Examines research work to investigate the potential of using robot manipulators for underwater ultrasonic testing of welds in joints of complex geometry. Describes experiments carried out into non‐contact ultrasonic immersion testing using a six‐axis robot and an ultrasonic inspection system and gives results from scanning of a small T‐node specimen. Concludes that since the work described was carried out a prototype five axis scanning device has been developed which is capable of full underwater operation.