Scuba diving jobs

Question
Hi! I have always wanted to work in water and my friend told me that there are actually scuba diving jobs where you get to collect pearls, escavate sunken ships, things like that! Could you tell me more about this and whats required for a job like that?
Thanks!
Melba

Answer
Hi Melba,

There are, indeed, opportunities to participate in underwater archeology and salvage jobs such as you mention.  However these jobs are separated into professional and non-professional categories.  A professional generally has an advanced college degree related to the job being performed (archeology, paleontology, marine biology, etc) and has learned to scuba dive in order to pursue these interests underwater.  These are paid positions.  

The non-professional has learned to scuba dive and then asks to participate in an expedition to assist in these underwater activities.  This is not a paid position and the diver generally has to pay to participate.  It's a way to raise money to support the expedition.  In exchange for their monetary support, the diver may get to keep a small object (such as a coin from an underwater salvage)if they find one.  All salvage belongs to the salvage crew and they will make the decision on what (if anything) the diver may keep.  

A notable example of this sort of thing is Mel Fisher's salvage operation in the south Florida Keys.  You can Google "Mel Fisher" and probably find out much more on his operations.

I'm not aware of any commercial pearl collecting operations using non-professional divers but there may be some.  Many pearls are now harvested from commercial pearl farms where the small pearl oysters are placed in mesh boxes submerged in the ocean. They are tended by people in boats who raise the boxes to the surface in order to harvest the mature pearl oysters and collect the pearls.  It doesn't require the use of divers.

Most known sunken ships of any importance have already been claimed by a salvage organization who has filed a right to salvage and are off limits to salvage by recreational divers.

Keep in mind that everyone would like to be a diver on a salvage operation but there are many surface-support jobs that don't involve getting into the water at all.  Signing on to a salvage crew may mean that you are assigned one of the surface-support jobs and that can be disappointing.  Once again, assignments are made according to the skills and training of the individual.

So, Melba, if you truly want to work in the field of underwater salvage or archeology, my advice would be to obtain an advanced degree in the field of your choice and then pursue it underwater using your diving skills.  During the course of your studies you will be exposed to various field expeditions and that's a good time to make the connections necessary to pursue your underwater dreams.

As a non-professional, I'd suggest exploring Mel Fisher's salvage operation in Florida and see if that's something you'd enjoy doing for a few weeks.  I suggested Mel Fisher because the water in the Florida Keys is warm and shallow and it's much more comfortable than diving in the northern waters.

Sounds like fun to me!!

Sincerely,
Mike Giles
Mike's Dive Center
mikescuba.com