates go on to work in hazmat, salvage, inland, offshore, and saturation diving careers.
They offer an intensive 7-month program. Each month will focus on the following topics:
- Physics and medicine
- Lightweight and rigging
- Offshore and hazmat
- Underwater welding and burning
- Scuba and inland
- Deep dives
Upon graduation from the program you can receive a variety of certifications that will certify your experience and skills and increase your job opportunities.
