Commercial Diving Services

Fixt Marine provides commercial diving services for vessel operators, marine contractors, industrial facilities, ports, marinas, and waterfront property owners.

Our divers work directly at the problem, whether that means inspecting a damaged vessel, clearing a fouled propeller, exposing a buried fitting, repairing a piling, or completing underwater work that cannot be reached from the surface.

Based in Mobile, Alabama, Fixt Marine supports projects throughout the Gulf Coast with experienced personnel, commercial diving equipment, underwater communications, hydraulic tools, and project-specific work plans.

Tell us what is underwater, what needs to be done, and where the project is located. We will help determine the crew, equipment, schedule, and safest approach.

Commercial diving capabilities

Underwater inspections

A diver can inspect areas that cannot be evaluated from the deck, shoreline, or surface. We document visible conditions and help clients determine whether repair, cleaning, recovery, or further investigation is required.

Underwater inspections may include:

• Vessel hulls and running gear
• Propellers, shafts, rudders, and nozzles
• Sea chests, thrusters, and through-hull fittings
• Barges, towboats, workboats, and dredges
• Docks, piers, and wharves
• Timber, steel, and concrete pilings
• Fender systems and mooring components
• Bulkheads, seawalls, and submerged foundations
• Intakes, outfalls, and drainage structures
• Scour, erosion, and sediment accumulation
• Submerged damage following an impact or casualty

Photographs and video can be provided when requested and when water conditions allow.

Vessel diving services

Fixt Marine helps vessel owners and operators address underwater problems without automatically sending the vessel to dry dock.

Our vessel services include:

• Underwater hull inspections
• Propeller and running-gear inspections
• Propeller polishing and cleaning
• Hull and sea-chest cleaning
• Rope, cable, net, and debris removal
• Propeller and shaft disentanglement
• Rudder and nozzle inspections
• Anode inspection and replacement
• Locating leaks or damaged fittings
• Grounding and impact inspections
• Underwater photo and video documentation
• Support for temporary and permanent repairs

We work on towboats, tugboats, barges, dredges, workboats, shrimp boats, commercial fishing vessels, and other marine equipment.

Underwater cutting, burning, and removal

When steel components must be separated underwater, our divers can perform cutting and burning operations using equipment selected for the material and work environment.

Underwater cutting may be used to:

• Remove damaged steel
• Cut seized or submerged hardware
• Release fouled equipment
• Remove spuds, braces, or structural components
• Separate wreckage and debris
• Prepare components for lifting
• Support demolition and salvage operations
• Gain access for repair or replacement

Every cutting project is evaluated for fire hazards, trapped pressure, structural movement, electrical hazards, rigging requirements, and the condition of the surrounding structure.

Marine construction and underwater repairs

Fixt Marine provides diving support for contractors, facilities, and property owners completing repairs or construction below the waterline.

Capabilities include:

• Underwater bolting and fastening
• Component removal and installation
• Rigging and lifting support
• Piling cleaning and preparation
• HDPE piling wraps
• SnapJacket installation
• Concrete piling repairs
• Fender removal and replacement support
• Installation of anodes and underwater hardware
• Underwater cutting and burning
• Excavation around buried connections
• Contractor support during marine construction

We can work as the primary diving contractor or provide a diving crew as part of a larger marine construction project.

Diver-assisted dredging

Some areas cannot be reached effectively with a barge-mounted dredge or excavator. Fixt Marine uses diver-controlled hydraulic dredge pumps to remove silt, sand, sediment, and loose debris from specific underwater locations.

Diver-assisted dredging is useful for clearing:

• Water intakes and outfalls
• Buried valves, fittings, and connections
• Areas beneath vessels and barges
• Piling and foundation work areas
• Pump bays and confined structures
• Submerged hardware requiring inspection or repair
• Localized sediment buildup beneath docks

The diver controls the suction at the target, allowing material to be removed from the required area without excavating the entire surrounding bottom.

Salvage and underwater recovery

Fixt Marine can locate, rig, recover, or assist with the removal of submerged equipment and debris.

Recovery work may include:

• Lost tools and equipment
• Submerged machinery
• Vessel components
• Anchors, chains, and cables
• Construction materials
• Damaged dock components
• Sunken boats and marine equipment
• Obstructions affecting navigation or operations

Recovery planning considers the weight, condition, location, bottom type, access, water depth, and available lifting equipment of the object. Lift bags, cranes, excavators, winches, or support vessels may be incorporated into the recovery plan.

Emergency diving response

Underwater problems can stop a vessel or shut down an operation. Fixt Marine provides emergency commercial diving support when crew and equipment are available.

Common emergency calls include:

• Fouled propellers and shafts
• Grounded or silted-in vessels
• Suspected hull damage
• Lost anchors or equipment
• Blocked intakes and sea chests
• Damaged fenders or dock components
• Submerged obstructions
• Wreckage and debris removal
• Storm and impact damage inspections

For faster evaluation, provide the vessel or facility name, exact location, water depth, problem description, available photographs, and required response time.

Our diving method

Fixt Marine uses commercial diving systems appropriate for the project. The diver remains connected to the surface through an umbilical carrying breathing gas, communications, and other required services.

Surface personnel maintain direct communication with the diver and support the underwater operation from the dive station. Crew size, equipment, standby requirements, and operating procedures are determined by the work scope and site conditions.

Commercial diving demands proper planning and control. Vessel movement, differential pressure, contaminated water, overhead structures, entanglement hazards, lifting operations, hydraulic tools, and low visibility are all managed through the dive plan and topside supervision.

Why clients call Fixt Marine

Direct access to the decision-maker

You communicate with someone who understands the diving operation and can make decisions about the crew, equipment, and scope.

Practical project planning

We evaluate what is actually required underwater and build the operation around the specific problem rather than forcing every project into the same setup.

Clear scope and pricing

Our proposals identify the planned work, crew time, equipment, mobilization, documentation, and major assumptions so both parties understand what is included.

One contractor for inspection and repair

When possible, we can inspect the problem, document the condition, and complete the necessary underwater work without bringing in a separate diving crew.

Gulf Coast experience

We understand the low visibility, sediment, marine growth, currents, industrial traffic, and access challenges common to Gulf Coast waterways.

Who we work with

Fixt Marine provides commercial diving support for:

• Tugboat and towboat operators
• Barge and fleeting companies
• Dredging contractors
• Marine construction contractors
• Shipyards and repair facilities
• Ports and terminals
• Industrial plants
• Municipal utilities
• Marinas and dock owners
• Commercial fishing fleets
• Engineers and inspection firms
• Government agencies
• General contractors

Service area

Fixt Marine is based in Mobile, Alabama, and serves commercial and industrial clients throughout the Gulf Coast.

Our regular service area includes:

• Mobile and Baldwin Counties
• Coastal Alabama
• Mississippi
• The Florida Panhandle
• Nearby Gulf Coast ports and inland waterways

Projects outside the immediate service area can be evaluated based on scope, schedule, and mobilization requirements.