According to engineering websites, underwater welder is among the most dangerous jobs in the world. The job requires you to work in a deep and risky environment with minimum visibility. Can you handle it?
For Nur Izzati Athirah Mohammad Yusoff, she’s all up for a new challenge and tests her limits. She decided to be a professional underwater welder despite the difficulties and challenges.
1. The only female underwater welder in a field dominated by men
Nur Izzati Athirah Mohammad Yusoff or best known as Athirah is only 22 years old but she has already set a record in a career field usually dominated by men. Known as the iron lady, Athirah is the first female underwater welder in the country. What an amazing woman!
2. Previously studied at Taiping Vocational College taking a welding course
Athirah is the second of four siblings. She grew up in Kampung Kuala Sungai Rambutan, Rantau Panjang in the district of Selama, Perak. She was previously studying at the Taiping Vocational College before being offered by his current employer to do deep-sea welding works
Surprisingly, she was the only female student in the course back in 2013. She wasn’t aware of welding when she first signed up for the course. She simply chose it because she wanted to try something new and challenge herself. On her final year, she still wasn’t sure what to do after graduation.
3. Weldzone Training Center helps Athirah to be a professional welder
It all changed when she visited the Weldzone Training Centre during field trips. Weldzone Training Centre, located in Seri Manjung offer commercial diving courses as well as underwater welding and underwater cuts. She’s amazed by the training and decided to take the course to be a professional welder. Athirah completed the underwater welding course two years ago.
Weldzone Training Centre Sdn Bhd invested RM50,000 for her learning because they were attracted to her credibility and her uniqueness – the only women in the field so far.
4. The biggest task was to dive 30 meter depth
Athirah shared that she has dived to a depth of 30 meter, which is about 20 floors of building to do welding and cutting work. Each underwater welder can be in the sea about an hour maximum to avoid any high risk.
Typically for underwater welder, the wage earned is between RM300-RM500 per day but it depends on the work and the level of work done.
5. Now, she’s teaching students at the centre
In addition to being an underwater welder, she also teaches in the centre where all her students are men. She also shared that she will attend a course at ITDA headquarters in Spain to further accredit her skill level.
6. You have to be mentally and physically strong
To be underwater welder, you must not give up easily and the most important element is mentally and physically strong. For Athirah, there’re a few times when she almost wanted to give up, but she remembered how difficult it is to be where she is now and all the hard work.
