Product Overview

Summary: This Freediving Regulations Safe Operating Procedure sets out a clear, enforceable framework for conducting freediving activities safely and legally in Australian waters. It translates regulatory requirements and best-practice diving standards into practical steps for planning, supervising, and controlling freediving operations in workplaces, training environments, and tourism settings.

Freediving carries inherent risks that can quickly become life-threatening if not tightly controlled, particularly where activities are organised as part of work, training, tourism or club operations. This Freediving Regulations Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, WHS-aligned approach to planning and running freediving sessions, from initial risk assessment and competency checks through to in-water supervision, emergency response and post-activity review. It bridges the gap between high-level legislation, diving standards and the day-to-day realities of managing students, customers and staff in dynamic aquatic environments.

The SOP helps Australian businesses and organisations demonstrate that they have taken reasonably practicable steps to manage foreseeable freediving hazards such as shallow water blackout, barotrauma, marine conditions and vessel interaction. By standardising procedures across your operations, it supports consistent decision-making by skippers, instructors and guides, reduces reliance on informal practices, and provides documented evidence of due diligence in the event of an incident or regulator enquiry. Whether you operate in open ocean, coastal environments, inland waterways or pools, this SOP gives you a defensible framework for safe freediving activities under Australian WHS expectations.

Key Benefits

• Ensure structured compliance with Australian WHS duties for high-risk aquatic and diving activities.
• Reduce the likelihood and severity of freediving incidents such as blackout, barotrauma and lost diver events.
• Standardise supervision ratios, depth limits and competency requirements across all freediving programs.
• Demonstrate due diligence to regulators, insurers and clients through clear, documented procedures.
• Support consistent training and induction of instructors, deck crew and safety divers in safe freediving practices.

Who is this for?

• Dive Centre Owners and Managers
• Freediving Instructors
• Outdoor and Adventure Activity Coordinators
• Tour and Charter Boat Operators
• WHS Managers and Safety Advisors
• Sports and Recreation Program Managers
• Aquatic Facility Managers
• School and University Outdoor Education Coordinators
• Club and Association Committee Members (Freediving and Spearfishing)
• Risk and Compliance Managers in Marine Tourism

Hazards Addressed

• Shallow water blackout and hypoxic loss of consciousness
• Drowning and near-drowning incidents
• Barotrauma and pressure-related injuries (ears, sinuses, lungs)
• Cold stress, hypothermia and heat-related illness
• Strong currents, surf, tides and changing weather conditions
• Boat strike and vessel interaction during entry, exit and surface intervals
• Entanglement or entrapment in lines, buoys, nets or underwater structures
• Collisions with other water users (swimmers, surfers, divers, personal watercraft)
• Dehydration and fatigue leading to impaired judgement and performance
• Inadequate emergency response and delayed rescue due to poor communication or planning

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Regulatory Context
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities (PCBU, Skipper, Freediving Instructor, Safety Diver, Participants)
• 4.0 Competency, Training and Medical Fitness Requirements
• 5.0 Planning Freediving Activities (Site Selection, Weather and Environmental Assessment)
• 6.0 Risk Assessment and Control Measures for Freediving Operations
• 7.0 Equipment Requirements (Masks, Fins, Lanyards, Floats, Communication and First Aid)
• 8.0 Supervision Requirements and Ratios
• 9.0 Depth Limits, Bottom Time and Surface Interval Controls
• 10.0 Pre-Activity Briefing and Participant Induction
• 11.0 In-Water Operating Procedures (Buddy Systems, Line Use, Surface Protocols)
• 12.0 Vessel-Based Operations (Entry/Exit, Lookout Duties, Propeller and Traffic Controls)
• 13.0 Environmental and Marine Life Considerations
• 14.0 Emergency Response Procedures (Blackout, Missing Diver, Injury, Deteriorating Conditions)
• 15.0 Incident Reporting, Debriefing and Corrective Actions
• 16.0 Documentation, Recordkeeping and Review
• 17.0 Monitoring, Audit and Continuous Improvement

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and corresponding state and territory WHS Acts
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 and corresponding state and territory WHS Regulations
• Safe Work Australia – Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice
• Safe Work Australia – How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice
• AS/NZS 2299.1: Occupational diving operations – Standard operational practice (as a reference for diving risk management principles)
• AS 2416: Design and application of water safety signs
• Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law and associated Marine Orders (for commercial vessels supporting freediving operations)
• Relevant state and territory marine safety and boating regulations
• Royal Life Saving Society Australia and Surf Life Saving Australia aquatic safety guidelines (as industry best practice references)