NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION Scientific Diving Standards and Safety Manual Revised December 2011 FOREWORD This document represents the minimum safety standards for scientific diving under the auspices of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as of the approval date of this Manual. As diving progresses so shall this standard and it is the responsibility of every NOAA diver to ensure that it continues to reflect the latest information on safe diving practices. REVISION HISTORY DATE: DESCRIPTION: August 15, 2008 Original document approved APPROVALS: OMAO Director _______________ RADM Jonathan W. Bailey, NOAA NOAA Diving Control and Safety Board Diving Program Manager November 2011 David A. Dinsmore Diving Safety Officer November 2011 Steven C. Urick NMFS Diving Officer November 2011 Andrew W. David NOS Diving Officer November 2011 Greg B. McFall OMAO Diving Officer November 2011 Douglas R. Schleiger OAR Diving Officer Vacant at time of review NMFS Deputy Diving Officer November 2011 Raymond Boland NOS Deputy Diving Officer November 2011 Mitchell Tartt OMAO Deputy Diving Officer November 2011 Bill J. Gordon i December 2011 TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION 1: ADMINISTRATION ............................................................................................1-1 1.1 General Provisions .....................................................................................................1-1 1.1.1 Purpose ......................................................................................................1-1 1.1.2 Definition of Scientist and Scientist-In-Training ...........................................1-1 1.1.3 OSHA Scientific Exemption .........................................................................1-1 1.1.4 Scope and Application.................................................................................1-2 1.1.5 Obligations, Restrictions and Conditions .....................................................1-2 1.1.6 Substitutions for Required Equipment, Materials, Apparatuses, Arrangements, Procedures or Tests ............................................................1-3 1.1.7 Deviations in Emergencies ..........................................................................1-3 1.1.8 Manual Revisions ........................................................................................1-3 1.1.9 Reference Material ......................................................................................1-3 1.2 Program Mission, Goals, Core Products and Services and Management ..............1-4 1.2.1 Program Mission .........................................................................................1-4 1.2.2 Goals, Core Products and Services.............................................................1-4 1.2.3 Management ...............................................................................................1-4 SECTION 2: PERSONNEL .....................................................................................................2-1 2.1 Director, Office of Marine and Aviation Operations .................................................2-1 2.1.1 General .......................................................................................................2-1 2.1.2 Responsibilities ...........................................................................................2-1 2.2 Diving Program Manager ...........................................................................................2-1 2.2.1 General .......................................................................................................2-1 2.2.2 Responsibilities ...........................................................................................2-1 2.2.3 Management and Administration .................................................................2-1 2.2.4 Training and Certification ............................................................................2-2 2.2.5 Qualifications ..............................................................................................2-2 2.3 NOAA Diving Control and Safety Board ...................................................................2-2 2.3.1 General .......................................................................................................2-2 2.3.2 Composition and Qualifications ...................................................................2-2 2.3.3 Selection of NDCSB Members ....................................................................2-2 2.3.4 Chairperson ................................................................................................2-3 2.3.5 Decision Making Process ............................................................................2-3 2.3.6 Term Limits .................................................................................................2-3 2.3.7 Responsibilities ...........................................................................................2-3 2.4 NOAA Diving Safety Officer .......................................................................................2-4 2.4.1 General .......................................................................................................2-4 2.4.2 Responsibilities ...........................................................................................2-4 2.4.3 Qualifications ..............................................................................................2-5 2.5 Line and Staff Office Diving Officers ........................................................................2-5 2.5.1 General .......................................................................................................2-5 2.5.2 Responsibilities ...........................................................................................2-5 2.5.3 Qualifications ..............................................................................................2-6 2.6 Deputy Line and Staff Office Diving Officers............................................................2-6 2.6.1 General .......................................................................................................2-6 2.6.2 Responsibilities ...........................................................................................2-6 ii December 2011 2.6.3 Qualifications ..............................................................................................2-6 2.7 Unit Diving Supervisors .............................................................................................2-6 2.7.1 General .......................................................................................................2-6 2.7.2 Responsibilities ...........................................................................................2-7 2.7.3 Qualifications ..............................................................................................2-8 2.8 Divemasters and Lead Divers ....................................................................................2-8 2.8.1 General .......................................................................................................2-8 2.8.2 Responsibilities ...........................................................................................2-8 2.8.3 Qualifications ..............................................................................................2-9 2.9 Ship Diving Officer .....................................................................................................2-9 2.9.1 General .......................................................................................................2-9 2.9.2 Responsibilities ......................................................................................... 2-10 2.9.3 Qualifications ............................................................................................ 2-10 2.10 Scientific Divers ..................................................................................................... 2-10 2.10.1 General ..................................................................................................... 2-10 2.10.2 Responsibilities ......................................................................................... 2-10 2.10.3 Qualifications ............................................................................................ 2-11 2.11 Temporary Scientific Divers .................................................................................. 2-11 2.11.1 General ..................................................................................................... 2-11 2.11.2 Medical Requirements............................................................................... 2-11 2.11.3 Minimum Requirements ............................................................................ 2-11 2.11.4 Limitations ................................................................................................. 2-11 2.11.5 Equipment ................................................................................................. 2-12 2.12 Observer Divers ...................................................................................................... 2-12 2.12.1 General ..................................................................................................... 2-12 2.12.2 Eligibility .................................................................................................... 2-12 2.12.3 Minimum Requirements ............................................................................ 2-12 2.12.4 Limitations ................................................................................................