Onshore Supervisor

Overview

The Australian and New Zealand Standard 2299.1 requires that all occupational diving operations (including chamber dives) are supervised by a supervisor who has been:

  • A diver (noting that they do not need to be medically fit to dive, provided that a level of fitness required for the responsibilities undertaken is maintained)
  • Trained in accordance with AS 2815.5 for supervision of the type of diving operation being conducted and holding a certificate to that effect
  • Experienced in the diving techniques which may be used, and in the equipment and procedures used in the diving operations to be performed
  • Appointed in writing by the diver’s employer to supervise diving operations
  • Trained in first aid including the recognition and first aid management of diving related medical problems, and communicating findings to medical support.

AS 2815.5 details the competencies a supervisor must demonstrate in regard to:

  • The role of the dive supervisor
  • Implement and monitor work health and safety programs
  • Diving physics, physiology and associated calculations
  • Managing diving illnesses and medical emergencies
  • Managing risk associated with dive operations
  • Planning dive operations
  • Conducting dive operations
  • Plant, equipment and maintenance procedures
  • Managing people
  • Supervise use of tools in a dive operation
  • Supervise on-site chamber operations
  • Supervise stage-assisted diving

Onshore Supervisor Training and Assessment

Divers may apply to undertake a formal ADAS onshore supervisor training at an ADAS Accredited Training Establishment (ATE). The Australian Standard AS 2815.5 requires that applicants meet the following criteria:

  • Be in possession of a valid workplace first aid certificate including CPR and Oxygen Administration
  • Be trained as a diver to a level equal to or exceeding that specified in AS 2815.1, AS 2815.2, AS 2815.3 or AS 2815.4, as appropriate, and shall have a certificate to that effect issued by the Australian Diver Accreditation Scheme (ADAS)
  • Have held certification as a diver as specified in the relevant part of AS 2815 for a minimum period of 12 months
  • Be able to demonstrate sufficient maturity, leadership and management skills through supply of a letter of suitability for training as a dive supervisor provided by a recognized diving employer
  • Demonstrate sufficient operational experience over a range of diving operations, environments, tasks and equipment representative of those likely to be supervised in the future.

In all cases, students must have a minimum total of 100 logged occupational dives and 75 hours of logged bottom time to enrol into a supervisor course.  Additional stream specific pre-requisites also apply: 50 dives and 40 hours bottom time in any particular stream is required to hold supervisor certification for that stream.

As part of the 100 dives and 75 hours bottom time requirement, the trainee should present the minimum logged evidence of operational experience as follows:

  • Aquarium supervisor to 20m: 50 logged Aquarium dives and 40 hours logged bottom time in Aquarium diving
  • SCUBA to 30m (Part 1) dive supervisor: 50 logged SCUBA dives and 40 hours of logged bottom time on SCUBA
  • Aquaculture SSBA to 30m supervisor: 50 logged Aquaculture SSBA dives and 40 hours logged bottom time in Aquaculture SSBA diving
  • SSBA to 30m (Part 2) dive supervisor: 50 logged SSBA dives and 40 hours of logged bottom time on SSBA
  • SSBA to 50m (Part 3) dive supervisor: 50 logged dives and 40 hours logged bottom time during occupational dives that include a broad range of high complexity dives involving decompression diving, deep diving (deeper than 40m), dives involving compression chambers and additional specialist equipment such as hot water suits, ancillary service equipment and wet bells

It is desirable that the trainee’s experience include experience in supervisory tasks, such as panel operation, gained under the oversight of a qualified dive supervisor. A certificate of medical fitness to dive in accordance with AS/NZS 2299.1 is preferable but not essential.

Australian or New Zealand Defence Force and Police Applicants

In the case of active Australian or New Zealand Defence Force and Police personnel, and in accordance with AS 2815.5, the pre-requisite dive and bottom time requirements do not apply.  In these cases, ATEs are required to obtain a letter from the relevant organisation recommending the individual for assessment and verifying their suitability as a diving supervisor.

ADAS Certificate of Competency (Licence)

ADAS will issue successful applicants with a licence as a diving supervisor. The qualification will be based on the candidates ability to meet the relevant selection criteria and demonstrate competence at the required level.

ADAS supervisor qualifications are:

  • Aquarium supervisor
  • Occupational SCUBA to 30m (Part 1)
  • SSBA to 30m (Part 2)
  • SSBA to 50m (Part 3)
  • Aquaculture supervisor to 30m

Supervisor certifications are valid for a period of five years.  At the end of that time diving supervisors may apply to ADAS to renew their licence.

Vocational Education & Training (VET) Qualification

Accreditation as an ADAS diving supervisor is recognised under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), and a Diploma of Hyperbaric Operations – Dive Supervisor VET certificate will be issued by ADAS together with the ADAS licence. 

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