Find information about dive plans, procedures and the qualifications you'll need for UQ diving activities.
Register to dive
You must register with our boating and diving team to dive with UQ.
To register, complete the online UQ Scientific Diver Induction (UQ login required) and then email copies of required qualifications and certificates to boating.diving@uq.edu.au.
Required qualifications
Scuba diving for research in Australia is classified as occupational diving and has minimum qualifications.
UQ has implemented 5 diver categories. All diver categories comply with General Diving Work, as defined by the Queensland Work Health and Safety Regulation.
The 5 diver categories include:
- Scientific Diver (Unrestricted)
- Scientific Diver (Restricted)
- Visiting Scientific Diver
- Limited Scientific Diver
- Incidental Diver
A person may apply to be registered as one (or more) of the diver categories if they have documented evidence of the required certifications and experience for each category.
To apply to be registered as a diver at UQ, a person must submit a UQ Diver Registration form to a UQ Diving Officer. The diver must also satisfy an In-Water diver competency assessment.
All divers must hold a current dive medical compliant with AS/NZS 2299.
Scientific Diver (Unrestricted)
A person may apply to be registered as a Scientific Diver (Unrestricted) if they have documented evidence of at least 15 hours of diving work that is relevant to the proposed underwater tasks to be performed and hold one (or more) of the following qualifications:
- A certificate for dive leader*, issued by a recognised diver-training organisation (e.g. PADI, SSI etc.), that is equivalent to either:
- Dive Instructor or
- Dive Master
- A Statement of Attainment issued by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO), that is relevant to the diving work to be carried out by the person. Examples of such qualifications include:
- ADAS Occupational Diver (Australian Diver Accreditation Scheme)
- Perform Diver Rescues (course code: SISOSCB006)
- Scientific Diver (course code: AHCLPW307)
*Dive Leader certificates must comply with the requirements of either:
- ISO 24801-3 Dive leader or
- ISO 24802 series.
Scientific Diver (Restricted)
A person may apply to be registered as a Scientific Diver (Restricted) if they hold one (or more) of the qualifications listed as per the requirements for a Scientific Diver (Unrestricted), but do not yet have documented evidence of at least 15 hours of diving work that is relevant to the proposed underwater tasks to be performed.
A Restricted Scientific Diver shall:
- be supervised by a Scientific Diver who is authorised by an UQ Diving Officer to supervise Restricted Scientific Divers
- not dive deeper than 18 metres depth
- only dive when conditions are suitable for untethered SCUBA mode
- not act as a dive coordinator or a dive leader
- not use powered tools or lift bags
- be at least 18 years of age
- have at least 15 hours of underwater diving experience after certification
- not dive as a restricted diver other than for a single initial period of up to 12 months
Visiting Scientific Diver
A person who is not a permanent resident in Australia and wishes to undertake scientific diving works under the auspices of their ‘home’ organisation, may apply to be registered as a Visiting Scientific Diver.
A Visiting Scientific Diver applicant will:
- not be a resident in Australia
- provide a letter from the diver's employer verifying competency as a Scientific Diver to at least the level required in the diver's current country of residence
- hold, as a minimum, a diver certification compliant with the requirements detailed within ISO 24801.2 (Open Water Diver), issued by a recognised diver training organisation
- have verified relevant experience of at least 60 hours of scientific diving, using the breathing apparatus to be used, of which 500 minutes were spent within 10 metres of the working depth, or deeper.
Limited Scientific Diver
A person who is not a permanent resident in Australia, and is not a Visiting Scientific Diver, may apply to be registered as a Limited Scientific Diver.
A Limited Scientific Diver applicant must hold the following qualifications:
- Rescue Diver certification (or equivalent) from a recognised diver training organisation
- verified relevant experience of at least 60 hours of diving using the breathing apparatus to be used of which 500 minutes were spent within 10 metres of the proposed working depth or deeper
Incidental Diver
A person wishing to undertake diving work that is incidental to the conduct of their usual business or undertakings* may apply to be registered as an Incidental Diver.
*This means the person does not usually perform diving work and proposes to undertake diving work on a 'one-off' basis.
An Incidental Diver must:
- hold a diver certification compliant with the requirements detailed within ISO 24801.2 (Open Water Diver) issued by a recognised diver training organisation
- have verified relevant experience of at least 15 hours of non-training logged diving activity
An Incidental Diver must be accompanied and supervised by a Scientific Diver who is authorised by a UQ Dive Officer to supervise Incidental Scientific Divers.
An Incidental Diver will:
- not dive deeper than 18 metres depth
- only dive when conditions are suitable for untethered SCUBA mode
- not act as a dive coordinator or a dive leader
- not use powered tools or lift bags
- be at least 18 years of age
Equipment
If you're using your own dive equipment on a UQ dive, you must provide us with:
- service records for your BCD and regulators (as per manufacturer’s recommendations – typically a minimum of a yearly inspection)
- proof that your depth and pressure gauge accuracy has been tested in the past 6 months.
Ready to dive? Submit your required paperwork
You will need to submit a dive plan in advance to ensure your trip is safe and productive.
We recommend you discuss your trip outline and dive plan with us.
Submit your dive plan
Follow our steps to complete your dive plan.
1. Check qualifications
Ensure all divers have registered with us and have current certification and qualifications.
2. Submit your dive plan form
Appoint an appropriately qualified and experienced diver to act as dive coordinator. The dive coordinator must prepare a dive plan.
UQ dive coordinators must email a completed UQ dive plan form (PDF, 320.5 KB) to boating.diving@uq.edu.au
Non-UQ divers may use their own dive plan and email it to the relevant research station(s):
- Heron Island Research Station: hirs.boating@uq.edu.au
- Moreton Bay Research Station: mbrsboat@uq.edu.au
Dive plans must include:
- diver names
- tasks and duties of each person involved in the dive (including topside personnel)
- method of carrying out the diving work, e.g. buddy-pair SCUBA (untethered), SSBA, CCR, etc
- diving equipment to be used, e.g. SCUBA, SSBA, rebreather
- breathing gases to be used, e.g. air, EANx, etc
- procedures to be used, e.g. no-decompression diving, extended range, etc
- dive tables to be used, e.g. DCIEM, PADI RDP, etc
- planned dive depths/times, surface intervals and decompression profiles, e.g. pressure group, repetitive factor, etc
- risk assessment(s)
- emergency management plan(s).
Send it a minimum of 4 weeks before your planned commencement date.
If you need to make changes, such as dive dates or diver substitutions once you’ve submitted it, email us. Substitute divers must have the same or higher qualifications than the original diver nominated on the form.
Discuss your approved dive plan with all divers and crew before you dive.
3. Complete your risk assessment
UQ divers: complete your risk assessment in line with UQ procedures using UQSafe.
Non-UQ divers: submit a copy of your own organisation's risk assessment, along with your dive plan.
4. Create your work off-campus plan (UQ divers only)
Submit your off-campus work plan online for your approved dive plan, emergency procedures outline and risk assessment.
5. Check UQ policy
Dive coordinators must ensure their group's activities adhere to UQ's procedures and guidelines of diving safety.
Contact us
Contact us for more information.
Email: boating.diving@uq.edu.au
Phone: +61 7 3443 8289
Mobile: +61 459 549 186