Information about changes to general dive work qualifications

General diving work is work carried out in or under water while breathing compressed gas. It can also include:

  1. incidental diving work, and
  2. limited scientific diving work,

but does not include high risk diving work.

If you are doing work in or under water while breathing compressed gas that involves:

  1. construction work or
  2. assembly of a structure that is intended to be transported or
  3. inspection work
  4. recovery or salvage of a large structure or item
  5. but does not include minor work in the sea, bay, inlet or a marina to clean, inspect, maintain or search for a vessel or mooring

this means you are doing high risk diving work that has additional requirements.

See the  WHS Regulation 2017

What has changed?

In 2019, Standards Australia withdrew AS 4005.2–2000 (Training and certification of recreational divers) from publication. Workers who undertake general diving work under this qualification, or the ISO standards listed below, no longer meet the legislative requirements in NSW to perform general diving work.

  • ISO 24801-3 means ISO 24801-3: 2014 Recreational diving services – Requirements for the training of recreational SCUBA divers – Part 3: Level 3 – Dive leader
  • ISO 24802-1 means ISO 24802-1: 2014 Recreational diving services – Requirements for the training of SCUBA instructors – Part 1: Level 1
  • ISO 24802-2 means ISO 24802-2: 2014 Recreational diving services – Requirements for the training of SCUBA instructors – Part 2: Level 2

Must Do’s

Update your training

General Divers - Minor Works and Survey Work

General Diving Work - Minor Works & Surveys (workers who complete hands on work such as anode replacement, minor works, hull cleaning, etc.)

  • ADADIV405A - Work safely as a member of a dive team undertaking diving operations under controlled conditions
  • ADAHYP401A – Work safely in hyperbaric operations
  • BSBWHS211 – Contribute to health and safety of self and others (BSBWHS201 for some RTO providers)

General Divers - Instructors and Tourism

General Diving Work - Instructors & Tourism (workers who ONLY provide paid services to recreational dive customers and includes dive tour operators, dive leaders and instructors)

Any workers carrying out general diving work who perform work under an AS4005.2, ISO 24801-3, ISO 24802-1, or ISO 24802-2-based recreational dive supervisor qualifications will need to update their qualifications by 31 December 2022. The additional units of competency are:

  • BSBWHS211 – Contribute to health and safety of self and others (BSBWHS201 for some RTO providers)

Further course information can be found at training.gov.au.

Consider alternative qualification options

Alternatively, if you want to be legally compliant to work in NSW but you do not want to complete the above units of competency you can complete:

  • a full AS/NZS2815 series qualification for the type of general diving work you intend to do, or
  • complete a high-risk diving course.

Where can I find information about the training?

You will need to check with the  Registered Training Organisation (RTO) delivering this training. RTO’s offering this course / these units can be found at Training.gov.au.

Check your qualifications are valid

If you are doing general diving work, under a different Australian or an international qualification, you need to speak to a training organisation to make sure your qualifications meet the relevant competencies, as specified in the AS/NZS 2815:2013 (Training and certification of occupational divers).

If you are unsure whether you meet the definition and hold a current AS4005.2 based recreational dive supervisor qualification you can contact us on 13 10 50 or workingenvironment@safework.gov.au

Further information

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