200 Amps Under The Sea

We as humans have built everywhere we can reach – and when we can’t reach it, we set out to. From woodlands, to mountains, to the sea floor. We’ve developed incredible technology to do more and more of the heavy lifting for us. But for some jobs, you still can’t beat a good old fashioned indomitable human.

Welder diving (Hyperbaric Welding) is a relatively niche skill set, being the rare and crucial synthesis of scuba diving, welding, and a highly attuned and focused physical awareness. Nor is it for the faint of heart. Underwater welding carries one of the highest fatality rates: the work is dangerous; the environment is dangerous.

So of course, the financial reward is highly significant, reaching upwards of £60K a year. Money alone is rarely the main motivator, however. Specialised trainers for this work universally say that successful candidates (if not most in general) are drawn to the work itself. Not as a death-seeking drive, but a quintessentially human death-defiance.

How does it work?

Overall, it’s mostly as you’d expect; the work is the same as above ground, but with the added challenge of bulky scuba gear and an environment that seems to reject your presence.

The welding tool itself is a specially modified version of an arc welder. Water and electricity obviously don’t play well together, so you might fairly assume that this where the greatest danger lies. Surprisingly, only one recorded fatality came as a direct result of the tool itself – the diver was barefoot.

Typically, their electrode will use up to 400 amps DC, carried from the surface installation or water craft and are specially designed for water cooling. This heat, combined with flux, creates gas bubbles, surrounding the arc and molten metal, before being transferred to the work.

Welding with a well-seasoned pace is crucial for an even and strong weld. This is especially true for underwater welding. As you might expect, the weld cools rapidly; yet another layer of difficulty, as if it wasn’t difficult enough already.

So what do you think? Could you do it? Certainly, not many can.

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