{"data":{"id":"us/46-cfr-197.346","jurisdiction":"us","citation":"46 CFR 197.346","heading":"Diver's equipment.","body":"(a) Each diver using SCUBA must have—\n(1) Self-contained underwater breathing equipment including—\n(i) A primary breathing gas supply with a cylinder pressure gage readable by the diver during the dive; and\n(ii) A diver-carried reserve breathing gas supply provided by—\n(A) A manual reserve (J valve); or\n(B) An independent reserve cylinder connected and ready for use;\n(2) A face mask;\n(3) An inflatable floatation device;\n(4) A weight belt capable of quick release;\n(5) A knife;\n(6) Swim fins or shoes;\n(7) A diving wristwatch; and\n(8) A depth gage.\n(b) Each diver using a heavyweight diving outfit must—\n(1) Have a helmet group consisting of helmet, breastplate, and associated valves and connections;\n(2) Have a diving dress group consisting of a basic dress that encloses the body (except for head and hands) in a tough, waterproof cover, gloves, shoes, weight assembly, and knife;\n(3) Have a hose group consisting of the breathing gas hose and fittings, the control valve, the lifeline, communications cable, and a pneumofathometer; and\n(4) Be provided with a helmet cushion and weighted shoes.\n(c) Each surface-supplied dive operation using a heavyweight diving outfit must have an extra breathing gas hose with attaching tools available to the standby diver.\n(d) Each diver using a lightweight diving outfit must have—\n(1) A safety harness;\n(2) A weight assembly capable of quick release;\n(3) A mask group consisting of a lightweight mask and associated valves and connections;\n(4) A diving dress group consisting of wet or dry diving dress, gloves, shoes or fins, and knife; and\n(5) A hose group consisting of the breathing gas hose and fittings, the control valve, the lifeline, communications cable, and a pneumofathometer (if the breaking strength of the communications cable is at least equal to that required for the lifeline, the communications cable can serve as the lifeline).\n(e) Each surface-supplied air dive operation within the no-decompression limits and to depths of 130 fsw or less must have a primary breathing gas supply at the dive location.\n(f) Each surface-supplied dive operation outside the no-compression limits, deeper than 130 fsw, or using mixed-gas as a breathing mixture must have at the dive location—\n(1) A primary breathing gas supply; and\n(2) A secondary breathing gas supply.\n(g) Each diver diving outside the no-decompression limits, deeper than 130 fsw, or using mixed-gas must have a diver-carried reserve breathing gas supply except when using a heavy-weight diving outfit or when diving in a physically confining area.","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":"155975a0e20c7b32d660d2fff90959ad9a98e9f67e1674bd8aada45988613ca9","source_id":"us-cfr","stale":true,"prev":"us/46-cfr-197.344","next":"us/46-cfr-197.400"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}