Thinking about commercial diving at 28 (almost 29) — background in mechanical engineering & aerospace, drawn to the offshore/North Sea sector. Looking for honest advice.
Hey everyone,
I've been doing a lot of research on commercial diving lately and I wanted to reach out to people with real experience before I make any big decisions.
A bit about me: I'm a mechanical engineer with about 3 years in the aerospace industry, but I've always struggled with office life. The jobs I've enjoyed most were physically demanding ones — construction sites where you're constantly doing different things, unloading trucks, carrying materials, that kind of thing. I also worked in greenhouses for a while and loved being active, but the repetitiveness killed it for me. I'm the kind of person who genuinely enjoys feeling physically wrecked at the end of the day from doing something productive, not just lifting weights at the gym for the sake of it.
I'm also really into scuba diving, especially cave diving where visibility is basically zero. I know that sounds strange but there's something about it that I find genuinely peaceful rather than scary.
So commercial diving started making a lot of sense to me on paper — physically demanding, underwater, but I have a few questions I'm hoping people here can answer honestly:
1- Is 28/29 too late to start, especially for the offshore/North Sea sector?
I've read it's not a dealbreaker, but I'd love to hear from people who started around that age. How competitive is it really when you're up against 22-year-olds fresh out of school?
2- Can you actually make a living in the first few years?
I keep reading that entry-level commercial diving pay has dropped a lot and that a skilled welder or electrician might actually earn more. I'm okay earning less if I'm doing something I love, but "less" has a limit — I need to be able to cover rent, eat, and travel at least once a year. What does realistic income look like in year 1–3 as a surface supply or air diver in the North Sea?
3- Should I do a welding or NDT course before diving school?
My thinking is that coming in with a trade skill would make me more employable right out of school. Is that actually how it works, or do companies care more about your dive hours and certifications at that stage? Would a coded welding ticket or an NDT Level 2 actually move the needle?
4- I'm looking at NYD (Norsk Yrkesdykkerskole) in Norway, aiming for November 2026 or March 2027.
Has anyone gone through their program? What's the quality like compared to other IMCA-recognized schools? Is it well regarded by North Sea contractors, or is it just "good enough"? Are there better alternatives in Europe for someone specifically targeting offshore work in that region — places like the Dutch Diving Academy, Comex in France, or any UK schools — and if so, what makes them stand out? I chose NYD partly because of the location and the fact that it already puts you in Norway which feels like a natural foot in the door for North Sea work, but I don't want to pick a school based on geography alone if the reputation difference is significant. Would love to hear from hiring managers or working divers on whether the school on your CV actually matters or if certifications and attitude are what get you the job.
And following that — how much does the specific school actually influence your chances of getting hired? Is there a noticeable difference in how quickly graduates from more prestigious schools get their first contract, or does everyone more or less start at the same level once you have your IMCA ticket and it just comes down to hours and attitude?
5- What do you wish you had known before starting?
Anything about the lifestyle, the waiting around between jobs, the physicality of the course itself, the culture on dive vessels, or just general stuff nobody tells you until you're already in.
For context on location preference: I want somewhere cold, grey, and harsh. Ireland is honestly too warm and sunny for me (yes, really). The North Sea feels like exactly the kind of environment I'd thrive in.
Any advice, brutal honesty, or even discouragement is welcome. I'd rather know the reality now than find out after I've paid for school.
Thanks in advance.