Appendix

Dive Planning I
SECTION PAGE

NOAA DIVING OPERATIONS PLAN

DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-1

DIVE SAFETY AND PLANNING

PREDIVE CHECKLIST. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-3

DIVE SAFETY AND PLANNING

POSTDIVE CHECKLIST. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-5

DIVING ACCIDENT
MANAGEMENT PLAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-7
 NOAA DIVING OPERATIONS PLAN
DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES
I. Introduction to the NOAA Dive Operations Plan
The purpose of preparing a dive plan is to ensure that NOAA diving operations are thoroughly planned so as to maximize the
chances of safely and successfully achieving the objectives of the dive project. This document provides a generic dive plan tem-
plate from which a project-specific plan can be prepared. Not all the information listed in this document may be required for each
diving operation, nor is this template intended to encompass all information that may be needed for each diving project. The
NOAA Diving Supervisor and the Project Manager/Chief Scientist must use their judgement in determining which sections of the
dive plan should be completed.

II. For single day or simple diving projects, the NOAA Diving Supervisor and the Project Manager/Chief Scientist should plan div-
ing operations using the list of information in this Appendix.

III. For multiple day or complex diving projects, the NOAA Divemaster and the Project Manager/Chief Scientist should work togeth-
er to complete the following sections:

• Section I: Overview of Diving Project Activities

• Section II: Schedule of Diving Operations
• Section III: Specific Dive Plan Information
• Section IV: Estimated Budget
• Dive Safety and Planning: Predive Checklist and Postdive Checklist
• Diving Accident Management Plan

A. Section I: Overview of Diving Activities

• Project objective (s) and question (s) to be answered by the project.
• Mailing addresses, telephone number, fax numbers and e-mail addresses for key participants.
• Significance of project or benefit to the (Name of NOAA Unit, Ship, or Party).
• General location of diving operations, dive vessel (s) to be used, and a map of all potential dive sites.
• Dates of diving project and list of participants, including both NOAA and non-NOAA divers.
• General overview of diving techniques or procedures to be used, including illustrations of techniques or references to publica-
tions explaining procedures in greater detail if necessary.
• Statement regarding compliance with OSHA/USCG Commercial Diving Regulations (Are operations subject to or exempt?).

B. Section II: Schedule of Diving Operations

Provide the following information concerning schedules and timing of events:
• [Date(s)]: Mobilization activities to prepare for the diving project.
• [Date(s)]: Testing or training to prepare for diving activities.
• [Date(s)]: Dive times and diving activities planned for the project, including daily briefings and debriefings.
• [Date(s)]: Planned day(s) off, if applicable.
• [Date(s)]: Demobilization activities to complete the diving project.
• [Date(s)]: Report on the results of the diving project prepared by NOAA Divemaster in consultation with Project
Manager/Chief Scientist.

C. Section III: Specific Dive Plan Information

Provide the following information:
• Names, agency affiliations, certification levels, and roles or functions for all diving participants.
• Underwater tasks to be completed (in order of priority), the estimated time to accomplish each task, and whether the task falls
under the USCG/OSHA Commercial Diving Regulations or is exempt due to its scientific nature.
• Dive sites by name (if applicable), location (LAT/LONG), and depth (FSW).
• Equipment required to accomplish the underwater tasks and the agency responsible for supplying the equipment.
• Any special permits (i.e., collection permits in marine sanctuaries) or chemicals (i.e., Rotenone) that may be required or used
during the operation.
• The following statement should be included in Section III: “All diving operations will comply with the NOAA Diving Regulations
(NOAA Administrative Order 209 –123, 1999), current policies of the NOAA Diving Center, and applicable reciprocity agreements.”

D. Section IV: Estimated Budget

Provide the following estimates:
• Salaries (including overtime) and dive pay
• Travel and per diem
• Contractual services
• Equipment and/or facilities
• Expendable supplies and materials

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I-2 NOAA Diving Manual

 DIVE SAFETY AND PLANNING
PREDIVE CHECKLIST

The Dive Safety and Planning Predive Checklist is to be completed by the assigned NOAA Divemaster prior to NOAA
dive activities.

I. Mission Safety
¨ Dive operations are planned in accordance with NOAA Diving regulations.
¨ NOAA Unit Diving Supervisor, or assigned Divemaster, approves planned dive operations.
¨ A certified NOAA Divemaster is in-charge of the diving operation.
¨ All divers are on active dive status with the NOAA Diving Program.
¨ The Diving Accident Management Plan is posted, coordinated, and reviewed (i.e., chamber availability,
evacuation route, etc.), and all personnel informed of their duties.
¨ Predive briefing conducted.
¨ Dive mission, objectives, and goals are defined, reviewed, and understood by dive team and support personnel.

II. Identify, Analyze, and Prepare for Potential Hazards

¨ Identify dive site entry procedures and exit access point (s).
¨ Define depth, bottom time, and minimum breathing gas pressure limits for the planned dives.
¨ Define next deeper and next longer bottom time limits in case planned limits are exceeded accidentally.
¨ Evaluate and discuss potential for entrapment, entanglement, or other physical or mechanical hazards.
¨ Evaluate and discuss potential for bottom obstructions or dangerous bottom conditions.
¨ Evaluate and discuss potential for dangerous marine life.
¨ Evaluate and discuss potential for strong current, low visibility, thermoclines, surge, etc.
¨ Evaluate and discuss potential for contamination or exposure to pollution (i.e., petroleum products, biological
or chemical hazards, etc.).
¨ Evaluate and discuss local marine traffic hazards (notify vessel traffic of diving operations).
¨ Complete Dive Safe Ship Operations (NOAA Form 64-3) if applicable.
¨ Ensure that Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) available for all chemicals being used.

III. Diving and Support Personnel

¨ Ensure that all divers are authorized to perform their assigned duties according to their NOAA certification
levels (i.e., Working Diver, Scientific Diver, Trainee Diver, or Observational Diver).
¨ Ensure that all divers are qualified (i.e., proper training and experience) to safely complete assigned underwater tasks.
¨ Verify that all divers are physically and mentally fit to conduct dive.
¨ Ensure that dive physicals are available for each diver in case of an emergency.
¨ Ensure that support personnel understand all diver hand signals and can offer immediate assistance in case of an
emergency.
¨ Brief the dive team and support personnel.

IV. Equipment
¨ Ensure all dive gear and techniques are appropriate and authorized.
¨ Ensure all diver gear is on-hand, inspected, and found fully functional prior to the divers entering the water.
¨ Ensure all emergency and support equipment/supplies are available, inspected and found fully functional prior to
commencing dive operations:
¨ Drinking water
¨ Means of communication (i.e., radio, cellular telephone, landline telephone, SATCOM, etc.)
¨ Oxygen resuscitator, first aid kit, and backboard
¨ Divemaster kit, including a complete set of USN Decompression Tables
¨ Ensure dive platform is stable, seaworthy, and outfitted with required safety equipment.
¨ Ensure appropriate dive flags (sport and/or code alpha) are prominently displayed.

Dive Planning I-3

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 DIVE SAFETY AND PLANNING
POSTDIVE CHECKLIST
The Dive Safety and Planning Postdive Checklist is to be completed by the assigned NOAA Divemaster following NOAA
dive activities.

¨ Notify vessel bridge when diving operations are completed.

¨ Strike the dive flags.
¨ Ensure dive team buddies stay together for a minimum of 30 minutes after each dive.
¨ Recover and stow all support equipment.
¨ Ensure that all dive equipment is thoroughly cleaned and properly stowed.
¨ Refill all scuba cylinders.
¨ Log all dives and topside activities.
¨ Conduct a dive debrief.
¨ Monitor divers for signs and symptoms of pressure-related illnesses or injuries for a minimum of 2 hours after
each dive.
¨ Provide contact numbers for nearest chamber, transportation to chamber, and Divemaster.
¨ File a final dive report.

Dive Planning I-5

 NOTES

I-6 NOAA Diving Manual

 DIVING ACCIDENT MANAGEMENT PLAN
A Diving Accident Management Plan is prepared for each diving locale and operation. The Plan is to be implemented in the event of a diving
emergency.

I. Dive Accident Plan: Conscious and Alert Diving Accident Victim

A. Evaluate victim’s Airway, Breathing, and Circulation (ABC).
B. Put the victim on 100% oxygen using a positive-pressure/demand oxygen resuscitator.
C. Call 911 (local EMS) and the U.S. Coast Guard at [LOCATION] at [USCG TELEPHONE NUMBER], or hail them on VHF radio,
channel 16, to report the diving accident. The EMS dispatcher will notify land transportation, [NAME OF LOCAL HOSPITAL], and
the [NAME OF THE CLOSEST RECOMPRESSION CHAMBER].
D. Evaluate the victim and gather additional information about the incident:
• Perform a 5-minute field neurological examination on the stricken diver
• Gather as much information about the dive as possible
• Interview the victim’s dive buddy for additional information
• Secure victim’s dive gear for examination (DO NOT DISASSEMBLE GEAR OR EXHAUST ANY AIR FROM THE SYSTEM)
E. If decompression sickness is suspected, or any other type of pressure-related injury (arterial gas embolism, pneumothorax, etc.) keep
the victim on his back (DO NOT RAISE THE VICTIM’S LEGS). Place the victim on his side if nauseated or vomiting–keep the air-
way clear.
F. The victim should be transported to [NAME OF LOCAL HOSPITAL] for evaluation. The [NAME OF CLOSEST RECOMPRES-
SION CHAMBER] is the closest available recompression chamber.
• If not nauseated and not experiencing altered level of consciousness, give the victim water to drink during transportation to the
[NAME OF LOCAL HOSPITAL].
• Continue oxygen administration.
• Send any and all information about the dive with the victim to the hospital including results of field neurological examination.
• Keep victim comfortable and observe for shock or change in condition.
G. Based on the evaluation by the doctor at [NAME OF LOCAL HOSPITAL], the victim may be transported to the [NAME OF CLOS-
EST RECOMPRESSION CHAMBER] for treatment.

II. Dive Accident Plan: Unconscious and Non-Responsive Dive Accident Victim
A. Evaluate victim’s Airway, Breathing, and Circulation (ABC).
B. Start cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, or rescue breathing using a positive-pressure/demand oxygen resuscitator.
C. Call 911 (local EMS) and the U.S. Coast Guard at [LOCATION] at [U.S.C.G. TELEPHONE NUMBER], or hail them on VHF
radio, channel 16, to report the diving accident. The EMS dispatcher will notify land transportation, [NAME OF LOCAL HOSPI-
TAL], and the [NAME OF THE CLOSEST RECOMPRESSION CHAMBER].
D. Evaluate the victim and gather additional information about the incident:
• Gather as much information about the dive as possible
• Interview the victim’s dive buddy for additional information
• Secure victim’s dive gear for examination (DO NOT DISASSEMBLE GEAR OR EXHAUST ANY AIR FROM THE SYSTEM)
E. Transport the victim to the harbor that is the closest to the dive site [NAME OF NEAREST HARBOR OR EVACUATION SITE]
where a local ambulance should be standing-by to evacuate the victim to [NAME OF LOCAL HOSPITAL].
F. If there is a problem transporting the victim to the nearest harbor or if the time delay is significant (>2 hours), call or radio the
U.S.C.G. at [U.S.C.G. TELEPHONE NUMBER] or VHF channel 16, to arrange air evacuation of the victim. The U.S.C.G. air evac-
uation team will coordinate with [NAME OF LOCAL HOSPITAL].

III. Medical Assistance and Recompression Chamber Contact Information

A. Before commencing dive operations, the Divemaster will contact the primary recompression chamber to ensure that the chamber is
operational and available to receive patients. If the primary chamber is not operational, alternate facilities should be contacted.
B. Primary recompression chamber facility:
• LOCATION
• ADDRESS
• TELEPHONE NUMBER DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS
• TELEPHONE NUMBER AFTER HOURS
C. Alternate telephone numbers for recompression chambers and medical advice are:
• [FIRST ALTERNATE and TELEPHONE NUMBER]
• [SECOND ALTERNATIVE and TELEPHONE NUMBER]
D. Divers Alert Network
• The Peter B. Bennett Center, 6 West Colony Place, Durham, North Carolina 27705, U.S.A
• (919) 684 - 8111 (24 hour emergency telephone number)

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I-8 NOAA Diving Manual

The NOAA Diving Manual was prepared jointly by the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce and Best
Publishing Company.

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