Astronauts of the Seas: “Industrial Divers”

Author: Şebnem Coşkun

Description: Students from the Underwater Technology Department at İskenderun Technical University’s Maritime Vocational School complete their practical training at sea aboard the research vessel “Iste-1,” in a near zero-gravity environment—almost like astronauts. The number of industrial divers is growing, working in fields such as underwater construction, ship repair without dry docking, inspections, underwater search and rescue, laying pipelines and communication lines, maintenance, pressure chamber operations, and diving project coordination. During their two-year program, students embark on four 10-day sea voyages and graduate as certified “industrial divers.”

Place: Hatay, Turkey