Rescue diver
Also called lifeguard, para-rescue diver, dive emergency worker
Rescue divers are divers that manage underwater emergencies. They prevent and manage problems underwater, handle dive emergencies and operate rescue equipment. Rescue divers manage diving operations in seas or waterways. They work under demanding physical conditions to rescue and retrieve people or objects.
What you'd do
Underwater divers · ILO- Taking safety precautions, such as monitoring dive lengths and depths, and registering with authorities before diving expeditions begin
- Checking and maintaining diving equipment such as helmets, masks, air tanks, diving suits, harnesses and gauges
- Descending into water with the aid of diver helpers, using scuba gear or diving suits
- Working under water to lay and repair bridges, piers and harbour-wall foundations
- Inspecting for suspected damage and making minor repairs to ships' hulls and underwater installations
- Reporting on condition of wrecked ships
- Removing underwater obstructions
- Drilling holes for underwater blasting
- Performing various underwater tasks connected with salvage work or recovering dead bodies
- Gathering shellfish, sponges and other aquatic life forms
- Communicating with workers on the surface while under water, using signal lines or telephones
- Obtaining information about diving tasks and environmental conditions
- Indoors and outdoors
- A mix of sitting and standing
- Constant contact with people, including the public
- Some freedom to decide
- Usually under 40 hours a week
- Deadlines now and then
- Some repetitive tasks
Will there be jobs?
Limited prospectsFewer jobs than in most work will need filling by 2035.
Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.
What does it pay?
Below averagePay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,000 a month (Bulgaria) to €4,800 (Denmark), before tax.
Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.
Among craft and related trades workers in the EU, women earn 26% less per hour than men. Craft and related trades workers · Eurostat
What do I need to study?
Upper secondary or vocationalUpper secondary or vocational training in transport services is the usual route.
Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.
Will AI change it?
Very littleAI could help with only small parts of the tasks.
Average task score 0.16 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).
See the score for each of the 12 tasks
Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for underwater divers. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).