Additional Information
There are two paths to becoming a submarine pilot. One is to join the navy.
Its minimum educational requirement is a high school diploma. If you qualify
for submarine service, submarine schools follow.
The educational path becomes less predictable if you want to helm a commercial
submarine or submersible. There is a school that trains submarine pilots.
Manufacturers of submarines and submersibles also offer training, but only
on the vessels that they produce.
Generally, you won't get very far in this field without a genuine interest
in the ocean. Obtaining a commercial scuba diving ticket is your best first
step. While you won't need a degree in biology, it wouldn't hurt to take two
years of college or get job experience in the navy.
Don Libratore is a submersible pilot. He says if you're truly bent on becoming
a pilot, you might want to consider becoming an ocean engineer.
"That will give you the background in engineering to understand what's
going on and fix it. But to be a sub pilot, most of the training happens on
the equipment itself," Libratore says. Other successful pilots have trained
as electronics technicians.
You have to get certified through the coast guard to operate a tourist
submersible.