Diving Code of Practice
As a club diver, from time to time you may be asked to Buddy up with someone less experienced than you to help them develop their skills – this is one of the key aims for the club.
All persons wishing to dive with the Club are required to produce Certification and Log Book evidence of diving qualification and experience if requested to the dive leader prior to a dive expedition.
Club Members will ensure that they are physically fit for diving, or suspend their diving activity until fit again. If a diver has any doubt, the diver must seek medical advice before recommencing diving activities.
All Members diving under the auspices of the Club shall have completed the Club’s Liability Release and Assumption of Risk Form (following).
Parents of Members under 18 shall complete this form on behalf of their children.
All diving during a club trip must always be done in Buddy Teams. No solo diving will be allowed.
Members must have the appropriate training and experience for the intended dives, and accept full responsibility for understanding and following the codes of practice and safe diving standards as recognised by diving organisations such as PADI, BSAC, NAUI, SSI etc.
Leaders shall ensure that all divers on the trip receive a formal “dive briefing” and have sufficient information to prepare full and safe dive plans.
Leaders shall take all reasonable steps to ensure the safety of divers on their expedition, however, individual divers shall ultimately be held fully responsible for their own safety and, as far as reasonably possible, for the safety of their nominated Buddy.
Leaders shall always ensure that full details of the intended dive are left with a responsible person who can raise the alarm in the event of divers failing to return by the agreed time.
The responsibility for ensuring adequate personal preparation for a dive rests with the individual diver and Buddy Teams, and NOT the boat skipper/dive leader.
The dive leader or boat skipper reserves the right to cancel a dive if he/she has any doubts about a diver’s ability or health.
Divers shall be individually responsible for the safe storage and handling of their equipment.
Dive plans, including entry and exit procedures, established and agreed with the skipper/dive leader, are to be followed unless conditions become unsafe to do so.
Divers are to familiarise themselves with the location and operation of safety equipment, including oxygen and radio/emergency systems.
Divers who are not in the water are to be prepared to assist other divers with entry and exit procedures.