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Diving at Work Regulations 1997

List of approved qualifications

Contents

Guidance on this document

Document status

This document contains regulatory requirements; it is not a guidance leaflet.

Document title

This document shall be known as: "List of Approved Diving Qualifications dated 1 May 2009".

Approved qualifications

Under regulation 14(1) of the Diving at Work Regulations 1997 (DWR)(1), the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) may approve in writing such qualification as it considers suitable for the purpose of ensuring the adequate competence of divers for the purposes of regulation 12(1)(a). Under regulation 14(2), HSE's approval may be limited to any diver or class of divers, or any dive or class of dive, and may be subject to conditions or limited to time. Approvals generally come into force on the date that they are signed and remain in force until such time as they are revoked in writing by a person authorised in that regard by the Health and Safety Executive.

Duties of and restrictions on divers

Under regulation 12(1)(a), no diver shall dive in a diving project unless he/she has an approved qualification which is valid for any activity he/she may reasonably expect to carry out while taking part in the diving project. An exception to this is where the dive is part of training which, if successfully completed, would lead to the issue of an approved qualification (regulation 12(2)(a)).

Duties of the diving contractor

Under regulation 6(3)(a), the diving contractor shall ensure that there are sufficient people with suitable competence to carry out safely and without risk to health both the diving project and any action (including the giving of first-aid) which may be necessary in the event of a reasonably foreseeable emergency connected with the diving project.

Suitable competence

The inclusion of a particular diving qualification in this list does not mean that a person holding that qualification is necessarily competent to carry out every type of diving work falling within the relevant class of diving. The qualification must be appropriate to:

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HSE's CMAS equivalence table

Recreational qualifications are acceptable for some specific classes of diving. These are CMAS (Confédération Mondiale des Activitiés Subaquatiques (World Confederation of Underwater Activities)) qualifications or their equivalent where a particular Recreational Agency/Organisation is not a CMAS member.

HSE has produced a table of equivalencies. Only CMAS 2*, and 3* equivalences are listed as only these are quoted in the list of approved diving qualifications. Qualifications within a particular agency/organisation that are higher than those listed are therefore acceptable.

Recreational Agency/Organisation CMAS 2* equivalence CMAS 3* equivalence
American Nitrox Divers International UK Ltd - (ANDI) Rescue Diver Divemaster 
British Sub-Aqua Club - (BS-AC) Dive Leader & Sports Diver Advanced Diver
Global Underwater Explorers (UK) Ltd - (GUE) Not applicable All GUE qualifications
International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers UK - (IANTD) Rescue Diver Divemaster
International Technical Diving Agency (ITDA UK) Ltd - (ITDA) Advanced Nitrox Diver Extended Range Nitrox Diver
National Association of SCUBA Educators UK - (NASE) Rescue Diver & Advanced Rescue Diver Divemaster
National Association of Underwater Instructors UK - (NAUI) Master Scuba Diver Divemaster
Professional Association of Diving Instructors International Ltd - (PADI) Rescue Diver Dive Master
Professional SCUBA Association International (Europe) - (PSAI) Advanced Deep Air Level 1 Advanced Deep Air Level 2
Sub-Aqua Association - (SAA) Dive Leader & Club Diver Dive Supervisor
Scottish Sub-Aqua Club - (SS-AC) Diver 1st Class Diver & Master Diver
SCUBA Diving International (UK) - (SDI) Rescue Diver Divemaster
SCUBA Schools International GB Ltd - (SSI) Master Diver & Advanced Open Water Diver Dive Control Specialist
Technical Diving International (UK) - (TDI) Advanced Nitrox Extended Range

The above list is not a comparison of qualifications from one agency/organisation to another. Neither does it automatically grant any rights to persons wishing to use their current qualification to gain a qualification with another agency/organisation. Crossover requirements are entirely at the discretion of the agency/organisation to which the person is applying.

SI 2007/2781 The European Communities (Recognition of Professional Qualifications) Regulations 2007 – [European Communities Directive 2005/36EC Recognition of Professional Qualifications]

If you are a citizen of a member state of the European Community and have a diving qualification that is not included on this list, you may apply to work as a diver in British waters, under the Directive 2005/36EC (Recognition of Professional Qualifications).

E mail cathy.uprichard@hse.gsi.gov.uk with details of your diving qualifications.

Using combinations of approved diving qualifications

Some classes of diving allow for combinations of approved diving qualifications. Only those combinations listed are approved.

HSE clarification note

Text between [     ] is intended as an HSE clarification note showing the HSE equivalent.  The text is therefore not likely to appear as part of the official qualification title.

How to obtain copies of the list

The list is available from: HSE, Diving Operations Strategy Team, Ground Floor - South Wing, Rose Court, 2 Southwark Bridge, London SE1 9HS (tel no: 020 7717 6757) and also published on the internet: http://www.hse.gov.uk/diving/information.htm

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The Approval

Diving At Work Regulations 1997

Approved Qualifications Under Regulation 14(1)

On behalf of the Health and Safety Executive I hereby approve under regulation 14 of the Diving at Work Regulations 1997 (“DWR”)(2) the diving qualifications specified in Schedules 1 to 8 of this document, for the purpose of ensuring the adequate competence of divers for the purposes of regulation 12(1)(a) of DWR.

The list of approved qualifications as of 1 May 2007 is revoked and this approval shall come into operation on the date on which it is signed and shall remain in force until such time as it is revoked in writing by a person authorised in that regard by the Health and Safety Executive.

Date:   1 May 2009

C J Sherman

A person authorised to perform functions under Regulation 14 of the Diving at Work Regulations 1997 on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive

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Schedule 1 - Offshore diving

The class of Offshore Diving(3) is defined as all diving:

  1. at sea outside the United Kingdom territorial sea adjacent to Great Britain (generally 12 nautical miles from the low water line) which is covered by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (Application outside Great Britain) Order 2001(4). This will include all diving operations in UK designated areas of the continental shelf undertaken in connection with offshore installations, wells and pipeline works, and with those parts of mines which extend outside the 12-mile limit;
  2. at sea off, or in connection with, offshore installations and pipeline works within the 12-mile limit;
  3. where closed bell or saturation diving techniques are used;
  4. from vessels maintaining station by the use of dynamic positioning.

HSE approves the following qualifications for Offshore Diving

For Closed Bell Diving or Saturation Diving Techniques:

Great Britain

Australia

Canada

France

Netherlands

Norway

South Africa

Spain

Sweden

For Surface Supplied, Surface-Orientated Diving Techniques to a maximum depth of 50 metres:

All those qualifications listed under 1 above (for Closed Bell Diving or Saturation Diving Techniques), plus:

Great Britain

Australia

Canada

Denmark

France

Netherlands

Northern Ireland(5)

Norway

South Africa

Spain

Sweden

In addition, the following qualifications may be used for Surface Supplied, Surface-Orientated Diving Techniques to a maximum depth of 50 metres, but only if the diver also holds the HSE surface supplied (top-up) qualification:

Great Britain

Australia

Belgium

Finland

Germany

Ireland

Italy

Portugal

Spain

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Schedule 2 - Inland/Inshore diving

The class of Inland/Inshore Diving(8) is defined as diving in support of civil engineering or marine-related projects and fish farming:

  1. inshore within United Kingdom territorial sea adjacent to Great Britain (generally 12 nautical miles from the low water line) which is covered by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (Application outside Great Britain) Order 2001(9)
  2. inland in Great Britain including in docks, harbours, rivers, culverts, canals, lakes, ponds, reservoirs and tanks other than (c) below;
  3. inland in Great Britain in a tank or pool artificially constructed for the purpose of swimming, diving or use as an aquarium;

but does not include diving:

  1. deeper than 50 metres;
  2. at sea off, or in connection with, offshore installations and pipeline works within the 12-mile limit;
  3. where closed bell or saturation diving techniques are used;
  4. from vessels maintaining station by the use of dynamic positioning;

for which a qualification for the class of Offshore Diving is required.

HSE approves the following qualifications for the class of Inland/Inshore Diving.

All those qualifications listed for Offshore Diving, plus:

Great Britain

The following UK Military Diving Qualification(10)):

Australia

Belgium

Canada(13)

Denmark

Finland

France

Germany

Italy

Ireland

Netherlands

Northern Ireland(14)

Norway

Portugal

South Africa

Spain

Sweden

HSE approves the following additional qualifications for the class of Inland/Inshore Diving.

In Benign Pools, Tanks or Aquariums(15), which is defined as diving inland in Great Britain in a tank or pool artificially constructed for the purpose of swimming or diving or use as an aquarium, where the diver is in full view from the surface at all times, and where no entanglement or entrapment hazards are present:

Recreational

In support of Helicopter Underwater Escape Training (HUET)(16), which is defined as inland in Great Britain in a tank or pool artificially constructed for the purpose of swimming or diving, and for standby and rescue purposes in connection with helicopter underwater escape trainers and modular egress training simulators (HUET/METS):

Recreational

In the preparation of underwater locations for Media purposes that require engineering and construction skills or the handling or use of explosives:

Great Britain

In support of Hyperbaric Chamber Diving for the purposes of Familiarisation and Training:

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Schedule 3 - Shellfish diving

The class of Shellfish Diving(22) is defined as diving for shellfish:

  1. inshore within United Kingdom territorial sea adjacent to Great Britain (generally 12 nautical miles from the low water line) which is covered by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (Application outside Great Britain) Order 2001(23);
  2. inland in Great Britain including in rivers, lakes, ponds and reservoirs;

but does not include diving:

  1. deeper than 50 metres;
  2. where closed bell or saturation diving techniques are used;
  3. from vessels maintaining station by the use of dynamic positioning;

for which a qualification for the class of Offshore Diving is required.

HSE approves the following qualifications for the class of Shellfish Diving.

All those qualifications listed under Offshore and Inland/Inshore Diving, plus:

Great Britain

Recreational

France

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Schedule 4 - Scientific and archaeological diving

The class of Scientific and Archaeological Diving(25) is defined as diving inland in Great Britain and inshore within United Kingdom territorial sea adjacent to Great Britain (generally 12 nautical miles from the low water line) which is covered by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (Application outside Great Britain) Order 2001(26), in support of:

  1. archaeology including:
    1. investigation of sites of historic interest;
    2. investigation of the analysis of physical remains;
    3. the recovery from such sites of articles for preservation and further analysis(27);
    4. education instruction;
  2. scientific research or scientific educational instruction;

but does not include diving:

  1. where closed bell or saturation diving techniques are used;
  2. from vessels maintaining station by the use of dynamic positioning;

for which a qualification for the class of Offshore Diving is required.

HSE approves the following qualifications for the class of Scientific and Archaeological Diving.

All those qualifications listed under Offshore and Inland/Inshore Diving, plus:

Recreational

European

France

Norway

HSE approves the following additional qualifications for the class of Scientific and Archaeological Diving:

In Benign Pools, Tanks or Aquariums(29), which is defined as diving inland in Great Britain in a tank or pool artificially constructed for the purpose of swimming or diving or use as an aquarium, where the diver is in full view from the surface at all times, and where no entanglement or entrapment hazards are present:

Recreational

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Schedule 5 - Media diving

The class of Media Diving(30) is defined as diving inland in Great Britain and inshore within United Kingdom territorial sea adjacent to Great Britain (generally 12 nautical miles from the low water line) which is covered by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (Application outside Great Britain) Order 2001(31) in support of underwater work by media divers(32) but does not include diving:

  1. to prepare underwater locations that require engineering and construction skills or the handling or use of explosives, for which a qualification for the class of Inshore/Inland Diving is required;
  2. where closed bell or saturation diving techniques are to be used, for which a qualification for the class of Offshore Diving is required;
  3. from vessels maintaining station by the use of dynamic positioning, for which a qualification for the class of Offshore Diving is required.

HSE approves the following qualifications for the class of Media Diving.

All those qualifications listed under Offshore and Inland/Inshore Diving, plus:

Great Britain

France

HSE approves the following additional qualifications for the class of Media Diving.

Where the divers are actors and performers and their associated safety divers(34) (including stunt divers and presenters) who regularly dive as part of their work, and who are taking part in a live performance or the recording of a performance(35)

Recreational

In Benign Pools, Tanks or Aquariums(36), which is defined as inland in Great Britain in a tank or pool artificially constructed for the purpose of swimming or diving or use as an aquarium, where the diver is in full view from the surface at all times, where no entanglement or entrapment hazards are present, with no interference from other activities, no scenery or set, and where the diver does not have any specially adapted diving equipment and/or specialist production equipment rigged on them whilst diving (the specialist production equipment rigged on the diver includes sound, lights and cameras):

Recreational

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Schedule 6 - Recreational diving

The class of Recreational Diving(37) is defined as diving inland in Great Britain and inshore within United Kingdom territorial sea adjacent to Great Britain (generally 12 nautical miles from the low water line) which is covered by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (Application outside Great Britain) Order 2001(38) where the equipment and techniques are confined to free swimming using SCUBA in support of:

  1. the instruction and/or guidance of persons diving for recreational diving, that is diving carried out by a person for recreational purposes whilst not at work;
  2. recreational journalism undertaken for commissions and producing articles, including stills photography, for the recreational diving press only;

but does not include diving:

  1. where closed bell or saturation diving techniques are used;
  2. from vessels maintaining station by the use of dynamic positioning;

for which a qualification for the class of Offshore Diving is required.

HSE approves qualifications issued by the following Recreational Agencies/Organisations for divers wishing to undertake duties as a supervisor, diver, and person engaged in a diving project who dives, which duties are set out in regulations 10, 12, and 13 of the Diving at Work Regulations 1997 respectively:

The approved qualifications issued by the listed Recreational Agencies/Organisations are limited to those, which have been notified to HSE prior to the date of this list.

HSE approves the following additional qualifications for the class of Recreational Diving.

In support of Hyperbaric Chamber Diving for the purposes of Familiarization and Training:

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Schedule 7 - Police Diving

The class of Police Diving(40) is defined as diving inland in Great Britain and inshore within United Kingdom territorial sea adjacent to Great Britain (generally 12 nautical miles from the low water line) which is covered by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (Application outside Great Britain) Order 2001(41) in support of:

  1. diving projects undertaken by constables and civilian employees of a Police Authority in connection with investigations under its statutory undertaking;
  2. diving projects undertaken by constables and civilian employees of a Police Authority on behalf of Crown Agents, HM Customs and Excise and any other agencies in connection with investigations under their statutory undertakings;

but does not include diving:

  1. deeper than 50 metres;
  2. where closed bell or saturation diving techniques are used;
  3. from vessels maintaining station by the use of dynamic positioning;

for which a qualification for the class of Offshore Diving is required.

If it is decided to use divers other than constables and civilian employees of a Police Authority, then the qualifications of such divers are to be those of the relevant approved class of diving.

HSE approves the following qualifications for the class of Police Diving.

All those qualifications listed under Offshore and Inland/Inshore Diving, plus:

Great Britain

France

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Schedule 8 - Military Diving

The class of Military Diving is defined as diving inland in Great Britain and inshore within United Kingdom territorial sea adjacent to Great Britain (generally 12 nautical miles from the low water line) which is covered by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (Application outside Great Britain) Order 2001(42) in support of operations in which members of the armed forces of the Crown or of a visiting force are engaged.

HSE approves the following qualifications for the class of Military Diving.

All members of the armed forces of the Crown and visiting forces authorised to dive in accordance with BR 2806 - UK Military Diving Manual - or equivalent for visiting forces.

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Footnote references

  1. S.I. 1997 No. 2776. [back to 1]
  2. S.I. 1997 No. 2776. [back to 2 ]
  3. See also: Commercial diving projects offshore: Diving at Work Regulations 1997, Approved Code of Practice, ISBN 0 7176 1494 8. [back to 3]
  4. S.I. 2001 No. 2127. [back to 4]
  5. Issued by the Department of Economic Development, Northern Ireland [back to 5]
  6. Certificate includes the text:
    The Royal Navy or Army [title of the course] has been incorporated into the Health and Safety Executive List of Approved Qualifications under Regulation 14(1) of the Diving at Work regulations 1997.
    Note: Some of the course names have minor text variations. [back to 6]
  7. ADAS Part 3 - Restricted certification means the holder has not completed the ADAS wet bell, hot water suit and tool skill modules. [back to 87]
  8. See also Commercial diving projects inland/inshore: Diving at Work Regulations 1997, Approved Code of Practice, ISBN 0 7176 1495 6. [back to 8]
  9. S.I. 2001 No. 2127. [back to 9]
  10. Certificate includes the text:
    The Royal Navy or Army [title of the course] has been incorporated into the Health and Safety Executive List of Approved Qualifications under Regulation 14(1) of the Diving at Work Regulations 1997.
    Note: Some of the course names have minor text variations. [back to 10]
  11. Certificate includes the text:
    Competent to perform Aquaculture operations to 30m on SSBA only. [back to 11]
  12. ADAS Part 2 - Restricted certification means the holder has not completed the ADAS tool skill modules. [back to 12]
  13. Surface Supplied divers can conduct dives in SCUBA, only if the reverse of the surface supplied certificate has been endorsed for SCUBA diving. [back to 13]
  14. Issued by the Department of Economic Development, Northern Ireland [back to 14]
  15. See also HSE Information Sheet: Diving Information Sheet No. 8: Diving in benign conditions, and in pools, tanks, auariums, and helicopter underwater escape training. [back to 15]
  16. See also HSE Information Sheet: Diving Information Sheet No. 8: Diving in benign conditions, and in pools, tanks, aquariums, and helicopter underwater escape training. [back to 16]
  17. CMAS 2* - only if diver additionally holds the OPITO HUET/METS qualification certificate. [back to 17]
  18. CMAS 2* - only if diver additionally holds the OPITO HUET/METS qualification certificate. [back to 18]
  19. This qualification was issued for a limited period on the introduction of the Diving at Work Regulations 1997. [back to 19]
  20. Only if the diver is also competent to carry out the appropriate work skills. [back to 20]
  21. Trained to meet the requirements set out in the British Hyperbaric Association publication - Health & Safety for Therapeutic Hperbaric Facilities - A Code of Practice. [back to 21]
  22. See also Guidance Notes for commercial shellfish diving in inshore water obtainable from HSE, Diving Operations Strategy Tam, Ground Floor - South Wing, Rose Court, 2 Southwark Bridge, London SE1 9HS (telephone number: 020 7717 6757) and also published on the internet: http://www.hse.gov.uk/. [back to 22]
  23. S.I. 2001 No. 2127. [back to 23]
  24. This qualification was issued for a limited period on the introduction of the Diving at Work Regulations 1997. [back to 24]
  25. See also Scientific and archaeological diving projects: Diving at Work Regulations 1997, Approved Code of Practice, ISBN 0 7176 1498 0. [back to 25]
  26. S.I. 2001 No. 2127. [back to 26]
  27. The recovery of items other than for scientific or archaeological purposes is likely to be covered by the class of Inland/Inshore Diving. [back to 27]
  28. This qualification was issued for a limited period on the introduction of the Diving at Work Regulations 1997. [back to 28]
  29. See also HSE Information Sheet: Diving Information Sheet No. 8: Diving in benign conditions, and in pools, tanks, aquariums, and helicopter underwater escape training. [back to 29]
  30. See also Media diving projects: Diving at Work Regulations 1997, Approved Code of Practice, ISBN 0 7176 1497 2. [back to 30]
  31. S.I. 2001 No. 2127. [back to 31]
  32. The term "media divers" includes: stunt people, journalists, presenters, photographers, camera operators, sound and lighting technicians, and the unit crew. [back to 32]
  33. This qualification was issued for a limited period on the introduction of the Diving at Work Regulations 1997.[back to 33]
  34. These are in addition to, the standby diver(s) to the unit crew, and are not to be substituted for them (see Media ACoP paragraphs 45-52). [back to 34]
  35. Actors and performing artists whose main work activity does not normally involve diving, and who are taking part in a live performance or the recording of a performance, do not need to hold an HSE approved qualification. However, they must be competent to perform the task required under water (see Media ACoP paragraph 102), and the diving project plan should address what additional measures may be needed in order to protect their health and safety (see Media ACoP paragraph 49). [back to 35]
  36. See also HSE Information Sheet: Diving Information Sheet No. 8: Diving in benign conditions, and in pools, tanks, aquariums, and helicopter underwater escape training. [back to 36 ]
  37. See also Recreational diving projects: Diving at Work Regulations 1997, Approved Code of Practice, ISBN 0 7176 1496 4.[back to 37]
  38. S.I. 2001 No. 2127. [back to 38]
  39. Trained to meet the requirements set out in the British Hyperbaric Association publication - Health & Safety for Therapeutic Hyperbaric Facilities - A Code of Practice. [back to 39]
  40. See also An Approved Code of Practice for Police Diving Projects, Association of Chief Police Officers General Policing and Marine Subcommittee and Health and Safety Commission. [back to 40 ]
  41. S.I. 2001 No. 2127. [back to 41]
  42. S.I. 2001 No 2127 [back to 42]