Canada diving regulations: federal, offshore and British Columbia
Canadian diving rules depend on who has jurisdiction: federal workplaces, oil and gas operations, or a province. This hub covers the federal regulations and British Columbia as an example province.
- Jurisdiction
- Canada
- Built from
- 3 primary sources Law
- 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.
Which rules apply depends on the work: federally regulated workplaces (Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, Part XVIII), oil and gas diving (Canada Oil and Gas Diving Regulations, and the offshore accord-area regulations for Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador) or provincial occupational health and safety rules. British Columbia is shown here as one example. Other provinces have their own rules. Several regulations call up CSA Z275 standards, which are published by CSA Group and are not free to reproduce.
Oil and gas diving (federal)
- LawThe Canada Oil and Gas Diving Regulations apply to diving operations connected with oil and gas exploration, drilling, production, conservation, processing or transportation in areas where the governing Act applies. COGDR SOR/88-600, s. 3
- LawThe operator of a diving program has to arrange for a diving safety specialist available around the clock to advise on all safety aspects of the program. COGDR SOR/88-600, s. 6(1)(a)
- LawIf a diving crew member meets with an accident, the operator has to notify the Minister by the quickest practicable means and submit an accident report in the form set out in Schedule III. COGDR SOR/88-600, s. 6(1)(i)
- LawThe diving contractor has to retain diving operations logbooks and records delivered by supervisors for at least two years after the last entry. COGDR SOR/88-600, s. 9(5)(n)
- 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)
Federal workplaces: COHSR Part XVIII
- LawPart XVIII does not apply to diving operations covered by the Canada Oil and Gas Diving Regulations or the Nova Scotia and Newfoundland offshore petroleum diving regulations. COHSR Part XVIII, s. 18.2
- LawEmployers have to establish written procedures for diving operations, covering each dive type and team qualifications, known hazards, and emergencies and evacuation. COHSR Part XVIII, s. 18.4(1)
- LawEmployees involved in diving operations have to demonstrate each year that they are competent for the types of dives they are likely to do. COHSR Part XVIII, s. 18.5(2)
- LawFor each dive the dive team has to develop a dive plan identifying conditions and hazards and specifying matters such as duties, equipment, breathing supply, emergency procedures and communications. COHSR Part XVIII, s. 18.9(1)
- LawWhen a diver reports an occurrence that caused a diving-related injury, the employer has to investigate it and keep a written record of the findings. COHSR Part XVIII, s. 18.37(2)
- 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)
British Columbia: OHS Regulation Part 24
- LawIn British Columbia, the employer has to submit a notice of project, or notify the Board by telephone, at least 24 hours before certain diving operations such as construction or engineering inspection diving. BC OHSR Part 24, s. 24.9(1)
- LawThe employer and diving supervisor have to ensure all divers meet the minimum requirements of CSA Standard Z275.4-97, the competency standard for diving operations. BC OHSR Part 24, s. 24.13(1)(a)
- 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)
- LawThe diving supervisor has to prepare a detailed plan of the diving operations and give it to the worksite employer before diving starts. BC OHSR Part 24, s. 24.18(2)
- LawEvery employer engaged in diving operations has to prepare and publish safe diving procedures, including emergency, evacuation and rescue procedures. BC OHSR Part 24, s. 24.17(1)
- LawAn incident investigation report has to be submitted to the Board as soon as possible after listed diving events, including injury, decompression illness and serious mishaps. BC OHSR Part 24, s. 24.34(1)
- Canada Law
Canada OHS Regulations last amended
The Justice Laws page states SOR/86-304 was last amended on 2025-03-26; a French-version amendment (SOR/2025-79) is noted against section 18.8 of the diving Part.
Source: COHSR Part XVIII
- Canada Law
BC OHSR s. 24.13 amended and s. 24.8 repealed
B.C. Reg. 312/2003, effective 29 October 2003, amended the evidence-of-competency section (CSA Z275.4-97) and repealed section 24.8 on supervisor's responsibility.
Source: BC OHSR Part 24
Canadian primary sources
| Kind | Source | Edition / date | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Law | British Columbia Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, Part 24 — Diving, Fishing and Other Marine Operations WorkSafeBC (Workers' Compensation Board of B.C.) · Canada | not stated | 28 Sep 2026 |
| Law | Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (SOR/86-304), Part XVIII Diving Operations Justice Laws Website, Government of Canada · Canada | Regulations are current to 2026-09-03 and last amended on 2025-03-26, 13 Mar 1986 | 28 Sep 2026 |
| Law | Canada Oil and Gas Diving Regulations (SOR/88-600) Justice Laws Website, Government of Canada · Canada | Regulations are current to 2026-09-03, 7 Dec 1988 | 28 Sep 2026 |