Product Overview

Summary: This Dive Charter Operations Management Safe Operating Procedure provides a complete framework for planning, running and reviewing commercial dive charter trips safely and efficiently in Australian waters. It integrates WHS obligations, maritime safety, and client service standards into one clear, practical document tailored for dive tourism and charter operators.

Dive charter operations sit at the intersection of marine safety, occupational diving, tourism, and environmental stewardship. This SOP is designed specifically for Australian dive charter businesses that transport paying passengers, manage dive activities from vessels or shore, and must coordinate crew, divers, equipment and environmental conditions in a controlled, repeatable way. It provides a structured approach to trip planning, risk assessment, briefings, in‑water supervision, emergency response and post‑trip review, ensuring that your operations are both commercially efficient and demonstrably compliant with WHS and maritime requirements.

The procedure addresses common pain points for dive charter operators: inconsistent crew practices, variable quality of safety briefings, gaps in emergency preparedness, and the challenge of aligning maritime and workplace safety rules with the expectations of recreational clients. By implementing this SOP, you create a single source of truth for how dive charters are planned, approved, staffed, run and debriefed. It supports safer diving and boating, improves client experience, reduces operational disruptions, and helps your business show regulators, insurers and clients that you operate to a professional, auditable standard.

Key Benefits

• Ensure consistent, professional management of every dive charter from planning through to debrief.
• Reduce the likelihood of diving and boating incidents through structured risk assessment and control measures.
• Demonstrate compliance with Australian WHS, maritime and occupational diving requirements to regulators and insurers.
• Streamline crew training and onboarding by providing clear, role-specific responsibilities and standard work practices.
• Enhance client confidence and repeat business by delivering safe, well-organised and clearly communicated dive experiences.

Who is this for?

• Dive Charter Operators
• Skippers / Masters of Commercial Vessels
• Dive Supervisors
• Dive Instructors and Divemasters
• WHS Managers in Marine Tourism
• Operations Managers – Marine and Adventure Tourism
• Charter Booking and Reservations Coordinators
• Marine Safety Officers
• Business Owners – Dive Shops and Charter Companies

Hazards Addressed

• Drowning and near-drowning incidents during diving and surface activities
• Decompression sickness and barotrauma from inadequate dive planning or supervision
• Entrapment, entanglement and contact with marine life (stings, bites, envenomation)
• Slips, trips and falls on wet decks, ladders and boarding platforms
• Vessel-related hazards including collision, grounding and man overboard events
• Exposure to extreme weather, heat stress, cold stress and sunburn
• Cylinder handling injuries, including crush injuries and strains from manual handling
• Equipment failure or misuse of regulators, BCDs, tanks and emergency oxygen systems
• Fatigue and impaired performance of crew and divers
• Psychological stress and panic in inexperienced or anxious divers

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose, Scope and Application
• 2.0 Definitions and Abbreviations
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities (Owner, Skipper, Dive Supervisor, Divemaster, Deckhand, Crew)
• 4.0 Competency, Licensing and Training Requirements
• 5.0 Regulatory and Standards Compliance Overview
• 6.0 Pre-Charter Planning and Risk Assessment
• 7.0 Vessel Readiness, Equipment Checks and Load Plans
• 8.0 Passenger and Diver Screening (Medical, Certification, Experience)
• 9.0 Site Selection, Weather and Environmental Assessment
• 10.0 Pre-Departure Safety and Dive Briefings
• 11.0 Onboard Operations and Passenger Management
• 12.0 Diving Operations Management (Entry, Descent, Bottom Time, Ascent, Exit)
• 13.0 Supervision Ratios and In-Water Control Measures
• 14.0 Management of Non-Divers, Snorkellers and Mixed-Activity Groups
• 15.0 Emergency Preparedness and Response (Diver Injury, DCS, Man Overboard, Fire, Abandon Ship)
• 16.0 First Aid, Oxygen Administration and Emergency Communications
• 17.0 Environmental Protection and Marine Park Compliance
• 18.0 Post-Dive and Post-Charter Procedures (Headcounts, Logbooks, Incident Reporting)
• 19.0 Equipment Cleaning, Maintenance and Storage
• 20.0 Document Control, Recordkeeping and Continuous Improvement
• 21.0 Appendices (Checklists, Forms, Sample Briefing Scripts, Risk Register Templates)

Legislation & References

• Model Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth)
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Risks of Plant in the Workplace
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: First Aid in the Workplace
• AS/NZS 2299.1 Occupational diving operations – Standard operational practice
• AS/NZS 4801 Occupational health and safety management systems (superseded but still commonly referenced)
• Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law Act 2012
• National Standard for Commercial Vessels (NSCV) – Part C: Design and Construction, and Part F: Special Vessels
• Relevant State/Territory WHS Act and Regulations (e.g. Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW), Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017 (NSW))
• Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) – Environmental Management and Tourism Operator Guidelines (where applicable)