Safe Diving Standards

Code of Safety Requirements and Standards (cont.)

11. All Dive vessels are recommended to carry a manifest or list of all passengers on board and account for all passengers prior to departing a site or area after in water activities have taken place.
12. Divemaster/Customer Ratio –
    1. Supervised Wall Dives from boats: The required maximum in-water Divemaster/Customer Ratio is 1 Divemaster to 12 Certified Divers however; recommended ratio is 1:10.
    2. Unguided Wall Dives –From Boats: Operators may elect to allow customers to do unsupervised wall dives with their buddies. It is recommended they meet the following criteria: 
       1. The divers must show proficiency at the member’s discretion.
       2. The divers must dive in a buddy team and each member of the team must have a computer and understand computer diving techniques.
       3. The divers must agree to adhere to depth/certification limitations established by the CITA.
       4. The ratios for working crew on any vessel offering scuba diving must still be one Divemaster for each 12 certified divers on board.
    3. Supervised shallow dives from boats: supervision is at the discretion of the individual member.
    4. Unguided shallow dives from boats: supervision is at the discretion of the individual member.
    5. Instructional dives from boats: The ratios for working crew on any vessel offering scuba diving, where there are students engaged in scuba, the Ratio should reflect the student to instructor ratio as required by the Training Agency being taught.
    6. Supervised Snorkelers – from boats: recommended limit of divemasters / lifeguard to snorkelers 1:30 in water too deep to stand up in and 1:40 in water shallow enough to stand up in.
    7. Shore Diving/Snorkeling: supervision is at the discretion of the individual member.
13. Divemasters are NOT required to endanger their own safety or the safety of other customers by chasing a run-away diver
14. Refresher courses and/or refresher dives should be recommended based on the following guidelines:
    1. If it has been more than 18 months but less than 24 months since the customer’s last dive, a shallow dive is suggested before doing a wall dive.
    2. If it has been over 24 months since the customer’s last dive, a refresher course is recommended before any unsupervised (shallow or wall dives) are allowed.
    3. If it has been more than 36 months since the customer’s last dive, a refresher course is mandatory prior to participating in any diving activities.
       As with any set of guidelines there will be exceptions. The Dive Operator may elect to waive these recommendations if the customer can prove efficiency via a valid and comprehensive logbook or other means of proof. (A valid logbook consists of diving activities being recorded and accompanied with a Divemaster or instructor’s signature and number or a stamp.)
15. Rogue divers, defined as those divers who refuse to adhere to the safety code of the CITA, should be reported immediately to all dive operators via email broadcast from the CITA membership office.
16. All staff conducting training dives or dives with non-certified divers must be a certified Divemaster, Assistant Instructor or Instructor as required by their training agency and their activities must comply with training standards issued by their Certification Agency.
17. All working Divemasters, Assistant Instructors, and Instructors must have formal training from a recognized training agency and be current with their certification and agency. All must have current Liability Insurance and CPR, First Aid, or Medic First Aid Training. All individual operators are encouraged to hold First Aid and Rescue training sessions with their staff on a quarterly basis.
18. All vessel handlers/Safety support crew must have current certification in CPR and training in First Aid and rescue procedures.
19. Dive Site etiquette: When a Divemaster is entering the water with a supervised group, and there are already other groups in the water. His/her briefing and directions must emphasize that the divers should stay with the group and avoiding getting mixed up with the other groups.
20. All CITA members may provide enriched air Nitrox for staff and customers providing they show proof of certification, analyze gas before use, sign log and specify maximum operating depth at 1.6 ATA. Nitrox Rules & Equipment Requirements are listed in Appendix ‘E’.

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