SD1 - Recreational Diving

Recreational Diving (current ref: AP13)

Recreational diving should only be permitted provided the following is in place:

Risk Assessment

Aquatic facility owners / operators should complete a Recreational Diving Risk Assessment (or incorporate into the broader aquatic supervision risk assessment and supervision plan).

The risk assessment should consider:

• Whether the facility has the appropriate water depths for safe recreational diving
• What qualifications, training, professional licensing (if applicable) and experience the lifeguards needs to supervise diving effectively and ensure safety
• Whether the lifeguard is medically fit and healthy to supervise diving and conduct diving-related rescues (such as deep-water spinals)
• The availability of suitable aquatic spinal injury management rescue equipment
• The availability of appropriate signage to indicate where recreational diving is permitted and/or prohibited.

Water Depth Requirements

• Minimum Depth for Diving From Water Level: 1.8m
• OptimalDepth for Diving From Water Level: 2m
• Minimum Depth for Diving from Starting Blocks or Upstands (up to 750mm in height above water level): 2m
• Forward Clearance: 6m of forward clearance from the edge of the pool, the first 5m of which should be at least the recommended water depth.

Supervision

• Lifeguards: Should be in place wherever recreational diving is permitted.
• Protocol: Lifeguards should enforce facility rules and prohibit diving if the water depth or forward clearance requirements are not met.

Additional Safety Considerations

• Signage: Should comply with Guidelines for Safe Pool Operations - Aquatic Signage and ISO 20712- Water safety signs and beach flags.
• Prohibited Practices: Running dives and diving in wave pools should be prohibited, regardless of depth.
• Starting Blocks: Should be isolated to prevent recreational use where the pool depth is less than 2m
• No Diving Areas: Should be clearly marked with ‘no diving’ signage, consistent with the Guidelines for Safe Pool Operations - Aquatic Signage and ISO 20712- Water safety signs and beach flags.

REFERENCES

• Blanksby, B., Wearne, F. K., Elliott, B., & Blitvich, J. D. (1997). Aetiology and occurrence of diving injuries: A review of diving safety. Sports Medicine, 23(4), 228-246. https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-199723040-00003
• FINA Facility Rules 2021 - 2025. FINA, Lausanne.
• Safe Diving Practices: Competitive Applications (Keith McElroy), J Blitvich et al, 1999.
• Guide to Ontario Public Pools Regulation, 2nd Edition, 2004, Lifesaving Society, Toronto
• Managing Health and Safety in Swimming Pools, 3rd Edition, 2003, Sport England Publications, Wetherby.
• GSPO Guideline FD24 Design of Starting Blocks (Starting Platforms)
• GSPO Guideline SU22 Safe Water Entry For Competitions
• GSPO Guideline PR8 Qualifications For Providing Safe Aquatic Programs

PREVIOUS GUIDELINES

• Guideline SU23 Supervision of Diving (Recreational Swimming), Issue 1, January 2001
• Guideline AP13 - Supervision of Safe Water Entry (Diving) For Recreational Swimming, Issue 1,