Vortex opened its doors in Oakland, California in early 1992, founded by two brothers, Blaise and Matt Fettig.

Vortex has made a staple of the more unusual marine work, often incorporating elements of surface and underwater construction, and generally requiring a novel, out-of-the-box thinking approach toward methodology. Projects have included the installation of the San Francisco trans-Bay fiber optic cable installation for NextLink, the construction of the marine foundation for the new Carquinez bridge for FCI/Cleveland Bridge in Crockett, California, and the marine portion of the Walter F. George Lock, Dam and Powerhouse cut-off wall for the Trevi-Rodio JV in Ft. Gaines, Georgia.