Also called: Dive Safety Officer (DSO), Scientific Diver
Runs the scientific diving program at a university, aquarium, or agency.
The DSO trains and certifies scientist-divers, maintains boats and gear, plans research dives, and sometimes dives alongside researchers to survey reefs or kelp forests.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 6 years after high school. Bachelor's in a science plus AAUS scientific diver and instructor certifications.
Ways in: 4-year college, Certification, On-the-job training. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Marine Biology, Marine Science.
Growing about average (about 3% over 10 years).
Low risk for 10 years. Record-keeping goes digital, but training scientist-divers and keeping dives safe stays human.
Classes: AP Biology, Physical education and swimming, Health.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-4099.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.