All diving must be managed by a competent person. The skills and experience required for this demanding, but important, task is integrated into Sports Diver, Dive Leader and Advanced Diver training.
However, for divers who qualified prior to September 2002 these skills were not taught until Advanced Diver.
At the time of writing:
- A Sports Diver shall be trained to be an Assistant Dive Manager,
- A Dive Leader shall be capable of Dive Managing known sites,
- An Advanced Diver shall be able to manage and supervise diving to explore unfamiliar locations.
BSAC cannot condone dives managed by members who have not received appropriate training as there is a duty of care to ensure members taking on such responsibilities have an understanding of their responsibilities and the training necessary to act as a Dive Manager.
Whilst two Sports Divers may dive together, they are not trained to organise a dive for a larger group or for a more adventurous dive. Members are encouraged to become trained in what to do, even if achievement of Advanced Diver qualification is some way off. This can be achieved by attending the relevant lectures and acting as assistant Dive Manager for more adventurous dives.
Where dives are organised using gases other than air or Nitrox or involving rebreathers the Dive Manager (if not trained in their use) should check with the divers that their dive plan is safe and within their capabilities.
The Diving Officer should carefully consider their duty of care when authorising dives to be managed by members less qualified than that stated above - see "Definition of an Authorised Dive". Diving Officers could potentially engage experienced Dive Managers from the Regional Coaching Scheme, or from neighbouring clubs.
An acting Dive Manager should be on the surface whenever diving is taking place. Should the Dive Manager wish to dive, a competent person (assistant Dive Manager) should take over the duty for the duration of the Dive Manager's dive. Like the Dive Manager, that person must know what to do in the event of an emergency. Dive leaders (leader of the buddy pair) should understand that they assume some of the responsibilities of the Dive Manager when they lead divers underwater. This could be adherence to the dive plan or aborting the dive if the conditions are unsuitable.
Dive Manager liability
BSAC’s member insurance is not invalid simply because a dive is not managed by a Dive Leader / Advanced Diver - but lack of Dive Managing experience or training could affect the success of a claim made against the Dive Manager. Where a Dive Leader or Advanced Diver is not available to manage dives, greater care must be taken in all aspects of planning and dive conduct.
Ambitious dive plans may have to be curtailed by the Diving Officer so that the abilities of both Dive Manager and divers are not over-reached such that safety is compromised. A Risk Assessment will help to make the decision whether to dive or not and the Diving Officer should assess whether the dive can be conducted in a safe manner.
Duties of the Dive Manager
These are fully explained in the theory lessons of the appropriate diver qualification. The subject is also covered in BSAC Safe Diving.
In the unlikely event that the Dive Manager and more highly qualified Branch member were to disagree during diving activities, the advice of the Diving Officer should be taken.
