First reported 16 Sep 2016•Latest report 30 Apr 2026
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes failures of controls specifically dedicated to safe diving operations, including diver training and competence requirements, breathing-apparatus safety requirements, diver recovery or removal arrangements, and other operational controls intended to prevent or respond to diving emergencies.
Not included
Excludes generic training, equipment or emergency-response deficiencies not explicitly tied to diving operations.
Excludes hazards involving swimming, water sports or water rescue where diving operations are not the named safety concern.
Excludes the underlying condition or outcome of a diving incident when no deficiency in a dedicated diving-safety control is identified.
Excludes unrelated organisational, regulatory or occupational-safety failures without a direct connection to safe diving operations.
Reports
6
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
14
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2016–2026
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
21
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
British Diving Safety Group2
British Sub-Aqua Club2
Health and Safety Executive2
Dulwich Dive Club1
Ministry of Defence1
N.D.A.C. Limited1
St Richard's Hospital1
Sub-Aqua Association1
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust1
Maritime sector body2
Professional membership body2
Workplace safety regulator2
Company limited by guarantee1
Healthcare site1
Ministerial department1
NHS trust1
Private limited company1
Sport governing body1
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
Berkshire
Concerns raised2
Insufficient guidance on the duties of shore support or surface cover
Ambiguity in legislation and guidance about applicability to volunteer divers
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.9
Action
Rewrite shore-cover guidance defining the roles and responsibilities of shore support.
Stated by British Diving Safety GroupStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 25 June 2026.
Action
Review Dive Management guidance to address the concern that shore support should maintain eyes on the water.
Stated by British Diving Safety GroupStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 25 June 2026.
Action
Review Dive Marshal guidance to incorporate explicit eyes-on-the-water requirements.
Stated by British Diving Safety GroupStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 25 June 2026.
Action
Form a working group to define recommended qualifications and good practices for shore cover.
Stated by British Diving Safety GroupStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 25 June 2026.
Action
Revise resources to strengthen instructors’ awareness and enforcement of Diving at Work Regulations medical requirements.
Stated by British Diving Safety GroupStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 25 June 2026.
Action
Implement a UK-specific addendum training SSI professional trainers on UK Diving at Work Regulations and Approved Code of Practice requirements.
Stated by British Diving Safety GroupStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 25 June 2026.
Action
Produce and publish volunteer diver guidance clarifying medical fitness requirements for volunteers essential to diving projects.
Stated by Health and Safety ExecutiveStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 25 June 2026.
Action
Work with PADI to promote guidance helping recreational diving members comply with the Diving at Work Regulations.
Stated by Health and Safety ExecutiveStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 25 June 2026.
Action
Review and update volunteer diving guidance to provide clear, unambiguous information, taking account of the coroner’s concerns.
Stated by Health and Safety ExecutiveStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 25 June 2026.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
Position
The relationship between the deceased and the commercial diving project falls outside the organisation’s expertise to advise on.
Stated by British Diving Safety GroupOutside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
Position
The diving contractor should seek legal advice about applying volunteer safety requirements to the commercial diving project.
Stated by British Diving Safety GroupRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
The recreational diving ACoP applies only to diving projects under DWR, not purely leisure dives by members of the public.
Stated by Health and Safety ExecutiveDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
West Sussex, Brighton and Hove
Concerns raised1
Overreliance on self-declaration questionnaires without further enquiry or access to previous medical history
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
Action
Include immersion pulmonary oedema in the diving medical screening declaration.
Stated by Sub-Aqua AssociationStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 19 November 2025.
Action
Remind members at renewal and through periodic newsletters to complete medical declarations accurately.
Stated by Sub-Aqua AssociationStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 19 November 2025.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Revised medical screening forms and existing training changes are considered sufficient to mitigate the risk of immersion pulmonary oedema in diving.
Stated by Sub-Aqua AssociationExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Dorset
Concerns raised2
Inconsistency in minimum safety pressure requirements for diver breathing apparatus
Lack of spare breathing apparatus cylinders in the safety boat
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
Action
Align minimum abort-pressure figures across diving policies and maintenance guidance at 50 bar, and cascade the resulting direction across the dive community.
Stated by Ministry of DefenceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 10 August 2023.
Action
Update JSP 286 with minimum standby-diver cylinder requirements and guidance on immediate availability of a second diving life-support set.
Stated by Ministry of DefenceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 10 August 2023.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Carrying a second dive set in safety boats is not required where doing so is impracticable, with the nearest safe location acceptable instead.
Stated by Ministry of DefenceUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Gloucestershire
Concerns raised1
Inefficient diver removal methods and techniques at the diving centre
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Action
Require suitably crewed safety boats at third-party operations based on controls identified through diving-operation risk assessments.
Stated by NDAC LtdStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 10 January 2022.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Responsibility for current diving-operation safety arrangements lies with DTSL, the new operator, which should be contacted for further information.
Stated by NDAC LtdRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Leicester City and South Leicestershire
Concerns raised2
Reliance on divers’ self-reporting failing to ensure disclosure of salient health facts
Lack of requirement to obtain divers’ General Practitioner records or enquire into other practitioners’ treatment or advice
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
Position
The current self-certification system, including requests for further information and specialist advice, is considered sufficient; no change is needed.
Stated by UK Diving Medical CommitteeExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Position
Obtaining full, unadjusted medical records for all divers is impractical because general practitioners refuse non-NHS forms.
Stated by UK Diving Medical CommitteeUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Leicester City and South Leicestershire
Concerns raised6
Failure to match permitted dive depth to diver experience and currency
Failure to properly plan dives
Training failing to comply with BSAC Sports Diver training requirements
Foreseeable risk of difficult release from the belt configuration
Failure to complete written dive risk assessments
Failure to read important safety information displayed at the dive centre
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.7
Action
Continue educating divers and instructors about dive planning through member emails, instructor bulletins and SCUBA Magazine articles.
Stated by British Sub-Aqua ClubStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 16 September 2016.
Action
Remind instructors to follow BSAC training-programme guidance.
Stated by Dulwich BSAC 102Stated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 16 September 2016.
Action
Remind instructors to follow Diver Training Programme guidance for skills through Instructor News.
Stated by British Sub-Aqua ClubStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 16 September 2016.
Action
Continue encouraging students and qualified divers to follow training and practise regularly with their chosen equipment configuration.
Stated by Dulwich BSAC 102Stated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 16 September 2016.
Action
Produce guidance explaining the importance of weightbelt removal.
Stated by British Sub-Aqua ClubStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 16 September 2016.
Action
Remind instructors through Instructor News to teach weightbelt removal as required by the Diver Training Programme.
Stated by British Sub-Aqua ClubStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 16 September 2016.
Action
Review website risk-assessment information and assess interactive materials through the new digital platform.
Stated by British Sub-Aqua ClubStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 16 September 2016.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.10
Position
The second dive was considered safe because correct nitrogen calculations and surface-interval procedures complied with current guidelines.
Stated by Dulwich BSAC 102Disputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Position
Progressing from 16.5 to 20 metres after a gap was not considered unreasonable, and no evidence showed the recommendation posed diver risk.
Stated by British Sub-Aqua ClubDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Position
No single or simple message could highlight the specific dive-planning concern because dives vary with conditions and individual skills.
Stated by British Sub-Aqua ClubUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Position
Conducting Sports Diver lessons out of sequence was considered reasonable because prerequisite skills are taught at Ocean Diver level.
Stated by British Sub-Aqua ClubDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Position
Weight-belt and equipment configuration was considered a matter of personal choice because no governing guidelines exist and training covered weight removal.
Stated by Dulwich BSAC 102Disputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Position
The weightbelt and BCD configuration was considered uncommon as a safety concern.
Stated by British Sub-Aqua ClubDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Position
Existing training requires practising removal of divers’ own and buddies’ weightbelts at every stage and encourages regular practice.
Stated by British Sub-Aqua ClubExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Position
Written risk assessments are not considered necessary at known sites because current guidelines and established dive-planning and briefing practices apply.
Stated by Dulwich BSAC 102Existing arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Position
Free-flow was not considered a special risk below five degrees Celsius, and existing cold-water regulators and briefing arrangements were considered adequate.
Stated by Dulwich BSAC 102Disputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Position
Site signs were considered awareness measures, while operators acknowledged their warnings were overly cautious for year-round cold-water DSMB practice.
Stated by British Sub-Aqua ClubDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
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Includes failures of controls specifically dedicated to safe diving operations, including diver training and competence requirements, breathing-apparatus safety requirements, diver recovery or removal arrangements, and other operational controls intended to prevent or respond to diving emergencies.
