Nicholas Ng, a 35-year-old commercial diver, shares his unexpected transition from a property manager to an offshore diver, detailing the training, risks, and rewards of the profession, as well as the mentorship that inspired his career change.
In this series, people from all walks of life offer an inside - often unfiltered - look at their careers and the factors that drive them forward.
This instalment features commercial diver Nicholas Ng, who reveals the high‑risk yet deeply rewarding aspects of his work as told to The Straits Times. At 35, Ng has been a commercial diver since 2021. Working as a freelance offshore air diver, he assists in repairing and replacing underwater structures for oil and gas companies. His dives range from 30 to 50 meters deep, using an umbilical line that supplies air and maintains communication with the surface.
Projects have varied from week‑long assignments in Songkhla, Thailand, to three‑month stints in Qatar. He also undertakes inland diving, mainly ship husbandry at shallower depths-up to 30 meters-starting with cleaning and maintaining vessels and propellers. After a year and a half, he progressed to underwater construction, focusing on repair and maintenance tasks. Ng continuously upskills at the KBA Training Centre, where practical commercial diving lessons are conducted from a jetty at Loyang.
He notes that many people mistakenly assume he is a scuba instructor or teaches recreational diving. When he clarifies that his job involves underwater repairs, they often find it impressive. There is also a common perception that all commercial divers earn substantial salaries, sometimes as high as $200,000 annually.
However, Ng explains that pay varies significantly by specialization; inshore divers, for example, may start around $36,000 per year. One irony of his story is that Ng never liked water or swimming. His sister, a diver, tried to spark his interest, but he remained indifferent. That changed one day at Sentosa beach when he observed a group of people leaping off a boat carrying ropes, hoses, and large helmets.
Curious, he asked a nearby Caucasian man what they were doing. The man explained they were commercial divers. He turned out to be an avid recreational diver and wildlife conservationist who invited Ng to his house-a space reminiscent of Batman's Batcave, filled with colorful diving gear. Ng felt like a child in a toy store.
Listening to the stranger's adventure stories and those of his commercial‑diver friends, Ng became fascinated and inspired. He subsequently registered online for a commercial diving course, taking unpaid leave to attend. At that time, he was a property manager for a condominium, and before that he served six years as an infantry specialist in the Singapore Army. He never anticipated becoming a diver, but the profession gradually grew on him.
He has since introduced at least 12 people to the industry, with five joining him in offshore work. He now calls the friendly stranger who altered his career path "Uncle Botak"-his actual name is Dan, and he serves as Ng's mentor and life coach. Together, they organize diving lessons for children from homes each year. Ng pursued training and certifications at KBA Training Centre, which offers four levels of inland/inshore commercial diving courses in Singapore.
He also completed the additional International Marine Contractors Association‑approved diver medic technician program there. The Level 1 Commercial Self‑Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus certification and Level 2 Surface Supplied Diving Equipment certification required 240 hours of practical instruction and 80 hours of theory over about 40 days. Singaporeans and permanent residents can offset up to 70 percent of the course fees using SkillsFuture credits.
The curriculum involves substantial mathematics and science; students must grasp physics principles like Boyle's Law (air volume) and Henry's Law (gradual ascent). The holy grail is the US Navy dive table, which outlines safety limits for depth and duration underwater. Trainees also learn to recognize signs and symptoms of diving injuries-some of which are silent, requiring observation of skin color and pupil dilation. Not everyone is suited for this line of work.
Some fear drowning or experience claustrophobia inside a diving helmet. Others may suffer panic attacks underwater, leading to hyperventilation or, worse, attempts to remove their helmet while panicked. One diver enjoyed the diving component but quit after encountering a moray eel that frightened him. Some realized commercial diving wasn't for them, while others left after a few weeks due to the grueling nature of the job.
Hours can be irregular and demanding, with inshore assignments starting as early as 2 a.m., and the work requires considerable physical stamina and strength. With a Level 1 Commercial Self‑Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus certification, Ng became eligible for jobs at fish farms and benign water projects-such as in reservoirs and ponds.
However, such opportunities are hard to come by, especially when compared to the more offshore‑focused roles that dominate the sector
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