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What goes in a diving operation record

The record of each diving operation is the paperwork regulators ask about most. What it must contain depends on where you work.

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8 primary sources Law ACOP / code
Sources last checked
28 Sep 2026
Editorial check
28 Sep 2026
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.

Explanation Marine Deep's explanation, not a requirement.

Across jurisdictions the same themes recur: who was on the team and in charge, where and when, what the work was, the diving mode and breathing gas, each diver's times and maximum depth, decompression, equipment checks and defects, and anything that went wrong. The exact list, and who must fill it in, is set by each regulator.

Great Britain (DWR 1997 and HSE approved particulars)

  • LawThe diving contractor must ensure a record containing the particulars approved in writing by HSE is kept for each diving operation. DWR 1997, reg. 6(3)(e), 6(4)
  • LawThe diving contractor must keep each diving operation record for at least two years after its last entry. DWR 1997, reg. 6(3)(f)
  • LawThe supervisor must enter the required particulars in the diving operation record during the operation. DWR 1997, reg. 10(1)(c)
  • LawEvery diver in a diving project must keep a daily record of their diving and hold it for at least two years after the last entry. DWR 1997, reg. 12(3)
  • ACOP / codeHSE's current approval of the required record particulars is dated 20 May 2003 and revoked the list in force from 7 May 1999. HSE DOR particulars, Approval dated 20 May 2003
  • ACOP / codeThe approval sets out required particulars in seven schedules, one per class of diving project: offshore, inland/inshore, shellfish, scientific and archaeological, media, recreational and police. HSE DOR particulars, Approval, Schedules 1–7
  • ACOP / codeHSE says the listed particulars are a minimum and the diving contractor may add further particulars to the record. HSE DOR particulars, Guidance — The required particulars
  • ACOP / codeFor offshore, inland/inshore and similar classes, each supervisor must complete an entry daily for each diving operation, ending with the supervisor's name and signature. HSE DOR particulars, Offshore / inland-inshore particulars

United States

  • LawFor each diving operation the employer must record the dive team names including the person-in-charge, date, time and location, diving modes, nature of work, approximate conditions, and each diver's maximum depth and bottom time. 29 CFR 1910 Subpart T, § 1910.423(d)(1)
  • LawA person-in-charge whose vessel needs an official logbook must keep it on form CG-706; otherwise a logbook must still be kept on board for the required entries. 46 CFR 197 Subpart B, § 197.480(a)–(b)
  • LawThe diving supervisor must also maintain a separate logbook for the entries the subpart requires. 46 CFR 197 Subpart B, § 197.480(c)
  • LawThe supervisor's log entries include date, time and location, conditions, team names, nature of work, repetitive dive status, modes, maximum depth and bottom time, the person-in-charge, gases and tables for decompression dives, and treatment and serious injury details. 46 CFR 197 Subpart B, § 197.482(b)

Canada

  • LawThe supervisor has to record each supervised diving operation in the diving operations logbook, including times, names of those involved, procedures followed and the decompression table used. COGDR SOR/88-600, s. 50(1)
  • LawEmployers have to keep a dive record for every diver, with the content for each dive set out in the section and differing between type 1 and type 2 dives. COHSR Part XVIII, s. 18.38(1)
  • LawEach diver has to keep a personal log of all dives and exposures for two years after the last entry, with each dive verified and initialled by the diving supervisor. BC OHSR Part 24, s. 24.14(1)–(2)

Netherlands

  • LawThe diver and the dive team leader each record the diving work or assistance given in a personal logbook containing at least the information set by ministerial regulation. Arbobesluit art. 6.13–6.18, art. 6.16 lid 5

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