What you see above the water is only half the story. Beneath every marina, jetty, or floating walkway lies a hidden network of anchors, chains, piles, and connections that quietly carry the full load of your structure. While decks, handrails, and pontoons are easy to inspect, the most critical components remain out of sight—and often out of mind.
In marine environments, deterioration happens faster below the surface. Saltwater, currents, marine growth, and seabed movement continuously act on submerged elements. Without regular underwater inspections, small defects can go unnoticed until they become major structural risks.
What Do Divers Actually Inspect?
A professional underwater inspection goes far beyond a simple visual check. Trained divers assess the condition and performance of all submerged components, including:
- Anchors and Mooring Blocks
Checked for displacement, tilting, burial, cracking, or movement due to currents and seabed changes. - Chains, Ropes, and Tension Systems
Inspected for corrosion, wear, broken links, fraying, and loss of tension that can lead to pontoon drift or misalignment. - Steel and Concrete Piles
Examined for corrosion, marine growth buildup, coating failure, cracks, spalling, and section loss—especially in the tidal zone. - Connections & Joints
Bolts, brackets, hinges, and couplings between pontoons and walkways are checked for looseness, deformation, or fatigue. - Seabed Conditions
Divers assess scouring, erosion, sediment movement, and voids around piles and anchors that may compromise stability. - Obstructions & Debris
Identification of trapped debris, fishing lines, nets, or foreign objects that create unintended loads or hazards.
Each inspection is documented with photographs, video, and condition reports, allowing owners to understand what is happening beneath their marina.
Why Underwater Inspections Matter
Submerged components often fail silently. A corroded chain, a shifted anchor, or eroded seabed may not be visible from the surface—but they directly affect the safety and alignment of the entire structure.
Regular underwater inspections help to:
- Detect hidden defects before they escalate
- Prevent sudden failures and emergency closures
- Maintain alignment and load distribution
- Extend the service life of marine assets
- Support authority, insurance, and safety compliance
- Plan maintenance in a controlled, cost-effective way
Reactive repairs after a failure are always more expensive and disruptive than planned intervention.
How Often Should Inspections Be Done?
In active marine environments such as the UAE, underwater inspections are typically recommended:
- Annually for marinas, jetties, and floating walkways
- After major storms, vessel impact, or unusual movement
- Before warranty expiry of new installations
- As part of a long-term asset management plan
The frequency may vary depending on exposure, usage, and asset age, but consistency is key.
Seeing the Unseen
What lies beneath your marina determines how long it will safely serve its purpose. By understanding and monitoring underwater conditions, owners gain control over risks that would otherwise remain hidden.
At Ocean Marine Contracting, our professional dive teams carry out detailed underwater inspections across the UAE. We assess anchors, chains, piles, joints, and seabed conditions—delivering clear reports and practical recommendations that help protect your marine assets, avoid surprises, and plan maintenance with confidence.