Fisher Diver | Torchora

🎯 Role Definition

As a Fisher Diver, you are the hands-on expert beneath the waves, responsible for the direct harvesting of premium marine products and the upkeep of our vital aquaculture infrastructure. You will operate in challenging underwater environments, utilizing specialized equipment and techniques to meet production targets while upholding the highest standards of safety and sustainability. This position is the backbone of our marine operations, demanding physical resilience, technical expertise, and an unwavering focus on teamwork and precision. You will work as an integral part of a dedicated crew, where your performance directly impacts the success of each harvest and the long-term health of our marine farm.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Accredited Commercial Diver Graduate
Experienced Aquaculture Technician with dive certifications
Military Diver or Scientific Diver with relevant experience

Advancement To:

Lead Diver / Dive Team Leader
Dive Supervisor
Marine Operations Site Manager

Lateral Moves:

Vessel Skipper / Captain
Aquaculture Operations Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Execute underwater harvesting of target species, such as sea urchins, geoducks, or scallops, using specialized hand tools and collection bags while ensuring minimal impact on the surrounding marine ecosystem.
Operate and maintain surface-supplied diving systems, including communication equipment, air compressors, and dive control panels, ensuring all components are in optimal working condition.
Conduct thorough pre-dive and post-dive inspections and function tests on all personal and team diving equipment, including helmets, masks, regulators, and dive suits.
Perform routine and emergency inspection, maintenance, and repair of aquaculture farm infrastructure, including nets, cages, pens, and predator barriers.
Install, inspect, and maintain complex mooring systems, including anchors, chains, shackles, and lines, to ensure the security and stability of all farm structures.
Navigate underwater in variable visibility and current conditions to efficiently locate, assess, and harvest product or perform maintenance tasks.
Adhere strictly to all company, federal, and state commercial diving safety regulations and protocols, including decompression procedures and emergency response plans.
Maintain clear, constant, and professional communication with the surface support team (Dive Tender/Supervisor) regarding depth, progress, safety status, and environmental conditions.
Use a variety of underwater tools, including hydraulic grinders, water jets, cutting torches, and pneumatic tools for construction, repair, and cleaning tasks.
Perform underwater rigging and lifting of heavy objects, applying correct techniques to ensure the safety of personnel and integrity of the equipment.
Accurately sort, grade, and handle harvested product underwater and on the surface to meet stringent quality control and market standards.
Maintain meticulous and legally compliant dive logs, documenting dive profiles, bottom times, tasks performed, and any incidents or unusual observations.
Conduct regular underwater stock health assessments, monitoring for signs of disease, stress, or predation and reporting findings to the site manager.
Participate actively in emergency drills, including diver rescue, equipment failure scenarios, and first aid response, to maintain a high state of team readiness.
Manage personal gas supply, depth, and time limits responsibly to ensure safe dive profiles and avoid decompression sickness or other physiological hazards.
Remove biofouling from nets, cages, and other submerged structures to maintain healthy water flow and system integrity.
Assist in the deployment and retrieval of new farm equipment, including cages, nets, and monitoring sensors, from the support vessel.
Conduct underwater site surveys and environmental assessments for potential new farm locations or the expansion of existing sites.
Perform selective culling of stock and removal of predator species from farm sites in accordance with best practices for animal welfare and ecosystem management.
Document work completed and site conditions using underwater photography or videography as required for client reporting, internal review, or regulatory compliance.

Secondary Functions

Assist with on-shore and vessel-based processing, packing, and transport of harvested seafood products to ensure product quality is maintained.
Contribute to the general maintenance, organization, and cleanliness of the dive vessel, support craft, and shore-based facilities and equipment.
Provide constructive feedback and innovative ideas for improving harvesting techniques, dive procedures, equipment modifications, and overall operational efficiency.
Participate in ongoing professional development and training sessions to stay current with industry best practices, new technologies, and safety standards.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Commercial Diving Certification: Unrestricted Surface-Supplied Diver certification from an accredited body (e.g., ADCI, DCBC, HSE).
Surface-Supplied Equipment Proficiency: Extensive experience operating and troubleshooting Kirby Morgan (or similar) dive helmets, comms, and surface control boxes.
Underwater Tool Operation: Demonstrated skill with hydraulic, pneumatic, and hand tools in a submerged environment.
Small Vessel Operation: Competency in operating small workboats, including basic seamanship, navigation, and docking.
First Aid & Emergency Response: Current certification in First Aid, CPR, AED, and Emergency Oxygen (O2) Administration.
Rigging & Lifting: Knowledge of safe underwater rigging, signaling, and lifting principles for heavy or awkward loads.
Equipment Maintenance: Ability to perform routine maintenance, field repairs, and troubleshooting on all life support and ancillary dive gear.
Seafood Harvesting Techniques: Specific experience and knowledge related to the targeted species and sustainable harvesting methods.
Knot Tying & Splicing: Proficiency in a wide range of marine knots, bends, and hitches for securing lines and equipment.
Dive Physics and Physiology: Strong understanding of decompression theory, gas laws, and the physiological effects of pressure on the human body.

Soft Skills

Situational Awareness: Exceptional awareness of the underwater environment, team positioning, and potential hazards.
Problem-Solving Under Pressure: Ability to remain calm, think clearly, and make effective decisions in challenging or emergency situations.
Teamwork & Communication: Excellent verbal communication skills for clear and concise interaction with the dive team and surface crew.
Physical Stamina & Resilience: High level of physical fitness to handle demanding tasks in cold water for extended periods.
Meticulous Attention to Detail: A strong focus on precision for tasks ranging from equipment checks to quality grading of products.
Adaptability: Flexibility to work in variable weather, sea conditions, and on-call schedules.
Strong Work Ethic: Self-motivated, reliable, and committed to completing tasks safely and efficiently.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High School Diploma or equivalent.
Diploma from an accredited Commercial Diving School/Institute.

Preferred Education:

Additional trade certifications such as underwater welding, non-destructive testing (NDT), or engineering technology.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Commercial Diving
Marine Technology
Aquaculture & Fisheries

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 2-5 years of documented commercial diving experience, including dive logs.

Preferred: Demonstrable experience in aquaculture diving, shellfish harvesting (e.g., geoduck, urchin, or scallop diving), or underwater construction projects in a marine environment. Experience working in cold water conditions and from a variety of vessel types is highly advantageous.