---
kind: "section"
citation: "29 C.F.R. § 1910.424"
title: "29"
number: "1910.424"
heading: "SCUBA diving."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/29/1910.424"
---

# §1910.424. SCUBA diving.

- (a) **General.** Employers engaged in SCUBA diving shall comply with the following requirements, unless otherwise specified.
- (b) **Limits.** SCUBA diving shall not be conducted:
  - (1) At depths deeper than 130 fsw;
  - (2) At depths deeper than 100 fsw or outside the no-decompression limits unless a decompression chamber is ready for use;
  - (3) Against currents exceeding one (1) knot unless line-tended; or
  - (4) **In enclosed or physically confining spaces unless line-tended.**
- (c) **Procedures.**
  - (1) A standby diver shall be available while a diver is in the water.
  - (2) A diver shall be line-tended from the surface, or accompanied by another diver in the water in continuous visual contact during the diving operations.
  - (3) A diver shall be stationed at the underwater point of entry when diving is conducted in enclosed or physically confining spaces.
  - (4) A diver-carried reserve breathing gas supply shall be provided for each diver consisting of:
    - (i) A manual reserve (J valve); or
    - (ii) An independent reserve cylinder with a separate regulator or connected to the underwater breathing apparatus.
  - (5) The valve of the reserve breathing gas supply shall be in the closed position prior to the dive.

## Notes

### Authority

Authority: 29 U.S.C. 653, 655, 657; 40 U.S.C. 333; 33 U.S.C. 941; Secretary of Labor's Order No. 8-76 (41 FR 25059), 9-83 (48 FR 35736), 1-90 (55 FR 9033), 6-96 (62 FR 111), 3-2000 (65 FR 50017), 5-2002 (67 FR 65008), 5-2007 (72 FR 31160), or 4-2010 (75 FR 55355) as applicable, and 29 CFR 1911.

### Source

Source: 42 FR 37668, July 22, 1977, unless otherwise noted.

### Authority

Authority: 33 U.S.C. 941; 29 U.S.C. 653, 655, 657; Secretary of Labor's Order No. 12-71 (36 FR 8754); 8-76 (41 FR 25059), 9-83 (48 FR 35736), 1-90 (55 FR 9033), 6-96 (62 FR 111), 3-2000 (65 FR 50017), 5-2002 (67 FR 65008), 5-2007 (72 FR 31160), 4-2010 (75 FR 55355), 1-2012 (77 FR 3912), 08-2020 (85 FR 58393), or 07-2025 (90 FR 27878); 29 CFR part 1911; and 5 U.S.C. 553, as applicable.

### Source

Source: 39 FR 23502, June 27, 1974, unless otherwise noted.

### Source

Source: 39 FR 23502, June 27, 1974, unless otherwise noted. Redesignated at 40 FR 23072, May 28, 1975.