Underwater inspection divers for hulls, docks, moorings and seawalls
An underwater inspection diver looks at the parts of a boat or structure you cannot see from the surface and records what they find on video, in photos and in a short written report. Common subjects are hulls and running gear, dock and float pilings, seawalls, mooring systems, boat lifts, and water intakes and screens.
On pilings and seawalls the diver looks for cracks, spalling concrete, corroded steel, rot, marine-borer damage and voids. One South Florida firm suggests inspecting saltwater docks every 12 months, every 6–9 months where growth is heavy, and again after storms (UMS Florida, 2025). A Florida seawall firm suggests every 2–3 years for homes and every year for commercial sites and marinas (Sea Me Dive).
A good inspection gives you clear video of every item on an agreed list, measurements where they matter (crack size, corrosion loss, damage depth) and a plain summary of what needs work now and what can wait.
A diver's inspection is a record of condition, not an engineer's structural assessment or a marine surveyor's survey, unless the diver is also one. If you need a structural report or a permit, ask whether the diver works with an engineer; some Florida seawall inspections are done by licensed engineers and contractors who dive themselves (ACI Inspections).
DiverHire is a new marketplace in public beta. Post the inspection free with the structure type, size and water depth, compare bids, and pay the diver directly. DiverHire does not carry out inspections and takes no fee on jobs.
Who needs this
- Marinas and yacht clubs: yearly checks of docks, floats, pilings and mooring fields, and a look after storms.
- Waterfront homeowners and HOAs: seawall, dock and boat-lift checks before a sale, a purchase or a repair.
- Mooring holders and harbourmasters: video inspections of the whole mooring system.
- Boat owners: a hull, prop and zinc check after a grounding, or before a trip or survey.
- Property managers and contractors: a first look before bringing in an engineer or a repair crew.
- Insurers and buyers: photos and video of underwater condition for the file.
Whether a paid inspection counts as commercial diving depends on local rules, not on how small the job looks. In Ontario, for example, when you hire a diver to inspect or repair your property, you have many of the same responsibilities as constructors and employers engaged in a diving operation (Ontario Ministry of Labour). The checklist in how to hire a diver covers what to ask.
Typical pricing
Inspections are priced by the hour (per diver), per item (per pile or per mooring) or as a flat fee per structure, sometimes with a trip charge or minimum.
- Northern San Juan Islands, Washington: dock, float and piling inspections USD 250/h; a mooring inspection with video USD 250 each (PNW Diving Services, viewed September 2026).
- Jacksonville, Florida: piling inspection USD 35 per pile; general inspection USD 200 per diver-hour (DS Diving, 2026).
- South Florida: seawall inspections by licensed engineers and contractors who dive, USD 330–495 for up to 100 ft, with a report that includes cost estimates (ACI Inspections, 2026).
Quotes vary with depth, visibility, access, travel and team size, and with how detailed a report you need. Ask what the price includes: video, measurements, a written report, and who signs it.
Guides
- How to Hire a Diver: A Checklist for Boat Owners and Marinas
- How Often to Replace Boat Zincs and Anodes (and What It Costs)
- Commercial diving in Toronto and the Great Lakes: a local guide
- Planning, Pricing & Recording Underwater Work: A Guide for Clients and Divers
Required / preferred certifications
- ADCI Air diver
- DCBC Unrestricted Surface Supplied Diver
- HSE Surface Supplied Diving (Great Britain)
- NAMS-CMS Certified Marine Surveyor (the surveyor on vessel surveys, not the diver)
- DAN Diving First Aid for Professional Divers
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Other diving services
- Underwater welding
- Underwater photography
- Salvage operations
- Boat & hull cleaning
- Marine research support
- Marine surveying
- Underwater cleanup
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