InDepth Dive Club
Health & Safety

InDepth Health & Safety Policy

InDepth is a privately established Dive Club, operated and managed by a team of diving professionals who provide a comprehensive range of recreational and technical training from their base in Herefordshire and utilising a variety of best suited diving locations across the UK. 

The recreational and technical diver training, provided by InDepth will certify students to the recognised international standards provided by:

PADI

The Professional Association of Diving Instructors

SDI

Scuba Diving International 

TDI

Technical Diving International

RAID

Rebreather Association International Divers

IANTD

International Association of Nitrox & Technical Divers

BSAC

The British Sub Aqua Club 

SAA

The Sub Aqua Association

Policy Statement 

At InDepth we believe that all of our activities can be undertaken safely and we will never compromise on the safety of our students or team.  

We will conduct our activities in a way that ensures the health, safety and well-being of all of the students, instructors, divemasters and any person involved in our activities.  We know that continuous improvement of our health and safety performance is essential.  

Everyone at InDepth has responsibility for their own and others’ health and safety, but overall accountability rests with the dive centre management.   

Hazards, risks & control measures 

We will identify the hazards and risks associated with our activities starting with our major risks.  We will put in place appropriate risk control measures and challenge them in the context of change, so that we aim for continuous
improvement. 

Compliance

InDepth follows PADI’s Safe Diving Practices and, where appropriate, the HSE Diving at Work Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) for recreational diving. We will ensure that all of our instructors and divemasters are trained so that they are professionally skilled, qualified and physically capable for the tasks they undertake and thereby can contribute to an improved health and safety performance.   

Incident analysis & prevention

We will ensure dive related and business operational incidents and near-misses are reported, investigated and analysed to prevent recurrence. 

Our investigations will focus on root causes and recommendations will be shared as is appropriate across the diving community. 

Monitoring, audit & review 

We will establish systems for tracking our performance which will be reviewed by the company board on a regular basis. 

We will regularly conduct internal and external audits of our risk control measures and management systems.

PADI STANDARD SAFE DIVING PRACTICES

This is a statement in which you are informed of the established safe diving practices for skin and scuba diving. These practices have been compiled for your review and acknowledgement and are intended to increase your comfort and safety in diving. Your signature on this statement is required as proof that you are aware of these safe diving practices. Read and discuss the state- ment prior to signing it. If you are a minor, this form must also be signed by a parent or guardian.​

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1. Maintain good mental and physical fitness for diving. Avoid being under the influence of alcohol or dangerous drugs when diving. Keep proficient in diving skills, striving to increase them through continuing education and reviewing them in con- trolled conditions after a period of diving inactivity, and refer to my course materials to stay current and refresh myself on important information.
    

2. Be familiar with my dive sites. If not, obtain a formal diving orientation from a knowledgeable, local source. If diving condi- tions are worse than those in which I am experienced, postpone diving or select an alternate site with better conditions. En- gage only in diving activities consistent with my training and experience. Do not engage in cave or technical diving unless specifically trained to do so.
    

3. Use complete, well-maintained, reliable equipment with which I am familiar; and inspect it for correct fit and function prior to each dive. Deny use of my equipment to uncertified divers. Always have a buoyancy control device and submersible pres- sure gauge when scuba diving. Recognize the desirability of an alternate air source and a low-pressure buoyancy control inflation system.
    

4. Listen carefully to dive briefings and directions and respect the advice of those supervising my diving activities. Recognize that additional training is recommended for participation in specialty diving activities, in other geographic areas and after periods of inactivity that exceed six months.
    

5. Adhere to the buddy system throughout every dive. Plan dives – including communications, procedures for reuniting in case of separation and emergency procedures – with my buddy.
    

6. Be proficient in dive table usage. Make all dives no decompression dives and allow a margin of safety. Have a means to monitor depth and time underwater. Limit maximum depth to my level of training and experience. Ascend at a rate of not more than 18 metres/60 feet per minute. Be a SAFE diver – Slowly Ascend From Every dive. Make a safety stop as an added precaution, usually at 5 metres/15 feet for three minutes or longer.
    

7. Maintain proper buoyancy. Adjust weighting at the surface for neutral buoyancy with no air in my buoyancy control device. Maintain neutral buoyancy while underwater. Be buoyant for surface swimming and resting. Have weights clear for easy removal, and establish buoyancy when in distress while diving.
    

8. Breathe properly for diving. Never breath-hold or skip-breathe when breathing compressed air, and avoid excessive hyperventilation when breath-hold diving. Avoid overexertion while in and underwater and dive within my limitations.
    

9. Use a boat, float or other surface support station, whenever feasible.
    

10. Know and obey local dive laws and regulations, including fish and game and dive flag laws.

PADI STANDARD SAFE TECHNICAL DIVING PRACTICES

This is a statement in which you are informed of the established safe diving practices for technical diving. These practices have been compiled for your review and acknowledgement to increase your safety in diving. Your signature on this statement is required as proof that you are aware of these accepted technical diving practices. Read and discuss the statement prior to signing it.
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1. Maintain good mental and physical fitness for diving. Have the physical strength to function in tec diving equipment, with a reserve capacity, both in the water and out. Avoid being under the influence of alcohol when diving. Not use drugs before diving unless cleared to do so by an appropriate health care professional. As someone making challenging technical dives, recognize that regular dive medical assessments helps reduce my risk. Keep proficient in diving skills, striving to increase them through continuing education. Practice and review specific technical diving skills in controlled conditions after a period of inactivity using those skills, and refer to my course materials, online sources, manufacturer recommenda- tions and interactions with other active tec divers to stay current and refresh myself on important information regarding topics that include, but are not limited to, decompression theory, equipment and procedures.
    

2. Be familiar with my dive sites. If not familiar with a site, obtain a formal diving orientation from a knowledgeable, local source who is familiar with the requirements of tec diving and how local conditions affect them. Gain experience with the local environment on shallow, no stop dives before making challenging tec dives, and, if diving conditions are worse than those in which I am experienced, postpone diving or select an alternate site with better conditions. Engage only in diving activities consistent with my training and experience.
    

3. Use complete, well-maintained, reliable equipment with which I am familiar; and inspect it for correct fit and function prior to each dive. If diving a rebreather (SCR or CCR), be specifically trained and qualified for the particular rebreather. Use all the tec community accepted equipment required for the particular tec diving in which I engage. Deny use of tec diving equipment to divers uncertified in its use. Maintain all equipment in accordance with manufacturer recommendations. Only make modifications the manufacturer authorizes me to make. Not dive beyond the manufacturer rated depth and/or time limits for equipment. Always have at least two functioning life support systems on a tec dive, and if one fails, use the other to abort the dive.
    

4. Listen carefully to dive briefings and directions and respect the advice of those supervising my diving activities. Recognize that special training may be required for participation in many tec diving activities, including self-reliant diving (solo diving), when diving in other geographic areas and after periods of inactivity.
    

5. Adhere to the team diving philosophy on every tec dive. Plan dives, including but not limited to, communications, procedures for reuniting in case of separation, and emergency procedures, with my team. Agree that the overriding mission of every dive is for the entire team to return safely. Dive within a team, but be self-sufficient. Honor the rule that any diver can abort any dive at any time for any reason. Agree that to dive alone, I should be qualified as a self-reliant (solo) diver. Rec- ognize that diving alone may add risk by depriving me of a team mate who can assist me in the event of, or to prevent, an accident or incident, and understand that any available supervisory staff may have little or no opportunity to affect a timely assist or rescue.
    

6. Not exceed a PO2 of 1.4 (bar/ata) for general open-circuit diving and 1.3 for general rebreather diving. Not exceed a PO2 of 1.6 under any circumstances, and plan dives well within oxygen exposure limits. Plan overhead environment and decompression dives with ample life support reserve to handle unforeseen problems. Be proficient in dive planning with decompression software and/or the planning mode of dive computers. Recognize that the state of practice in tec decompression diving is to have two tec diving computers per diver to provide decompression information. Be qualified for, and use, high oxygen gas mixes to make decompression more efficient. Limit maximum depth and stop time to my level of training and experience.
    

7. Maintain proper buoyancy for the tec diving activity. Maintain neutral buoyancy while underwater. Be buoyant for surface swimming and resting, and, if diving in a negatively buoyant condition due to gas and equipment requirements, have at least two means of controlling buoyancy using low pressure inflation by a gas source. Carry at least one visual and one audible surface signaling device (signal tube, whistle, mirror) when diving in open water. Always dive with a Delayed Surface Marker Buoy or lift bag and reel to provide an emergency decompression line and to make my position visible from the surface.
    

8. Breathe properly while diving. Never breath-hold or skip-breathe. Avoid overexertion while in and underwater and dive within my limitations. Recognize that the deeper I dive, the greater the effort required to breathe and the easier it is to overexert. Recognize that when diving a rebreather, the deeper I dive, the less efficient my scrubber will be, which will raise the carbon dioxide level in the breathing loop, all else being equal. Use helium-based mixes to reduce gas density and effort of breathing when making deep technical dives.
    

9. Bail out without delay if I have a problem when diving with a rebreather; when in doubt, bail out, then identify the problem. Acknowledge that any diver can bail out at any time for any reason. Not return to the loop if I cannot determine the problem, or if I suspect a problem with the scrubber, failed mushroom (nonreturn) valves, or a flooded unit.
    

10. Stay within accepted gas narcosis limits. Recognize that oxygen is considered a narcotic gas when determining nar- cotic limits. Use helium gas blends, with the proper training, and accept the risks of helium diving, to reduce narcosis to within acceptable limits when making dives that would otherwise exceed those limits.
     

11. Know and obey local dive laws and regulations, including fish and game and dive flag laws, and laws regulating access to dive sites.
     

12. Accept that even with proper training, technical diving exposes me to more hazards and potential risk than does recreational diving; such hazards may include, but are not limited to, lack of direct access to the surface (whether from a physical barrier or decompression obligation) too much oxygen or too little oxygen, high carbon dioxide, gas narcosis leading to poor judgment and decisions, decompression sickness, diving negatively buoyant and difficulty managing problems due to overall task loading. Understand that if I cannot accept these risks on a particular dive, I shall not make the dive or will abort it if I already have begun. Acknowledge that if I cannot accept the risks in general, I shall discontinue tec diving until I am able and choose to do so.

InDepth
TEWKESBURY SCHOOL POOL RISK ASSESSMENT

Site: Tewkesbury School Swimming Pool
Project: Confined Water Training & Skills Refreshment
Organisation’s name: InDepth Dive Centre & Club - PADI 26763 - SAA 1170

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Document is © Copyright: James Neal

InDepth
INLAND DIVE SITES
RISK ASSESSMENT

- CROMHALL
- VOBSTER QUAY
- STONEY COVE
- DOSTHILL

Site: Inland Dive Sites: Cromhall, Vobster Quay, Stoney Cove, Dosthill
Project: Open Water Training & Skills Refreshment
Organisation’s name: InDepth Dive Centre & Club - PADI 26763 - SAA 1170

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Document is © Copyright: James Neal

InDepth
DIVE MASTER
INSURANCE POLICY
 

You can view our Dive Master Insurance Indigo Policy for the Dive Centre and the Dive Club HERE..

InDepth
EXAMPLE
DIVE SITE BRIEFINGS

Below is an example of a Dive Site Briefing that would be given to students on arrival at a dive site. The example provided is for the old NDAC site, now closed. These briefings are typically given by Divemasters or Trainees Divemasters under direct supervision.

InDepth
DIVE MANAGEMENT SHEETS

Any club member / diver using their own scuba diving equipment does so at their own risk and must confirm that they have completed a pre-dive safety check of all of their own equipment and that it has been serviced in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations and any required legislation for inspection and/or service. InDepth Dive Club accepts no responsibility for loss or damage resulting from club members / divers using their own scuba diving equipment.

InDepth
DRUGS & ALCOHOL POLICY

InDepth dive Club is committed to providing a safe & healthy working and training environment for all our employees, customers and visitors. This includes ensuring that all employees and customers are fit to carry out their functions within the dive team in and out of the water, and for our staff to carry out other duties as required, in a drug and alcohol free environment.

All divers and surface support are expected to arrive at the designated dive site, fit and able to carry out their roles in full, without any limitations due to the use or aftereffects of drugs or alcohol. Misuse of drugs and alcohol can lead to increased risks health and safety risks to the diver and all members of the dive team.

In accordance with our duties under the health and safety at work act 1974 and associated legislation
InDepth Dive Club must ensure the safety of its staff, its customers and the general public. Therefore, it cannot and will not condone:

A diver’s ability to dive, being impaired in any way by reason of the or consumption of drugs or alcohol.

Failure to notify InDepth Dive Club of any medication or other substances being taken by the diver, that the diver knows or should have known affects their ability to dive in a safe manor.

The consumption and/or use of drugs and/or alcohol (other than prescription or over the counter medication, as directed) on company premises.

The purpose of this policy is to increase awareness of drugs and alcohol misuse and its likely symptoms and to ensure that:

All divers are aware of their responsibilities regarding alcohol and drug misuse and related problems.

Divers who have an alcohol or drug related problem are encouraged to seek help at an early stage.

Divers who have an alcohol or drug related problem are treated fairly and consistently.

Scope:

This policy covers all employees, contractors, divers, surface support and customers, and covers alcohol and drug misuse during and outside of working hours.

Definitions and abbreviations:

Dive team – any diver covered by the InDepth operational dive plan.

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Policies and Responsibilities:

Responsible drinking

Divers are prohibited from drinking alcohol during normal hours. Divers must not drink on company premises (including in company vehicles), unless permitted at a social event (however, see below in relation to responsible behaviour for club members/divers).

Club Members are required to demonstrate responsible behaviour whilst diving, at club related functions and club related social events and to act in a way that will not have a detrimental effect on the reputation of InDepth Dive Club. If members entertain or represent InDepth Dive club at external events where alcohol is served, they are considered to be representing InDepth Dive Club regardless of whether it is outside of normal working hours.
 

Consequently, they are expected to remain professional and behave responsibly.

All members must comply with drink-driving and drug-driving laws at all times. Conviction for drink
driving or drug-driving may harm the reputation and if they need to drive for diving, may result in an inability to reach remote dive sites. 

Prescription & Over the Counter Medication:

If a diver (either staff or customer) or surface support is taking prescribed or over the counter medication they must seek advice from a medical practitioner or pharmacist about the possible effects this may have on their ability to carry out their role within the dive team. The effects of such medication can, for example, include drowsiness, lack of concentration or more serious effects that could affect a diver’s ability to equalise and/or increase their risk to decompression illness. It is the responsibility of the diver to seek the appropriate advice on the effects of medication and advise InDepth accordingly.

The diver must inform their instructor or a member of the committee as soon as possible of any effect the medication may have on their ability to carry out their role within the dive team.

A failure to advise InDepth Dive Club of medication which affects the diver’s ability to carry out their role within the dive team in a safe manner will be considered a serious breach of health and safety.

Disclosure of medical information to InDepth Dive Club will be treated with the strictest confidence and information on medication will only be shared on a need to know basis.

InDepth
EXAMPLE
ACoP CONSIDERATION DOCUMENT

Photogrammetry for Club Recreational Activities

The document below is an example of how InDepth Dive Club gave consideration to the ACoP despite the photogrammetry project in question being a recreational one.

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Document is © Copyright: James Neal

InDepth
EXAMPLE
RECREATIONAL PROJECT PLAN

Photogrammetry for Club Recreational Activities

The document below is an example of an InDepth Project Plan. The example given is for an old photogrammetry project at the now closed NDAC site.

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NOTE: This document contains multiple Emergency Action Plans.

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Document is © Copyright: James Neal

InDepth
DEEP BLUE RHIB INSURANCE DOCUMENT
 

The document below is our insurance policy for the club RHIB - Deep Blue

InDepth
DIVE CLUB INSURANCE DOCUMENT
 

The document below is our insurance policy for the Dive Centre / Club.