50-500 m, up to 28 days at constant pressure. Pressurised bell, 4-6 hour shifts. Offshore oil industry, fibre-optic cables. Salary $100,000-150,000/year. Risk of aseptic bone necrosis.
Saturation diving, where divers live for days in pressurized chambers to work at great depths, is the most demanding level of professional diving. Divers discuss the physical and mental preparation required, IMCA-recognized schools, underwater welding, and actual job demand on offshore platforms. It is a world of high risk, high specialization, and salaries notably above average.
Saturation diving allows working at depths between 50 and 500 meters while remaining at constant pressure for periods of up to 28 days. Divers live in pressure chambers aboard specialized vessels and descend each day inside a pressurized diving bell, performing shifts of four to six hours. Main applications are the offshore oil industry, fiber-optic cable laying, and underwater construction. An experienced saturation diver can earn between 100,000 and 150,000 dollars per year. Risks include aseptic bone necrosis.