In its various embodiments the claimed water current shield may be used to improve safety for a diver and/or a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) by lowering the water current shield with a crane with the louvers initially in a first position to allow water current to flow through the louvers, positioning the water current shield with hold-back rigging from an up-current side of the subsea work site, adjusting an open or closed characteristic of the louvers if drag from the water current needs to be reduced around the subsea work site, and closing the louvers to protect an object proximate the water current shield from the water current, thereby shielding divers and/or ROVs from water currents at an underwater work site. The water current shield generally comprises a frame; a predetermined set of louver assemblies operatively connected to the frame, where each louver assembly comprises one or more selectably movable louvers; and a louver mover operatively connected to each selectably movable louver.