Product Overview

Summary: This Diving Equipment Inspection Safe Operating Procedure sets out a clear, step-by-step system for checking, testing and maintaining diving gear before, during and after use. It helps Australian businesses manage high-risk diving operations with confidence, reducing the likelihood of equipment failure underwater and supporting compliance with WHS and commercial diving requirements.

Diving operations are classified as high-risk work under Australian WHS law, and equipment failure underwater can have catastrophic consequences within seconds. This SOP provides a structured, repeatable process for inspecting all critical diving equipment, including breathing apparatus, regulators, buoyancy control devices, harnesses, cylinders, communications systems and emergency equipment. It guides your team through pre-dive, in-water and post-dive inspection regimes so that defects are identified and rectified before they become life-threatening issues.

Developed specifically for Australian workplaces that conduct commercial, scientific or occupational diving, this procedure helps you bridge the gap between legislative obligations and day-to-day practice. It standardises inspection criteria across teams, supports accurate maintenance records, and provides clear acceptance and rejection thresholds for key components. By implementing this SOP, businesses can demonstrate due diligence, improve diver confidence, minimise unplanned downtime due to equipment issues, and reduce the risk of regulatory scrutiny following an incident.

Key Benefits

• Ensure diving equipment is inspected consistently before, during and after operations, reducing the likelihood of in-water failures.
• Reduce the risk of serious injury or fatality by identifying defects in life-support and emergency systems before they are used.
• Demonstrate compliance with Australian WHS and diving-related standards through documented inspection and maintenance records.
• Standardise inspection and sign-off processes across supervisors, shifts and work sites, improving operational reliability.
• Support more effective training and competency assessment for divers and supervisors in equipment inspection and fault reporting.

Who is this for?

• Diving Supervisors
• Commercial Divers
• Scientific Divers
• Dive Safety Officers
• WHS Managers
• Marine Operations Managers
• Aquaculture Site Supervisors
• Emergency Response Team Leaders
• Diving Equipment Technicians
• Training Coordinators for Diving Operations

Hazards Addressed

• Failure of breathing apparatus or gas supply underwater
• Regulator malfunction or free-flow events
• Cylinder valve, O-ring or hose failures under pressure
• BCDs or harnesses failing to provide adequate buoyancy or secure attachment
• Loss of communications between diver and surface support
• Failure of emergency gas supply (bail-out systems) or signalling devices
• Entrapment or entanglement due to poorly maintained lines, tethers or accessories
• Contaminated breathing gas due to inadequate inspection of cylinders and filling connections
• Inadequate visibility or lighting caused by faulty dive lights or power supplies
• Injury during handling of heavy or pressurised equipment due to unnoticed defects

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Applicable Diving Activities
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities (Divers, Supervisors, Technicians, WHS)
• 4.0 Competency and Training Requirements for Inspectors
• 5.0 Equipment Covered by this SOP
• 6.0 Pre-Dive Inspection Checklist and Criteria
• 7.0 In-Water Operational Checks and Monitoring
• 8.0 Post-Dive Inspection, Cleaning and Storage Requirements
• 9.0 Inspection Frequencies and Scheduled Maintenance Intervals
• 10.0 Defect Identification, Tag-Out and Removal From Service
• 11.0 Gas Cylinders, Filling Connections and Pressure-Related Checks
• 12.0 Documentation, Records and Inspection Forms
• 13.0 Hazard Identification and Risk Controls for Diving Equipment
• 14.0 Emergency Procedures for Equipment Failure Underwater
• 15.0 Review, Audit and Continuous Improvement of the SOP

Legislation & References

• Model Work Health and Safety Regulations (Safe Work Australia) – High Risk Work and Diving Work provisions
• AS/NZS 2299.1: Occupational diving operations – Standard operational practice
• AS/NZS 2299.3: Occupational diving operations – Scientific diving
• AS 3848 series: Filling of portable gas cylinders
• AS/NZS 1715: Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment
• AS/NZS 4801: Occupational health and safety management systems
• Relevant state and territory WHS legislation and diving codes of practice (e.g. Queensland Recreational and Technical Diving Code of Practice where applicable)