---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 C.F.R. § 197.346"
title: "46"
number: "197.346"
heading: "Diver's equipment."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/46/197.346"
---

# §197.346. Diver's equipment.

- (a) Each diver using SCUBA must have—
  - (1) **Self-contained underwater breathing equipment including—**
    - (i) A primary breathing gas supply with a cylinder pressure gage readable by the diver during the dive; and
    - (ii) **A diver-carried reserve breathing gas supply provided by—**
      - (A) A manual reserve (J valve); or
      - (B) An independent reserve cylinder connected and ready for use;
  - (2) A face mask;
  - (3) An inflatable floatation device;
  - (4) A weight belt capable of quick release;
  - (5) A knife;
  - (6) Swim fins or shoes;
  - (7) A diving wristwatch; and
  - (8) **A depth gage.**
- (b) **Each diver using a heavyweight diving outfit must—**
  - (1) Have a helmet group consisting of helmet, breastplate, and associated valves and connections;
  - (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;
  - (3) Have a hose group consisting of the breathing gas hose and fittings, the control valve, the lifeline, communications cable, and a pneumofathometer; and
  - (4) **Be provided with a helmet cushion and weighted shoes.**
- (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.
- (d) Each diver using a lightweight diving outfit must have—
  - (1) A safety harness;
  - (2) A weight assembly capable of quick release;
  - (3) A mask group consisting of a lightweight mask and associated valves and connections;
  - (4) A diving dress group consisting of wet or dry diving dress, gloves, shoes or fins, and knife; and
  - (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).
- (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.
- (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—
  - (1) A primary breathing gas supply; and
  - (2) **A secondary breathing gas supply.**
- (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.

## Notes

### Authority

Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1509; 43 U.S.C. 1333; 46 U.S.C. 3306, 3703, 6101; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1.

### Source

Source: CGD 76-009, 43 FR 53683, Nov. 16, 1978, unless otherwise noted.