---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 C.F.R. § 197.410"
title: "46"
number: "197.410"
heading: "Dive procedures."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/46/197.410"
---

# §197.410. Dive procedures.

- (a) The diving supervisor shall insure that—
  - (1) **Before commencing diving operations, dive team members are briefed on—**
    - (i) The tasks to be undertaken;
    - (ii) Any unusual hazards or environmental conditions likely to affect the safety of the diving operation; and
    - (iii) Any modifications to the operations manual or procedures including safety procedures necessitated by the specific diving operation;
  - (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;
  - (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;
  - (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;
  - (5) **A two-way voice communication system is used between—**
    - (i) Each surface-supplied diver and a dive team member at the dive location or bell (when provided); and
    - (ii) The bell (when provided) and the dive location;
  - (6) A two-way communication system is available at the dive location to obtain emergency assistance;
  - (7) **After the completion of each dive—**
    - (i) **The physical condition of the diver is checked by—**
      - (A) Visual observation; and
      - (B) Questioning the diver about his physical well-being;
    - (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;
    - (iii) The diver is advised of the location of an operational decompression chamber; and
    - (iv) The diver is alerted to the potential hazards of flying after diving;
  - (8) For any dive outside the no-decompression limits, deeper than 130 fsw, or using mixed-gas as a breathing mixture—
    - (i) A depth, time, decompression profile including breathing mixture changes is maintained for each diver at the dive location;
    - (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
    - (iii) A dive team member, other than the diver, is trained and available to operate the decompression chamber; and
  - (9) When decompression sickness or gas embolism is suspected or symptoms are evident, a report is completed containing—
    - (i) **The investigation for each incident including—**
      - (A) The dive and decompression profiles;
      - (B) The composition, depth, and time of breathing mixture changes;
      - (C) A description of the symptoms including depth and time of onset; and
      - (D) A description and results of the treatment;
    - (ii) **The evaluation for each incident based on—**
      - (A) The investigation;
      - (B) Consideration of the past performance of the decompression table used; and
      - (C) Individual susceptibility; and
    - (iii) **The corrective action taken, if necessary, to reduce the probability of recurrence.**
- (b) The diving supervisor shall ensure that the working interval of a dive is terminated when he so directs or when—
  - (1) A diver requests termination;
  - (2) A diver fails to respond correctly to communications or signals from a dive team member;
  - (3) **Communications are lost and cannot be quickly reestablished between—**
    - (i) The diver and a dive team member at the dive location; or
    - (ii) The person-in-charge and the diving supervisor during liveboating operations; or
  - (4) **A diver begins to use his diver-carried reserve breathing gas supply.**

## Notes

### Amendments

[CGD 76-009, 43 FR 53683, Nov. 16, 1978, as amended by USCG-2014-0688, 79 FR 58289, Sept. 29, 2014]

### 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.

### Amendments

[CGD 76-009, 43 FR 53683, Nov. 16, 1978, as amended by USCG-2014-0688, 79 FR 58289, Sept. 29, 2014]