Some people take to water from a young age just like fish and become enamored of everything the sea has to offer, from the deep blue waters and majestic waves to the gorgeous marine life and rich coral reefs. If given the opportunity, many would love nothing more than to devote their professional life to working within this habitat, whether with the express purpose of studying it, or to find a career that allows them to be in close proximity to the wondrous oceans and seas.
The following are a few of the most surprising jobs out there that allow you to work underwater. Regardless of your specific educational background, you’re bound to find something of interest to you in the list below.
Commercial Diver
This is probably one of the more obvious jobs you would consider pursuing if you are interested in working underwater. Commercial divers basically utilize scuba gear to perform underwater mechanical work, such as repairs, removing and installing equipment, or dealing with complicated structures that require extensive tests and experiments. The gear that commercial divers use are usually highly specialized, and they will need to know how to use tanks, as the Australian-based experts at Global Gases explain. These tanks are often used to help divers perform the necessary work they need to do, from rigging explosives to capturing marine life via photography. Commercial divers need to undergo extensive training in order to comfortably dive alone in high-risk areas, and learn to deal with the complicated equipment necessary to perform the tasks as required.
Agriculture Worker
This may come as a surprise since most work in agriculture seems to be mostly tied to the land. Yet, there is a subdivision of this important profession that requires people to work underwater. This is called being an aquaculture worker, and similar to being a farmer or working in the agricultural field, you would be tasked with raising fish and shellfish while helping to maintain their underwater habitats – much in the same way that you’d be raising livestock or tending to crops on the land. An extra bonus is that people who are interested in this profession don’t necessarily need a specialized degree beyond a high school diploma, although going to a technical school to learn how to operate complicated machinery wouldn’t hurt. But mostly, you would get on the job training, so if you have the physicality and the stamina necessary, this is a fun profession to pursue.
Lifeguard
A popular choice for teens or anyone who likes to work part-time during the long summer months, being a lifeguard assures that you are always in close proximity to a body of water. The job is kind of like how it sounds, which entails watching over beaches and ensuring the safety of all visitors and swimmers there. Specific training and certification are definitely mandatory, and it mostly works on a seasonal basis.
Marine Biologist
Ask a kid to name the top five professions that excite them, and you’re bound to find marine biologists on the list somewhere. This is the most well known of the oceanic careers, and it entails marine biologists studying underwater organisms and the ways in which they flourish within their ecosystem. This is a massive undertaking and uniquely complex job which requires years and years of academic research. A graduate degree in biology or ecology is often preferred, and doctoral degrees are an absolute necessity when thinking of performing more in-depth research or working at a university position.
Oceanographer
Much like what cartographers or geoscientists do for our understanding of the land, oceanographers do the same to help us get a better handle on the ocean. An oceanographer is basically a highly specialized type of geoscientist in that they work hard to analyze the physical and chemical properties of ocean waters, and the ways in which they are affected by coastal areas, the climate, and weather. Needless to say, individuals within the profession are consulted a great deal given the current climate crisis, as they help to provide indispensable knowledge that is especially important now. Given the complex nature of the work performed, most people interested in becoming oceanographers need to obtain a graduate degree before being able to work in the field.
The ocean encompasses between fifty and sixty percent of the earth’s biological life. It is an incredibly intricate and mysterious underworld, and therefore, the number of jobs available in this specific field is tremendous. So, if you love the water and would like to devote your career to learn more about it, you can rest assured that there will be a path for you.