Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Emergency
services
Expert Marine Surveyors in Hull | Northern Divers
Established in 1963, we are the UK's oldest commercial diving company, specialising in underwater civil engineering and marine services. Our expertise spans 60 years of delivering critical infrastructure projects, including marine surveys, salvage operations, and scour control solutions for onshore and offshore environments. With a purpose-built facility in Hull since 2010, we combine advanced technology with a highly trained team to execute complex assignments up to 50 metres underwater and 12 miles offshore. Our 24/7 emergency response capability ensures rapid deployment for urgent infrastructure threats, supported by state-of-the-art equipment maintained to IMCA standards.Having completed landmark projects across the UK and internationally, we maintain rigorous training programmes to uphold our reputation as Europe's leading underwater engineering specialists. Our client portfolio includes major utility providers, government agencies, and international contractors requiring bespoke solutions for challenging aquatic environments.
Services
Commercial Diving
Marine Surveys
Maritime Salvage
Scour Control
Confined Space
Renewables
Safety Boats
Emergency Call-Out
Details
- Year established: 1963
Highlights and features
- We offer 60+ years of specialist underwater engineering experience
- Our team provides 24/7 emergency response capability nationwide
- We maintain state-of-the-art diving equipment to IMCA specifications
- Our engineers handle complex projects up to 50m below sea level
- We deliver bespoke solutions for unique underwater challenges
Associations and certifications
- IMCA
Services
Commercial Diving
Our commercial diving services operate to depths of 50 metres, supporting critical infrastructure maintenance and repair operations. Specialised teams execute complex underwater assignments for energy, utilities, and maritime sectors across the UK and internationally. With 24/7 emergency response capability, we deploy rapidly to address urgent infrastructure threats using IMCA-compliant equipment.
Marine Surveys
We conduct comprehensive marine surveys for submerged structures, pipelines, and coastal defences using advanced hydrographic survey equipment. Our inspections identify structural vulnerabilities and inform remediation strategies for offshore windfarms, bridges, and harbour facilities. Survey data supports engineering decisions for clients across energy and infrastructure sectors.
Maritime Salvage
Specialist salvage operations recover submerged assets and repair damaged infrastructure in challenging aquatic environments. Our teams handle complex recovery projects for shipping companies, insurance providers, and government agencies. Advanced equipment enables efficient salvage operations up to 12 miles offshore.
Scour Control
We implement scour protection solutions to prevent infrastructure damage from watercourse erosion. Our engineers design and execute riverbank stabilisation and pipeline protection schemes for gas and utility providers. Recent projects demonstrate expertise in mitigating erosion threats to critical energy infrastructure.
Emergency Response
Our 24/7 emergency response service addresses urgent underwater infrastructure threats with immediate deployment capability. Trained teams operate advanced equipment to resolve critical pipeline exposures and structural failures. Rapid mobilisation ensures minimal operational disruption for clients in energy and utilities sectors.
People
John Sparrowe
Managing Director
With over 30 years in underwater engineering, John leads strategic direction and client relations. He oversees major projects and maintains industry standards compliance. His expertise ensures operational excellence across all diving operations.
Robert Reid
Project and Design Manager
Robert manages project design and engineering solutions, ensuring technical feasibility and client requirements alignment. He coordinates multidisciplinary teams for complex underwater assignments. His leadership guarantees project delivery to exacting standards.
Martin Shepherd
Diving Manager
Martin oversees diving operations and safety protocols, maintaining IMCA compliance. He supervises technical training and equipment standards. His management ensures operational safety and efficiency across all diving activities.
Keith Dunn
Projects Manager
Keith coordinates project execution and client communications, managing timelines and resources. He ensures quality control and adherence to specifications. His management delivers successful outcomes for challenging underwater engineering projects.
Questions
What diving depths can you operate at?
We operate up to 50 metres depth for commercial diving operations.
Do you offer emergency services?
Yes, we provide 24/7 emergency response capability nationwide.
What geographic areas do you cover?
We operate across the UK and internationally on maritime projects.
Are your divers IMCA certified?
All operations comply with IMCA standards and accreditation requirements.
Can you handle bespoke underwater projects?
90% of our work involves custom solutions for unique underwater challenges.
What equipment do you use?
We utilise state-of-the-art diving, survey, and repair equipment maintained to industry specifications.
