Product Overview

Summary: This Diving Operations Safe Operating Procedure sets out a clear, step-by-step framework for planning and conducting commercial diving work safely in Australian waters. It helps businesses control the significant risks associated with underwater work, ensuring compliance with WHS laws while protecting divers, tenders, supervisors and the public.

Diving work is among the highest-risk activities undertaken in marine, construction, aquaculture and infrastructure environments. Even a small lapse in planning, communication or equipment checks can have catastrophic consequences underwater. This Diving Operations Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, defensible process for safely managing all phases of diving work in Australia—from initial risk assessment and dive planning through to mobilisation, execution, emergency response and post-dive review. It supports PCBU obligations under WHS legislation and aligns with recognised diving standards so your organisation can demonstrate due diligence when engaging or managing dive teams.

The SOP is designed to bring consistency and control to diving operations that may otherwise rely heavily on individual experience or informal practices. It sets out clear roles for the diving supervisor, divers and surface support personnel; prescribes pre-dive checks, communication protocols and decompression management; and establishes robust incident and near-miss reporting requirements. By implementing this procedure, businesses can reduce the likelihood of serious harm, avoid costly project disruptions, and provide clear, practical guidance to both in-house and contracted diving personnel. It is suitable for a wide range of diving activities, including inspection, maintenance, construction, salvage, scientific research and aquaculture operations in Australian jurisdictions.

Key Benefits

• Ensure diving operations are planned and executed in line with Australian WHS legislation and recognised diving standards.
• Reduce the risk of serious incidents such as decompression illness, entrapment, drowning and barotrauma through structured controls.
• Standardise dive planning, pre-dive checks and communications across all projects and locations.
• Demonstrate due diligence to regulators, clients and insurers through documented, auditable procedures.
• Improve team coordination and emergency preparedness with clearly defined roles, escalation paths and response actions.

Who is this for?

• Diving Supervisors
• Commercial Divers
• Dive Team Leaders
• Marine Construction Managers
• Ports and Harbours Operations Managers
• Aquaculture Operations Managers
• Civil and Marine Engineering Project Managers
• WHS Managers and Advisors
• Emergency Response Coordinators
• Defence and Government Marine Operations Coordinators

Hazards Addressed

• Drowning and loss of breathing gas supply
• Decompression sickness and arterial gas embolism
• Nitrogen narcosis and oxygen toxicity (for certain dive profiles and gas mixes)
• Entrapment, entanglement and restricted access underwater
• Loss of communication between diver and surface
• Equipment failure (regulators, umbilicals, harnesses, helmets, masks)
• Impact and crush injuries from vessels, plant, structures and moving loads
• Hypothermia, hyperthermia and thermal stress in varying water conditions
• Poor visibility and disorientation in turbid or low-light environments
• Marine life hazards including bites, stings and contact with sharp or contaminated surfaces
• Fatigue and reduced performance from repetitive or prolonged diving
• Manual handling injuries during mobilisation, demobilisation and handling of heavy dive equipment
• Exposure to contaminated water, chemicals or biological hazards

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose, Scope and Application
• 2.0 Definitions and Regulatory Context
• 3.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Competency Requirements
• 4.0 Pre-Job Planning and Risk Assessment
• 5.0 Dive Plan Development and Approval
• 6.0 Equipment Requirements, Inspection and Maintenance
• 7.0 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Diving Gear
• 8.0 Site Assessment, Environmental Conditions and Exclusion Zones
• 9.0 Pre-Dive Briefing, Checks and Communications Testing
• 10.0 Diving Operations – Step-by-Step Procedure
• 11.0 Decompression Management, Bottom Time and Surface Intervals
• 12.0 Working with Vessels, Plant and Other Concurrent Activities
• 13.0 Emergency Preparedness and Response Procedures
• 14.0 Incident, Near Miss and Equipment Failure Reporting
• 15.0 Post-Dive Debrief, Documentation and Record Keeping
• 16.0 Training, Induction and Competency Verification
• 17.0 Review, Audit and Continuous Improvement of Diving Operations

Legislation & References

• Model Work Health and Safety Regulations (particularly 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 1715: Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment
• AS/NZS 4801: Occupational health and safety management systems (noting many organisations now align with ISO 45001)
• Safe Work Australia – General Diving Work Code of Practice (where adopted by jurisdiction, e.g. QLD, NSW variants)
• Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law and associated Marine Orders (for vessel-based diving operations)
• Relevant State and Territory WHS Acts and Regulations (e.g. Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and associated Regulations)