Underwater Diving Inspection

F&V specializes in going where many have not gone before. Our underwater inspections use cutting-edge technologies with industry-certified expertise.

What Is Underwater Inspection?

F&V’s dive team answers the question of what cannot be seen below the surface of the water. We’re experts at gathering and documenting the structural integrity of bridges and a variety of other underwater structures, as well as conducting surveys and relocations of endangered species within a body of water. Each underwater inspection is thoughtfully planned out according to the unique requirements of the job.

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Types of Underwater Inspection Services

Our Underwater Diving Process

We’re experts at gathering and documenting the structural integrity of bridges and a variety of other underwater structures, as well as conducting surveys and relocations of endangered species within a body of water.

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Step 1

Arrival

F&V divers arrive at the bridge site and find a safe space to park their vehicle away from errant traffic. They review the previous bridge inspection reports and evaluate the surrounding area and waterway for any safety hazards. Then they identify a place to enter the water safely.

Step 1

Step 2

Plan

F&V divers establish a dive plan with the dive team members, which is made up of a diver, a standby diver, and a dive tender. They then look at water temperatures and measure stream/river velocity, and identify any potential job hazards, and plan mitigation efforts accordingly. Their dive equipment needs to be inspected to make sure that all tanks are full and all other dive equipment is operating correctly.

Step 2

Step 3

Dive

Next, F&V divers get dressed into their wetsuit, and put on dive gear, and safely make their way down the steep slopes to enter the water. Once in the water, they inspect all submerged bridge substructure units visually (level I) and physically (level II) by sounding with a hammer to check for structural integrity. If any defects are found, they are photographed using an underwater camera.

Step 3

Step 4

Report

Upon resurfacing, our divers communicate with the standby diver what their findings were so that they can record them on the inspection form. They then exit the water safely and remove their equipment.

Step 4

Industries

Underwater inspections benefits several industries.

F&V has worked with marina businesses for environmental studies of the shoreline near their properties.

Why Choose Fleis & VandenBrink?

Our dive team is highly trained, experienced, and MDOT prequalified in In-service Underwater Bridge Inspection. Dive team members are professional engineers and National Highway Institute (NHI) Qualified Team Leaders (QTL). Our divers are also certified members of the Association of Diving Contractors International (ADCI). Safety is our dive team’s number one priority. All divers have advanced diver training as well as CPR, AED, first aid, confined space, and emergency oxygen administration certifications.

Projects

Projects