Dive Team work experience Prepare. Explore. Work as a Team. Step into the world of commercial diving and marine operations and discover the teamwork, technology and planning behind Sellafield’s specialist Dive Team. Our Dive Team Work Experience programme gives you a unique opportunity to experience how a specialist operational team supports Sellafield’s work in the marine environment. Throughout the programme, you’ll work alongside the Dive Team and gain insight into how commercial divers carry out underwater inspections, maintenance and monitoring. You’ll explore vessel operations, specialist underwater technology and the preparation, communication and safety practices needed to support diving operations. The programme is planned to take place at sea, although weather conditions may mean activities are relocated to a Sellafield building at the main site in Seascale. Learners must be 15 at the time of their placement to obtain the required escorted visitor pass. Why choose Dive Team? Very few careers combine practical skills, specialist technology, teamwork and working in a marine environment in quite the same way. Sellafield’s Dive Team carries out underwater inspections, maintenance and monitoring, using specialist equipment and working as a coordinated offshore crew. During your experience, you’ll discover how the team: Prepares for offshore work Supports underwater inspection and maintenance Operates safely as an offshore crew Uses specialist underwater tools and technology Communicates and completes safety checks Supports marine operations through careful planning and teamwork This is an opportunity to experience the wider world of commercial diving, not the activity of diving itself. Experience marine operations: Spend time alongside the Dive Team and discover what it takes to work effectively as part of an offshore crew, including communication, safety checks and preparing for work on the water. Discover commercial diving: Learn how commercial divers support underwater inspection, maintenance and monitoring activities and why this work matters to safety and environmental protection. Explore specialist technology: Discover some of the specialist equipment used to support underwater operations, including inspection cameras, lifting tools and dive-support systems. The wider programme description also identifies ROVs as part of the experience. Work as part of the crew: Gain experience of the wider activities that support diving operations, including deck crew activity, preparing diving rigs and understanding how an effective team works together. Explore emergency preparedness: Gain insight into emergency training and, where programme conditions allow, activities including first aid and casualty care. Meet the professionals: Work alongside members of a specialist operational team and use the opportunity to ask questions about their work and the different careers supporting commercial diving and marine operations. The programme identifies pathways across commercial diving, marine operations, engineering support, maintenance and offshore logistics. What you’ll experience Experience marine operations: Spend time alongside the Dive Team and discover what it takes to work effectively as part of an offshore crew, including communication, safety checks and preparing for work on the water. Discover commercial diving: Learn how commercial divers support underwater inspection, maintenance and monitoring activities and why this work matters to safety and environmental protection. Explore specialist technology: Discover some of the specialist equipment used to support underwater operations, including inspection cameras, lifting tools and dive-support systems. The wider programme description also identifies ROVs as part of the experience. Work as part of the crew: Gain experience of the wider activities that support diving operations, including deck crew activity, preparing diving rigs and understanding how an effective team works together. Explore emergency preparedness: Gain insight into emergency training and, where programme conditions allow, activities including first aid and casualty care. Meet the professionals: Work alongside members of a specialist operational team and use the opportunity to ask questions about their work and the different careers supporting commercial diving and marine operations. The programme identifies pathways across commercial diving, marine operations, engineering support, maintenance and offshore logistics. What you’ll gain Throughout the experience, you’ll have opportunities to develop transferable skills that are important in operational environments and useful across many future careers. Teamwork, understanding how people work together towards a shared goal Communication, listening and communicating effectively with others Safety awareness, understanding why instructions, checks and safe behaviours matter Planning and preparation, seeing the work required before an operational activity begins Problem-solving, considering how activities and challenges are approached Personal responsibility, understanding your role as part of a wider team Career awareness, discovering the range of people and skills involved in marine operations Most importantly, you’ll gain an understanding of the preparation, teamwork and specialist expertise behind commercial diving and marine operations. Careers you could explore A Dive Team isn’t made up of diving skills alone. Marine operations bring together people with different technical, operational and practical skills to plan activities, operate equipment, maintain assets and work safely on and around the water. Your experience could help you discover an interest in areas including: Commercial diving Marine operations Engineering support Maintenance Offshore logistics You may also discover that it’s the engineering, technology, operational or safety aspects of the experience that interest you most. Keep exploring There isn’t just one route into a career in a specialist operational environment. Use your experience to ask questions, explore different roles and discover which aspects of marine and operational work interest you most. Is Dive Team Work Experience for me? This experience could be right for you if you: Enjoy practical, hands-on experiences Are interested in marine or operational environments Are curious about how specialist equipment and technology are used Enjoy working as part of a team Want to understand commercial diving and the work that supports it Are interested in engineering, maintenance or operational careers Want an experience that’s different from a traditional workplace environment You don’t need to know that you want to become a commercial diver. This experience gives you the opportunity to explore the range of roles, skills and activities involved in supporting specialist marine operations. Programme Structure Because marine operations depend on safe weather and tidal conditions, your daily activities may vary. That’s part of experiencing a real operational marine environment. Across the week you’ll have opportunities to explore: Prepare Operate Explore Understand how the team prepares for marine activity, including vessel safety, equipment and operational planning. Experience how people work together as a crew and support activity on deck. Discover underwater tools, dive-support systems and technologies such as ROVs. Respond Reflect Learn about the importance of emergency preparedness, first aid and casualty care within the programme activities. Consider what you’ve learned about specialist operational careers and the skills you’ve used throughout your experience. Ready to explore Dive Team? If you’re interested in practical work, specialist technology and discovering how people work together in a marine operational environment, Dive Team could be the experience for you. Important things to know before you apply: Location and conditions: The placement is planned to take place on a vessel at sea, departing from Whitehaven Harbour. Marine activities are dependent on suitable conditions, so bad weather may mean your experience moves to a Sellafield building at the main site in Seascale. Age requirement: You must be 15 years old at the time of your placement to obtain an escorted visitor pass. The programme is suitable for learners in Years 10 to 13, subject to that age requirement. Programme timings can vary: Start and finish times can change depending on tides, and the final schedule is confirmed nearer the placement. Link to apply will appear here when applications open.
