The first professional diving skills competition of the China Diving and Salvage Industry Association was held in Yancheng.

On September 17, the first Diver Professional Skills Competition of the China Diving and Salvage Industry Association (CDSA) was held in Jingkou Village, Qinnan Town, Yancheng City, Jiangsu Province. After a day of intense competition, one gold medal, two silver medals, and three bronze medals were awarded in the individual events of underwater welding and cutting. Qiao Wei from Qingdao Pacific Underwater Technology Engineering Co., Ltd. and Huang Zhicong from Guangzhou Hailong Diving Technology Co., Ltd. won the gold medals in the underwater welding and underwater cutting categories, respectively. This competition not only tested the overall welding and cutting skills of China's engineering divers but also provided an excellent platform for industry technical exchange, skill refinement, and experience sharing, effectively promoting a positive trend of diligent practice, technical research, and pursuit of excellence across the industry.

This competition, themed "Striving for Maritime Strength · Craftsmanship for Safe Navigation," closely aligned with the practical needs of industry positions, adhered to the underwater welding and cutting technical standards of the Ministry of Transport, and focused on real operational scenarios to set competition subjects. It comprehensively tested the practical skills, standardized operation capabilities, and emergency response levels of the participants. It is a high-standard, highly professional, and widely covered vocational skills competition in the domestic diving and salvage industry. The event attracted over 40 outstanding engineering divers selected by more than 20 member units of the association nationwide to compete on the same stage, focusing on the two core subjects of underwater welding and underwater cutting. Over 100 guests from marine engineering technology, diving equipment manufacturing, diving and salvage enterprises, as well as the military and diving professional colleges, attended the competition throughout.

It is reported that underwater welding and cutting are key technologies in the diving and salvage field, serving as critical support for underwater emergency rescue, ship damage repair, underwater structure restoration, and shipwreck debris clearance. These technologies are directly related to maritime traffic safety, the safety of people's lives and property, and aquatic ecological safety. Compared to land-based welding operations, underwater operations involve complex environments, low visibility, and limited operating space, imposing extremely stringent requirements on divers' professional skills, practical experience, psychological resilience, and sense of responsibility. It is a "touchstone" for testing the comprehensive qualities of engineering divers.

It is worth noting that Jingkou Village, the location of this national diving and salvage industry skills competition, is a nationally recognized model village. Leveraging its unique water system location advantages and comprehensive training facilities, Jingkou Village has established the China Diving and Salvage Industry Training Center, the Diving and Salvage Cultural Education Hall, and the Ocean Diving and Salvage Craftsman Academy. It has built an integrated development system of "skills training + talent cultivation + industry empowerment," providing high-quality professional talent for the national diving and salvage industry year-round.