Practical guidance
Practical, source-linked guides that compare what different regulators ask for.
How to read this page: four kinds of statement
- Law Law / regulation
- Legislation: Acts, regulations and statutory instruments. It has the force of law in its jurisdiction.
- ACOP / code Approved Code of Practice or code with legal status
- A code the law itself gives special status (for example an HSE Approved Code of Practice). Following it is one way of complying; alternatives must be at least as good.
- Guidance Regulator or industry guidance
- Guidance, industry codes and standards. No legal force by itself, although clients, contracts or regulators may call it up.
- Explanation Marine Deep explanation
- Our own plain-English explanation. It is not a requirement and not legal advice.
Every law, code and guidance statement links to its primary source. Read the source before relying on it: our summary is not a substitute.
- How long to keep diving records: retention periods by jurisdiction
Diving operation record and dive log retention periods in UK, US (OSHA and Coast Guard) and Canadian regulations, each linked to the regulation.
- What goes in a diving operation record
The particulars regulators expect in a diving operation record or dive log: HSE's approved particulars, OSHA and Coast Guard record content, Canadian and Dutch logbooks.
- Dive project plans and dive plans: what regulators ask for
What the regulations say a dive project plan or dive plan must be based on and contain, with each point linked to its source.
- Qualifications and medical certificates
Diver qualifications, medical fitness and certification schemes.
- Equipment examination and certification
Equipment checks, testing and inspection schemes.
- Audits, inspections and client reviews
What auditors and inspectors look at, and the sources behind it.