Product Overview

Summary: This Subsea Operations and Diving Safety Safe Operating Procedure sets out clear, step-by-step requirements for planning and conducting diving and subsea work safely in Australian waters. It helps businesses control the extreme risks associated with underwater operations, align with WHS and maritime regulations, and protect divers, surface crews, and assets from preventable incidents.

Subsea work and occupational diving carry some of the highest risk profiles in the Australian workplace, with hazards ranging from decompression illness and entrapment to vessel collisions and catastrophic equipment failure. This Subsea Operations and Diving Safety SOP provides a structured, defensible framework for planning, approving, and executing diving and subsea activities in line with Australian WHS obligations and industry best practice. It guides duty holders through risk assessment, dive system checks, communications protocols, environmental considerations, and emergency preparedness so that no critical step is left to chance.

Designed for operators in offshore oil and gas, marine construction, ports, defence, aquaculture, and renewable energy, this SOP translates complex regulatory requirements into practical, on-the-job instructions. It addresses surface-supplied and SCUBA operations, integration with ROV and lifting operations, and interface management with vessels and other simultaneous activities. By implementing this procedure, organisations can demonstrate due diligence, standardise their diving practices across projects and contractors, and significantly reduce the likelihood and severity of subsea incidents that can lead to serious harm, reputational damage, and regulatory enforcement.

The document is written to support real-world operations: it includes pre-dive and post-dive checklists, guidance for dive planning meetings and toolbox talks, clear escalation pathways for abnormal situations, and specific controls for visibility, currents, entanglement risks, and contaminated water. It is an essential tool for any business that wants to manage subsea operations systematically, protect its people, and operate confidently within the Australian WHS and maritime regulatory framework.

Key Benefits

• Ensure subsea and diving operations are planned and executed in line with Australian WHS and maritime regulatory requirements.
• Reduce the risk of diver injury or fatality from decompression illness, entrapment, equipment failure, or uncontrolled environmental conditions.
• Standardise diving practices, checklists, and communications across vessels, projects, and contractors for consistent, auditable operations.
• Improve coordination between dive teams, ROV crews, vessel masters, and topside personnel to prevent conflicts and simultaneous operations (SIMOPS) incidents.
• Demonstrate due diligence to regulators, clients, and insurers through a documented, systematic approach to subsea and diving safety.

Who is this for?

• Diving Supervisors
• Offshore Installation Managers (OIMs)
• Marine and Subsea Operations Managers
• WHS and HSE Managers
• Dive Contractors and Project Managers
• ROV Supervisors and Technicians
• Vessel Masters and Deck Supervisors
• Port and Harbour Operations Managers
• Engineering and Maintenance Managers (Oil & Gas, Renewables, Marine Infrastructure)
• Emergency Response Coordinators

Hazards Addressed

• Decompression sickness (DCS) and arterial gas embolism (AGE)
• Nitrogen narcosis and oxygen toxicity
• Loss of breathing gas supply or regulator failure
• Umbilical or lifeline entanglement, snagging, or severance
• Entrapment or entanglement on subsea structures, nets, or debris
• Struck-by incidents from vessels, ROVs, or moving subsea equipment
• Uncontrolled lifting operations and dropped objects subsea
• Exposure to hazardous marine life and contaminated water
• Hypothermia, hyperthermia, and thermal stress in cold or warm waters
• Poor visibility, strong currents, and adverse weather affecting diver control
• Communication failures between diver and surface, or between vessels
• Barotrauma and ear, sinus, or lung injuries from pressure changes
• Fatigue and reduced performance during extended or repetitive dives
• Fire, explosion, or asphyxiation risks in hyperbaric or confined environments
• Manual handling injuries associated with heavy diving gear and launch/recovery systems

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose, Scope and Application
• 2.0 References, Definitions and Abbreviations
• 3.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Competency Requirements
• 4.0 Planning of Subsea and Diving Operations
• 5.0 Risk Assessment and Job Safety Analysis (JSA) for Diving Work
• 6.0 Dive System, Plant and Equipment Requirements
• 7.0 Pre-Dive Checks, Briefings and Authorisation to Dive
• 8.0 Standard Diving Procedures – Surface-Supplied and SCUBA
• 9.0 Integration with ROV, Lifting and Other Simultaneous Operations (SIMOPS)
• 10.0 Communications Protocols and Signals (Underwater and Topside)
• 11.0 Environmental and Operational Limits (Weather, Currents, Visibility)
• 12.0 Decompression Management, Bottom Times and Repetitive Dives
• 13.0 Fatigue Management, Fitness to Dive and Health Monitoring
• 14.0 Contaminated Water and Hazardous Substances Controls
• 15.0 Emergency Response, Rescue Procedures and Evacuation
• 16.0 Incident Reporting, Investigation and Corrective Actions
• 17.0 Training, Induction and Competency Verification
• 18.0 Documentation, Records and Audit Requirements
• 19.0 Review, Continuous Improvement and Change Management
• Appendix A – Pre-Dive and Post-Dive Checklists
• Appendix B – Sample Dive Plan and Risk Assessment Templates
• Appendix C – Standard Hand Signals and Communication Scripts
• Appendix D – Emergency Contact Lists and Decompression Chamber Arrangements

Legislation & References

• Model Work Health and Safety Act and Regulations (as implemented in relevant Australian jurisdictions)
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities
• 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 operations
• AS/NZS 4801: Occupational health and safety management systems (noting superseded status but still commonly referenced in industry)
• ISO 24801/24802 (as informative references for diver competence where applicable)
• Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law and Marine Orders (where operations involve vessels)
• Relevant state/territory WHS Regulations for Diving Work (e.g. Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017 (NSW) – Part relating to diving work)
• AMS A / NOPSEMA guidance for diving and subsea operations in offshore petroleum activities (where applicable)