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Australia diving work regulations (WHS Regulations Part 4.8)

Australia's Work Health and Safety Regulations have a Part on diving work, split into general diving work and high risk diving work. This hub is at an early stage: it shows the structure until the full text has been verified.

Jurisdiction
Australia
Built from
2 primary sources Law Guidance
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.

The Commonwealth Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 contain Part 4.8, Diving work. States and territories that have adopted the model WHS laws have equivalent provisions in their own regulations, and Victoria has its own OHS regulations. The points below come from the regulation's table of contents only. We will add the substance once the full text has been checked.

Part 4.8 structure

  • LawFor general diving work, Part 4.8 provides for appointing a competent person to supervise, a dive plan that must be complied with, and a dive safety log. WHS Regs 2011 Pt 4.8, Part 4.8 Div 3, rr. 177–180 (table of contents)
  • LawPart 4.8 distinguishes general diving work (with separate competence rules for incidental and limited scientific diving work and for supervisors) from high risk diving work, which has its own division. WHS Regs 2011 Pt 4.8, Part 4.8 Div 2 and Div 4, rr. 172–174, 183–184 (table of contents)

Industry accreditation

  • GuidanceADAS states that French certifications are again accepted for crossovers and for entry to further training at ADAS schools. ADAS, home page, news item dated September 4, 2026
  1. Australia Guidance

    ADAS again accepts French certifications

    ADAS announced that French diving certifications are once more accepted for crossovers and for entry to further training at ADAS schools.

    Source: ADAS

  2. Australia Law

    WHS Regulations 2011 compilation C28

    The Federal Register of Legislation shows compilation F2025C00381 (C28) of the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011, effective 25 March 2025, as the latest in-force version.

    Source: WHS Regs 2011 Pt 4.8

Australian sources

KindSourceEdition / dateLast checked
GuidanceAustralian Diver Accreditation Scheme (ADAS) — home page
Australian Diver Accreditation Scheme · Australia		not stated28 Sep 2026
LawWork Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth), Part 4.8 — Diving Work
Federal Register of Legislation (Australian Government) · Australia		F2025C00381 C28, 25 Mar 202528 Sep 2026