Your Guide to Becoming an Underwater Welder

Imagine working deep below the surface, using specialized tools to repair massive ships or underwater pipelines.

If you dream of working on water—including the sea—and are curious about dynamic, hands-on work, consider underwater welding.

This specialized trade blends commercial diving with professional welding techniques—definitely not your average 9-to-5.

Interested in this career path? Keep reading to learn more. You can get an overview of this potentially lucrative, niche field and discover how to train for a welding career and eventually advance to underwater welding!¹

What is Underwater Welding?

Underwater welding involves joining metal structures in underwater environments. These welders often work on oil rigs, ships, submarines and pipelines. This job can be both physically and mentally challenging, which is why they're often required to be skilled welders and trained commercial divers.

Work can take place in oceans, lakes, rivers and dams. Offshore jobs often involve working at significant depths and spending extended time on rigs or support vessels. Inland jobs may include repairing bridges, docks and other water-bound infrastructure.

Types of Welding: Dry vs. Wet

Dry Welding

Dry welding, also known as hyperbaric welding, is done in a dry chamber that surrounds the welder. This technique offers better visibility and cleaner welds.

Pros:

• Higher weld quality
• Safer environment
• Less exposure to water pressure

Cons:

• More expensive
• Requires extra setup time

Wet Welding

Wet welding is performed directly in the water using waterproof electrodes.

Pros:

• Faster to deploy
• More cost-effective
• Ideal for temporary repairs

Cons:

• Lower weld quality
• Higher risk due to direct exposure
• Limited visibility and maneuverability

4 Common Underwater Welding Techniques

Underwater welding requires specialized techniques to handle the unique challenges of working in submerged environments. Welding courses at Universal Technical Institute (UTI) cover several key methods used in the field, helping students build core hands-on skills. These techniques include:

Gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW)

Also known as TIG welding, this method uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode. It’s precise but typically used for smaller, detailed tasks.

Shielded metal arc welding (SMAW)

One of the most common methods, SMAW, or stick welding, is widely used in wet environments due to its simplicity and versatility.

Gas metal arc welding (GMAW)

Also called MIG welding, this technique uses a continuous wire feed. It offers good speed and weld quality but is more commonly used in dry welding situations.

How To Become an Underwater Welder

1. Earn a high school diploma or GED certificate

Starting with a high school diploma or equivalent is important. It shows you have the discipline to complete a program, especially if you're new to the field. It's also a key requirement for getting into career training programs like those offered at Universal Technical Institute.

2. Learn the right welding skills

You need solid, real-world skills to thrive in welding. That’s why our career training program covers MIG, TIG, stick and pipe welding—and you can complete the curriculum in just 9-10 months.

3. Graduate and pursue employment

The Career Services department at UTI connects students with job opportunities and supports them through the application process. Whether before or after graduation, this resource helps them identify and step into entry-level welding roles with confidence.

If you’re interested in learning the foundations of welding, UTI’s Welding Technology program may be right for you. This program prepares graduates for entry-level roles like welder, fabrication welder, welder fitter, and wirer.⁷⁷

3. Keep learning and advancing your career

Graduating is just the beginning—welding is a field that keeps evolving. Staying adaptable and combining your skills with determination can open doors to advanced paths like underwater welding.⁷⁷

4. Get certified

Topside welding certification

Before you can weld underwater, you need a strong foundation in topside welding. This certification proves your ability to perform standard welding techniques such as SMAW (stick), GMAW (MIG), or FCAW (flux-cored arc welding).

The fundamentals are typically learned in hands-on training programs. After plenty of experience and practice, welders can earn this certification through performance-based testing.

Commercial diving certification

Underwater welding isn’t just about welding, it’s also about diving safely. To get certified, you’ll need to attend a commercial diving school. These programs teach diving safety, how to handle underwater tools and how to manage pressure changes, all of which are essential for performing underwater tasks effectively.

Pass a physical exam

Because underwater welding is physically and mentally demanding, you’ll need to pass a diving physical. This exam confirms you’re in good health and fit enough to handle the pressures of deep diving, tight spaces and long periods of physical exertion underwater.

Underwater welding certification

Once you’ve completed both topside welding and commercial diving training, you can pursue a specialized underwater welding certification. This credential demonstrates your ability to perform complex welds in submerged environments and can help you qualify for more advanced, higher-paying positions in the field.

Pros and Cons of Underwater Welding

Pros

• Potentially high income: Because of the risks and specialized skill required, underwater welders often earn high pay.
• Great demand: Infrastructure maintenance and marine construction are ongoing needs, making this a consistently in-demand field.
• One-of-a-kind adventure: This is not a desk job. You get to travel, explore unique environments and solve complex problems underwater.

Cons

• Physically and mentally demanding: You’ll need endurance, focus and the ability to stay calm under pressure.
• High risk: The job involves risk factors like decompression sickness, equipment failure and limited visibility. Safety training is absolutely essential for anyone wanting to pursue this niche field.

Learn Skills Needed for Underwater Welding!

If you’re ready to build skills that stand out and prepare for a career with underwater opportunities, welding training at UTI is the right place to start. While enrolled, you can gain hands-on education with a curriculum that supports real-world fulfillment.

Have questions? An Admissions Representative can walk you through next steps. Call 1-800-834-7308 to learn more or enroll now.