List of legislation regulating underwater diving

(Redirected from Diving law)

This list identifies the legislation governing underwater diving activities listed by region. Some legislation affects only professional diving, other may affect only recreational diving, or all diving activities. The list includes primary and delegated legislation, and international standards for the conduct of diving adopted by national states, but does not include legislation or standards relating to manufacture or testing of diving equipment.

Argentina

Ordinance No. 4-08 (dpsn) Volume 5 Regime of Merchant Marine Personnel, July 1, 2008.[1]
The regulation of professional diving
Ordinance No. 1-01 (dpsn) Volume 4 - Regime of nautical sports activities 2001.[2]
The regulation of recreational diving

Australia

Queensland

Safety in Recreational Water Activities Act 2011.[3]
Safety in Recreational Water Activities Regulation 2011.[3]
Recreational Diving, Recreational Technical Diving and Snorkelling Code of Practice 2018
A Queensland code of practice under section 43 of the Safety in Recreational Water Activities Act 2011[4]

Austria

Verordrung 501: Druckluft- und Taucherarbeiten- Verordnung[5]
Inshore diving

Canada

Quebec

S-3.1 Act respecting safety in sports, Chapter V.2 Recreative underwater diving 1997, c. 37, s. 2.[6]
The chapter applies to underwater diving using compressed breathing gas that is not done as part of an occupational activity, and to teaching such diving.

Denmark and Greenland

Consolidated decree on the entry into force for Greenland of the act on diving operations and diving equipment, etc.[7]
Diving Act, Act No.307, dated 17 May 1995
The act regulates underwater work requiring breathing apparatus which would normally be done for payment, including rescue operations, and specifically excludes tasks related to recreational diving.

France

Germany

Festlandsockelbergvorordnung[5]
Regulates offshore diving
Unfallsverhütungsvorschrift "Taucharbeiten" VBG 39[5]
Regulates inshore and inland diving
Unfallsverhütungsvorschrift "Arbeitsmedizinische Versorge" VBG 100[5]
Requirement for medical certificates

Israel

Recreational diving Act, 1979[8]
Recreational diving. It is not permitted to dive beyond the level of certification held unless in training with an instructor, and the diver must have appropriate insurance covering diving accidents. Solo diving is prohibited.

Italy

Sicily

Sicilian law on commercial diving training, 2016[9]
Regulates training paths for inshore and offshore commercial diving activities, according International Diving Schools Association guidelines and an online database of certified commercial divers.

Maldives

Maldives Recreational Diving Regulation, 2003[10]
Recreational diving service providers are required to be licensed. No recreational diving is allowed deeper than 30m or requiring decompression stops. Divers must show evidence of certification and recent experience. Solo diving is forbidden.

Malta

Recreational Diving Services Regulation, 2012[11]
Only diving centres licensed by the Malta Tourism Authority, and meeting their minimum standards for facilities, equipment and service, are allowed to provide diving services to the public.

The Netherlands

Anschrijving Duikherkammeren[5]
Regulates offshore diving
Labour and Work Act[5]
Regulates inshore and inland diving

Norway

Regulation relating to manned underwater operations in the petroleum activities with guidelines[5]
Regulates offshore diving
Dykking Best nr.511 (Diving No. 511)[5]
Regulates inshore diving

South Africa

Diving Regulations, 2001
Occupational health and safety regulating occupational diving operations and training, but explicitly exclude recreational diver training and dive shop operations, which are generally covered by the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993. Superseded by Diving Regulations 2009.
Diving Regulations, 2009[12]
DR2009 regulates all commercial diving operations and training, including military and other professional diving, inshore, inland and offshore, but explicitly exclude recreational diver training and dive shop operations, which are generally covered by the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993. Superseded by Diving Regulations 2017
Diving Regulations, 2017
DR2017 regulates all commercial diving operations and training, including military and other professional diving, inshore, inland and offshore, but explicitly exclude recreational diver training and dive shop operations, which are generally covered by the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993.
Code of Practice for Inshore Diving[13]
The Code of Practice for Inshore Diving provides guidance for accepted safe working practices using surface supplied diving equipment for commercial diving operations within the territorial waters of South Africa. It is incorporated into the Diving Regulations as of 2017
Code of Practice for Scientific Diving[14]
The Code of Practice for Inshore Diving provides guidance for accepted safe working practices using scuba or surface supplied diving equipment for scientific diving operations within the territorial waters of South Africa.
Code of Practice for Commercial Diver Training[15]
The Code of Practice for Commercial Diver Training provides guidance and required minimum standards for accepted safe training practices using scuba or surface supplied diving equipment for diving operations in which learner divers are involved within the territorial waters of South Africa.

Sweden

Dykeriarbete (English: Diving Works)[5]
Regulates inshore and inland diving, no offshore regulations

Switzerland

Hyperbaric Worker Safety Ordinance, 15 April 2015[16][17][18]
Regulates inshore/inland diving, no offshore regulations

United Kingdom

Diving at Work Regulations 1997[19]
The DAWRs regulate all aspects of professional diving (diving at work), including recreational diver instruction and divemasters.
Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009
The MCAA specifies when a licence is required for an activity that involve depositing or removing a substance or object in the UK Marine Area below the mean high water springs mark.[20]

United States

Regulations (Standards - 29 CFR), Part Number: 1910, Occupational Safety and Health Standards, Subpart: T - Commercial Diving Operations. Standard Number: 1910.424 - SCUBA diving.[21]

Exemptions

  • Scientific diving
  • Search and Rescue (some states, only when there is a reasonable expectation of rescuing a survivor)

References