Supervision for diving and snorkelling

Supervision must be provided for the diving activity being undertaken. Persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) must ensure there are adequate numbers of workers able to undertake specific supervisory duties who:

• are competent to undertake their duties
• have the necessary health and fitness
• are properly equipped
• are trained both individually and as part of a team to undertake their duties at the specific dive or snorkel sites.

Supervision procedures should be developed in consultation with workers and should be documented along with the responsibilities of each appointed member of the dive team and associated workers, such as a vessel master.

Recreational diving and snorkelling

Anytime that there is a person diving or snorkelling as part of a recreational activity then there must be at a minimum a single dedicated lookout who remains solely engaged in supervising participants. Depending on the environmental conditions and the number and ability of participants there may need to be more than one lookout.

In-water supervision should be provided for non-certified and entry level certificate divers . Ratios for the number of divers per instructor should be determined by the training agency standards and the environmental conditions. When determining ratios the instructor should also consider the abilities of the divers participating.

Non-certified divers must be continually observed with only brief, periodic interruptions needed to lead the dive and provide assistance to individual divers. Whilst the maximum ratio of 4:1 can be increased with the use of a certified assistant to 6:2, operators should give careful consideration to the abilities of workers and participants before adopting these ratios. If the risk assessment indicates that environmental conditions and the abilities of the participants puts the health and safety of the participants at an unacceptable risk then the ratios should be reviewed. Reducing ratios following a risk assessment should result in in the dive instructor and the non-certified divers maintaining physical contact throughout the dive. This may include:

• holding hands
• linking arms
• holding tank valves.

Entry level certificate divers and those participating in continuing education should be observed in-water by an instructor. The instructor (and any certified assistants) should always be aware of the location of all divers so that they can be readily helped if they require assistance.

Following an assessment of certified divers, they may be permitted to dive in buddy pairs after a thorough site briefing. However, if the assessment determines that the dive is outside of certified diver’s abilities or medical fitness then they should be provided with in-water supervision by an instructor or certified assistant. The ratio of guide to participants should be determined by the environmental conditions and abilities of the divers. The guide should be able to observe all participants at any point during the dive. Dive buddies should swim in close proximity to each other.

At risk snorkellers should be provided with additional controls to assist them with the activity. An in-water snorkel guide is one of the best control measures to ensure the health and safety of snorkelling participants. Snorkel guides should take additional flotation (such as a life ring) to provide a mobile rest station for snorkellers. When determining the number of snorkellers per guide the supervisor should consider the environmental conditions and the anticipated abilities of the participants.

Recreational dive and snorkel supervisor responsibilities

A supervisor should manage the snorkelling/diving operation whilst snorkelling/diving is taking place and remain at the surface. The supervisor appointed to the dive site should be able to:

• swim and snorkel
• help and advise snorkellers/divers as they enter and exit the water
• effectively instruct snorkellers/divers and other people so that necessary information is delivered in a manner that enhances understanding and increases the likelihood of directions being followed
• recognise changes to risks because of snorkeller/diver abilities and behaviour and/or environmental conditions
• recognise hazards and risks of the marine environment.

Occupational diving (high risk diving work)

The dive supervisor's role is crucial in ensuring that high risk diving work is undertaken safely and efficiently by continually monitoring dive site conditions and activities. They should also be able to minimise any developing risks. This includes the implementation and control of diving emergency procedures.

Appointments of dive supervisors should be made in writing. The appointment should define the scope of control of the dive supervisor. The scope of control should cover the duration of the appointment and should also specify the number of divers or dive teams being supervised.

A dive supervisor may supervise more than one diver at the same time. A dive supervisor may also work as a diver. More than one person may be appointed as a dive supervisor by a PCBU at a diving workplace. However, at any given time when diving is taking place, one person should be clearly nominated as the dive supervisor for that dive.

Occupational diving (general diving work)

It is preferable that the dive supervisor remains on the surface at the dive site to supervise the diving work, although circumstances may occur where the dive supervisor cannot perform these duties personally. In these circumstances the duties of the dive supervisor, such as making the dive plan, completing the dive safety log or counting those on board the vessel, may be delegated to other persons able to undertake those duties. However the appointed dive supervisor remains as the overall supervisor for the diving work being undertaken.

The PCBU should ensure that all parties are aware of their duties and that these are recorded on the dive plan. The PCBU should also ensure that there are systems in place to allow the dive supervisor to monitor any delegated duties.