{"data":{"id":"us/46-cfr-197.410","jurisdiction":"us","citation":"46 CFR 197.410","heading":"Dive procedures.","body":"(a) The diving supervisor shall insure that—\n(1) Before commencing diving operations, dive team members are briefed on—\n(i) The tasks to be undertaken;\n(ii) Any unusual hazards or environmental conditions likely to affect the safety of the diving operation; and\n(iii) Any modifications to the operations manual or procedures including safety procedures necessitated by the specific diving operation;\n(2) The breathing gas supply systems, masks, helmets, thermal protection, when provided, and bell lifting equipment, when a bell is provided or required, are inspected prior to each diving operation;\n(3) Each diver is instructed to report any physical problems or physiological effects including aches, pains, current illnesses, or symptoms of decompression sickness prior to each dive;\n(4) A depth, bottom time profile, including any breathing mixture changes, is maintained at the dive location for each diver during the dive, except that SCUBA divers shall maintain their own profiles;\n(5) A two-way voice communication system is used between—\n(i) Each surface-supplied diver and a dive team member at the dive location or bell (when provided); and\n(ii) The bell (when provided) and the dive location;\n(6) A two-way communication system is available at the dive location to obtain emergency assistance;\n(7) After the completion of each dive—\n(i) The physical condition of the diver is checked by—\n(A) Visual observation; and\n(B) Questioning the diver about his physical well-being;\n(ii) The diver is instructed to report any physical problems or adverse physiological effects including aches, pains, current illnesses, or symptoms of decompression sickness or gas embolism;\n(iii) The diver is advised of the location of an operational decompression chamber; and\n(iv) The diver is alerted to the potential hazards of flying after diving;\n(8) For any dive outside the no-decompression limits, deeper than 130 fsw, or using mixed-gas as a breathing mixture—\n(i) A depth, time, decompression profile including breathing mixture changes is maintained for each diver at the dive location;\n(ii) The diver is instructed to remain awake and in the vicinity of the dive location decompression chamber for at least one hour after the completion of a dive, decompression, or treatment; and\n(iii) A dive team member, other than the diver, is trained and available to operate the decompression chamber; and\n(9) When decompression sickness or gas embolism is suspected or symptoms are evident, a report is completed containing—\n(i) The investigation for each incident including—\n(A) The dive and decompression profiles;\n(B) The composition, depth, and time of breathing mixture changes;\n(C) A description of the symptoms including depth and time of onset; and\n(D) A description and results of the treatment;\n(ii) The evaluation for each incident based on—\n(A) The investigation;\n(B) Consideration of the past performance of the decompression table used; and\n(C) Individual susceptibility; and\n(iii) The corrective action taken, if necessary, to reduce the probability of recurrence.\n(b) The diving supervisor shall ensure that the working interval of a dive is terminated when he so directs or when—\n(1) A diver requests termination;\n(2) A diver fails to respond correctly to communications or signals from a dive team member;\n(3) Communications are lost and cannot be quickly reestablished between—\n(i) The diver and a dive team member at the dive location; or\n(ii) The person-in-charge and the diving supervisor during liveboating operations; or\n(4) A diver begins to use his diver-carried reserve breathing gas supply.","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":"66b40bb5e2a12bc8be27440e17962b6f8ba25d52589ad168b56fdce2ad699117","source_id":"us-cfr","stale":true,"prev":"us/46-cfr-197.404","next":"us/46-cfr-197.420"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}