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DVs are highly trained military divers. Your duties may include recovery of weapons, ship maintenance or repair, and clearing obstructed waterways. DVs use side scan sonar equipment, underwater remote-operated vehicles, metal detectors, and various exothermic cutting and hydraulic power tools. You'll be trained to succeed in waters from the pristine tropics to frigid conditions under polar ice. DVs are typically assigned to dedicated shoreside diving units.

  • Physically and mentally fit?
  • Extremely comfortable in the water?
  • A detail-oriented person?
  • A team player?

Diving
Underwater construction
Search and salvage

  • Unlike most ratings, you cannot apply to become a DV until you have advanced to E-4 in another rating. DVs receive a 21-week rating course at the Navy Diving and Salvage Training Center in Panama City, FL, with instruction in air and mixed gas diving using SCUBA and hard hat; underwater cutting and welding; recompression chamber operations; underwater hydraulic tools; ship maintenance, repair, and salvage; lift bag operations; etc.
  • Advanced training in cold water ice diving, along with instructor development training, EMT training, a first class diver supervisory course, side scan and remote-operated vehicle course, and various dive gear maintenance courses.
  • Both full-time and part-time Coast Guard-funded educational opportunities that lead to credentials, certifications, and licenses are available. Opportunities leading to an associate degree, bachelor's degree, or higher may also be available.

  • Commercial Diver
  • Marine Engineer
  • Hyperbaric Technician
  • EMT/Paramedic
  • Diving Instructor
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