{"data":{"id":"us/46-cfr-197.320","jurisdiction":"us","citation":"46 CFR 197.320","heading":"Diving ladder and stage.","body":"(a) Each diving ladder must—\n(1) Be capable of supporting the weight of at least two divers;\n(2) Extend 3 feet below the water surface;\n(3) Be firmly in place;\n(4) Be available at the dive location for a diver to enter or exit the water unless a diving stage or bell is provided; and\n(5) Be—(i) Made of corrosion-resistant material; or\n(ii) Protected against and maintained free from injurious corrosion.\n(b) Each diving stage must—\n(1) Be capable of supporting the weight of at least two divers;\n(2) Have an open-grating platform;\n(3) Be available for a diver to enter or exit the water from the dive location and for in-water decompression if the diver is—\n(i) Wearing a heavy-weight diving outfit; or\n(ii) Diving outside the no-decompression limits, except when a bell is provided; and\n(4) Be—(i) Made of corrosion-resistant material; or\n(ii) Protected against and maintained free from injurious corrosion.","path":["Title 46—Shipping","CHAPTER I—COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY","SUBCHAPTER V—MARINE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS","PART 197—GENERAL PROVISIONS","Subpart B—Commercial Diving Operations"],"source_url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/api/versioner/v1/full/2026-08-25/title-46.xml","current_through":"2026-08-25","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T02:26:22Z","sha256":"37c904fb124f541dc1b8d9677342b75fdbd3ddf835278947d84edb9b94aeb3ea","source_id":"us-cfr","stale":true,"prev":"us/46-cfr-197.318","next":"us/46-cfr-197.322"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}