Product Overview

Summary: This Diver Training and Certification SOP sets out a clear, compliant framework for selecting, training, assessing and authorising occupational divers in Australian workplaces. It helps businesses manage the significant risks of working underwater by ensuring only competent, medically fit and properly certified divers are deployed on the job.

Commercial and occupational diving carries some of the highest risk profiles in any industry, with hazards ranging from decompression sickness and entrapment to catastrophic equipment failure. This Diver Training and Certification Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, defensible system for managing who is allowed to dive, how they are trained, and how their competency is maintained over time. It translates complex Australian WHS and diving requirements into clear, practical steps that can be applied consistently across your marine and underwater operations.

The SOP guides you through the full lifecycle of diver competency: from recruitment and pre-employment medicals, through formal training pathways and nationally recognised qualifications, to on-the-job supervision, refresher training, and periodic reassessment. It helps you document that every diver has the right tickets, logged experience, medical clearance and site-specific induction before entering the water. By implementing this procedure, businesses can significantly reduce the likelihood of diving incidents, improve coordination between surface and underwater teams, and demonstrate due diligence to regulators, clients and insurers.

This document is particularly valuable for organisations that engage contractors or operate across multiple sites, where diver competency standards can otherwise become inconsistent. With clear roles, documentation requirements and approval workflows, the SOP supports a robust safety culture while still enabling efficient project delivery in Australian marine, civil, aquaculture and emergency response environments.

Key Benefits

• Ensure only medically fit, properly trained and certified divers are authorised to work on your projects.
• Reduce the risk of serious diving incidents by standardising competency, supervision and refresher training requirements.
• Demonstrate compliance with Australian WHS legislation and relevant diving standards during audits, investigations and client reviews.
• Streamline verification of diver qualifications, medicals and logbooks across multiple sites and contracting arrangements.
• Improve coordination between supervisors, surface attendants and divers through clearly defined roles and communication protocols.

Who is this for?

• Diving Supervisors
• WHS Managers
• Marine Operations Managers
• Construction Project Managers (Marine and Civil)
• Commercial Diving Contractors
• Ports and Harbour Authorities
• Aquaculture Operations Managers
• Emergency Services and Rescue Team Leaders
• Training and Competency Coordinators
• HSE Advisors (Oil and Gas / Offshore)

Hazards Addressed

• Decompression sickness (the bends) and arterial gas embolism due to inadequate training or supervision
• Drowning and near-drowning incidents arising from poor competency or emergency response capability
• Barotrauma and pressure-related injuries from incorrect ascent/descent procedures
• Equipment failure and misuse due to insufficient training on specific diving systems
• Entrapment, entanglement and loss of orientation underwater
• Thermal stress (hypothermia or heat stress) during prolonged dives
• Fatigue-related errors from inadequate rest periods and dive planning
• Psychological stress and panic underwater due to inadequate preparation and emergency drills

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Terminology (Occupational vs Recreational Diving, Competency Levels)
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities (PCBU, Diving Supervisor, Diver, Standby Diver, Attendants)
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Company Policies
• 5.0 Competency Framework and Diver Categories
• 6.0 Entry Requirements and Pre-Employment Screening
• 7.0 Medical Fitness and Periodic Diving Medicals
• 8.0 Training Pathways and Recognised Qualifications
• 9.0 Site-Specific Induction and Familiarisation
• 10.0 Verification of Competency (VOC) and Skills Assessment
• 11.0 Certification, Licensing and Authorisation to Dive
• 12.0 Supervision Requirements and Diver-to-Supervisor Ratios
• 13.0 Refresher Training, Drills and Continuing Professional Development
• 14.0 Dive Logs, Training Records and Documentation Control
• 15.0 Managing Contractors and Third-Party Diver Credentials
• 16.0 Fitness for Duty, Fatigue Management and Alcohol/Drug Requirements
• 17.0 Communication Protocols Between Surface and Divers
• 18.0 Emergency Response Training and Rescue Drills
• 19.0 Non-Conformance, Suspension and Revocation of Diving Authorisation
• 20.0 Review, Audit and Continuous Improvement of Diver Training Program

Legislation & References

• Model Work Health and Safety Regulations (Safe Work Australia), including provisions relating to high risk work and remote or isolated work
• AS/NZS 2299.1: Occupational diving operations – Standard operational practice
• AS/NZS 2299.2: Occupational diving operations – Scientific diving
• AS/NZS 2299.3: Occupational diving operations – Recreational industry diving and snorkelling
• AS/NZS 4801: Occupational health and safety management systems (superseded but still commonly referenced in industry)
• ISO 24801 series: Recreational diving services – Requirements for the training of recreational scuba divers (as informative guidance where applicable)
• State and Territory WHS/OHS Acts and Regulations (e.g. Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and harmonised jurisdictions)
• Relevant regulator guidance on occupational diving (e.g. WorkSafe, SafeWork or WHS regulator diving guidance notes in each jurisdiction)