A professional diver talks about his everyday life. Read the fascinating interview now and find out more about this challenging profession.

How many professional divers are there in your company?
We are a team of five professional divers.

Is the demand for these jobs high?
Yes, definitely. Too big, actually. However, the idea is usually totally unrealistic. Many people want to combine their hobby with their job. At first they overlook the fact that professional diving is not just about having fun and watching fish. It is a strenuous and very challenging profession. For example, I hardly ever go scuba diving in my free time. What I do anyway is apnoea diving - diving without scuba equipment.

How did you get into professional diving?
I never had the desire to work as a diving instructor in an independent destination. I was interested in the technical side of professional diving. I came to this job through personal contacts. I had completed an apprenticeship as a locksmith as my basic training. I then spent some time working in the army as an operational diver.

What training is required to work as a professional diver in Switzerland?
There is no specific training in Switzerland. It's all "learning by doing". What is required by our company as a basic prerequisite is a higher recreational diving license and vocational training in a trade, such as locksmith or an apprenticeship in the construction industry.

How well are you paid? Are you better paid as a professional diver than an ordinary craftsman?
Yes, we do earn a little better. We are exposed to greater risks and the physical wear and tear is also higher.

How are you insured?
Through SUVA.

What equipment and materials do you work with underwater?
We mainly work with hydraulically (oil pressure) or pneumatically (compressed air) powered tools. These are largely the same as those used above the water surface. In some cases, waterproof batteries are also used today. The performance of battery-powered machines is of course much lower. We have chainsaws, drills, cut-off wheels, flame cutters, welding equipment and sometimes we even use explosives. The equipment is suspended on a long rope from a buoy. This means they always float at working height and are within easy reach at all times. Cameras and lamps are also essential.

What kind of jobs do you carry out as a professional diver?
For example, suction and flushing work at hydroelectric power plants and dams. Installing or repairing intake nozzles in lakes. Building and maintaining jetties and port facilities as well as laying electrical cables in the water.

Are you in the water every day? And in which waters?
Yes, we are in the water every day. The location can vary every day. Once in the river, then in the lake or in a pond. We also work in sewage treatment plants (contaminated water) or in wells (drinking water) of the water supply companies. Our working depths vary greatly. It can be as deep as 40 meters, depending on the job.

What diving equipment do you use?
For shorter dives, we use conventional diving cylinders and a full face mask or diving helmet. Another option is to use large tanks on a transporter, which supply air via a hose. For very long underwater operations, the breathing gas is transported downwards via a compressor. A mobile manned control center ensures radio communication and lighting.

What mixtures do you dive with in your work?
You dive with special gas mixtures that are adapted to the depth of the dive. Normal air contains 21% oxygen and 79% nitrogen. We often dive with a mixture that contains 32% oxygen and 68% nitrogen. (=Nitrox 32) With such a mixture you should dive to a maximum depth of 37 meters. If you want to dive deeper, the oxygen content must be reduced. Helium is added as a third gas for dives from a depth of approx. 40 meters (=Trimix) to prevent oxygen poisoning. Using tables, dive computers and monitoring by a member of staff above the surface, we ensure that we never breathe a mixture that is harmful to us.

What is there to say about helmet diving?
Our free-flow helmet is certainly worth mentioning. The entire helmet is filled with air. The pressure must be equalized regularly. To ensure this, the helmet is equipped with a valve that can be operated by moving the head sideways. An air shower prevents the viewing window from tarnishing. A neoprene or latex cuff provides the connection between the helmet and the dry suit. A lamp can be attached to the helmet.

Are there any special safety measures?
If we carry out work at an altitude of over 2,000 meters above sea level, where a helicopter cannot always fly due to the weather, we bring our own decompression chamber. We also always take the compressor with us on longer missions. Either as a filling station (incl. membrane system) to fill the compressed air cylinders or to pump the air down directly via a hose.

Source : https://www.swiss-divers.ch/tag/taucharbeiten-stahlbau/