Product Overview

Summary: This Diving in Strong Currents Safe Operating Procedure sets out clear, practical controls for planning and conducting dives in high‑energy water conditions. It helps Australian dive operations protect workers, clients and contractors from current-related incidents while demonstrating robust compliance with WHS and relevant diving standards.

Diving in strong currents is inherently high-risk, with rapidly changing conditions, increased physical exertion and a higher likelihood of separation, entanglement and rapid gas consumption. This Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, step-by-step framework for assessing conditions, planning dives, briefing teams and executing tasks safely in rivers, tidal channels, surf zones and other high‑flow environments common around Australia’s coastline and inland waterways. It is designed to support both commercial and occupational diving activities, including inspection, construction, aquaculture, scientific research and training dives.

The SOP translates WHS duties into practical field controls: from pre‑dive current assessment and equipment selection, to in‑water communication protocols, surface support requirements and emergency response for lost divers or uncontrolled drifts. It addresses typical Australian scenarios such as tidal races, harbour entrances, bar crossings and river outfalls, and helps businesses show due diligence by documenting how strong‑current hazards are identified, controlled and reviewed. By implementing this procedure, organisations can standardise safe work practices across teams, reduce incident rates, and provide clear evidence of risk management to regulators, clients and insurers.

Key Benefits

• Ensure a consistent, defensible approach to managing strong‑current diving risks across all sites and projects.
• Reduce the likelihood of diver separation, exhaustion, decompression issues and current‑related incidents.
• Demonstrate compliance with Australian WHS legislation and relevant diving standards during audits or investigations.
• Improve planning, communication and coordination between dive teams and surface support vessels.
• Enhance training, competence and confidence of divers operating in challenging current conditions.

Who is this for?

• Dive Supervisors
• Occupational Divers
• Scientific Divers
• Commercial Diving Contractors
• Dive Instructors and Dive Masters
• WHS Managers in Marine and Aquatic Operations
• Maritime and Ports Safety Coordinators
• Aquaculture Operations Managers
• Emergency Response and Rescue Divers
• Underwater Construction and Inspection Supervisors

Hazards Addressed

• Diver being swept away or separated from the team or shot line
• Uncontrolled drift into vessel traffic, surf zones, structures or hazardous areas
• Excessive physical exertion leading to fatigue, cramps or medical emergencies
• Rapid gas consumption and out‑of‑air situations due to high workload
• Entrapment or entanglement on fixed structures, nets, lines or seabed features in fast water
• Difficulty maintaining depth or position, increasing risk of rapid ascents or descents
• Reduced visibility from stirred‑up sediment and turbulence in strong currents
• Impaired communication between divers and surface support due to distance and water movement
• Collisions with piers, pylons, rock walls or underwater infrastructure
• Hypothermia and cold stress exacerbated by sustained exertion in moving water

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Strong‑Current Criteria
• 3.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Competency Requirements
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Codes of Practice
• 5.0 Pre‑Dive Planning and Risk Assessment for Strong Currents
• 6.0 Environmental and Current Assessment (Tides, Weather, River Flow, Visibility)
• 7.0 Equipment Requirements and Configuration for Strong‑Current Diving
• 8.0 Surface Support, Vessel Requirements and Diver Tracking Systems
• 9.0 Dive Briefing, Communication Protocols and Hand Signals
• 10.0 Entry, Descent and Ascent Procedures in Strong Currents
• 11.0 In‑Water Work Techniques and Positioning (Use of Shot Lines, Tethers and Grab Lines)
• 12.0 Gas Management and Workload Control in High‑Flow Conditions
• 13.0 Buddy System, Line‑Tender and Lost Diver Procedures
• 14.0 Emergency Response and Rescue in Fast‑Moving Water
• 15.0 Post‑Dive Decompression Management, Debrief and Incident Reporting
• 16.0 Training, Drills and Competency Verification
• 17.0 Review, Audit and Continuous Improvement of the Procedure

Legislation & References

• Model Work Health and Safety Regulations (Safe Work Australia), Part 4.8 – Diving Work
• AS/NZS 2299.1 Occupational diving operations – Standard operational practice
• AS/NZS 4801 Occupational health and safety management systems (superseded but still referenced in many systems)
• ISO 24801 and ISO 24802 (for alignment with diver training and competence, where applicable)
• Relevant State and Territory Work Health and Safety legislation and diving codes of practice (e.g. Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017 (NSW) – Diving work)
• Marine Safety (domestic commercial vessel) National Law Act 2012 and associated Marine Orders for vessel-based dive operations