Diving & underwater welding guides
Clear, factual answers on becoming a commercial diver or underwater welder in Europe — recognition, qualifications, earnings and the practical route in.
Is a Dutch diving certificate IMCA recognised?
Yes — the Dutch commercial diving scheme is on IMCA’s list of recognised national schemes. Here is what that does (and does not) mean for working offshore.
Read the guideUnderwater welder salary in Europe
There is no single underwater welder salary. Earnings depend on inshore vs offshore, air vs saturation, experience and region. Here is a realistic picture for Europe.
Read the guideHow to become a commercial diver in Europe
A step-by-step route into commercial diving in Europe: medical, staged training, registration under a recognised scheme, and the tickets you add for offshore work.
Read the guideAWS D3.6 vs EN ISO 15618-1: underwater welding qualifications explained
AWS D3.6M and EN ISO 15618-1 are the two main standards for qualifying underwater (wet) welders. What each covers, why depth matters, and which one you need.
Read the guideIMCA Diver Medic Technician for divers based in the Gulf
Offshore work in the Gulf needs an IMCA-recognised Diver Medic Technician on the team. Where to qualify, why divers travel to the Netherlands, and how it works.
Read the guideWhich qualifications do you need to weld on a pipeline at 10, 30, 60 or 100+ metres?
There is no “pipeline-certified” welder. Qualifying is a layered system — welder qualification, procedure, pipeline code, witnessing — and depth changes the answer.
Read the guideIMCA vs HSE vs ADCI vs ADAS: which diving certificate is valid where?
IMCA, HSE, ADCI and ADAS are four different kinds of system, not one worldwide certificate. Which one counts depends on where — and for whom — you work.
Read the guideReady to start?
See how a recognised commercial diving qualification works and where it can take you.