ABSTRACT
Underwater work involves divers, submersibles, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) or tools from above the surface. The operation of submersibles and ROVs is a highly specialized field which is at present mainly confined to work on offshore structures, pipelines and cables laid in open water. Surfaceoperated 'tools' include dredging and drilling operations (see Chapter 41), pile driving, etc. which are essentially surfacecontrolled activities extending underwater. The aim in this chapter is to discuss some of the problems associated with the utilization of divers by the construction industry and to describe some of the diver alternative systems available.
