Before any diving is carried out there must be a relevant dive plan and diving project plan available.

The diving project plan defines the scope of diving work to be performed for a diving project and contains records of the conclusions, findings and decisions of the planning activities relevant to the project. It is both guidance for the dive team and evidence of due diligence by the employer.

Dive plan contain the proposed profile and tasks of each dive and these are updated when required. The dive plan may refer to more detailed information in the diving project plan when appropriate.

The dive plan will consist of, at minimum, the employer's Standard Operations Manual and any appropriate site-and task specific risk assessments and procedures.

The dive plan must specify the diving equipment and techniques to be used as well as the requirements of the particular operation. It must specify contingency procedures for any reasonably foreseeable emergency.

Diving mode is selected for the operation based on the requirements of the specific task, the logistics of the operation, and the HIRA.

Three modes of diving are possible under this Code:

It is a diving mode in which a diver is supplied with breathing gas using a diver's umbilical from the surface, either from the shore or from a diving support vessel, sometimes indirectly via a diving bell.

Scuba is a non-preferred option for diving under this code, however there may be occasions when the use of scuba may be justified by logistical constraints and a HIRA indicates acceptable risk under the specified circumstances. Open circuit scuba may be used with either a full-face mask or a half face mask and demand valve. A full-face mask allows voice communications equipment to be used and is the preferred option under this code.

Airline diving is customarily used for shallow water aquaculture and harvesting operations. There may be occasions when the use of airline may be justified by logistical constraints and a HIRA that indicates acceptable risk under the specified circumstances. The procedure must be authorised in the company's Operations Manual.

Airline diving may not be used under the following:

Before a dive commences, all members of the diving team must be thoroughly informed and trained with regard to the procedures to be followed in case of an emergency.

This is usually done in the form of induction training and the "toolbox talk".

The employer's operations manual should contain a section laying out the actions required of each member of the diving team in the event of an unforeseeable emergency occurring during operations.

The following list, which is not exhaustive, identifies the type of possible emergencies to be considered:

Specific checklists should be provided whenever appropriate to facilitate management in an emergency.

All dive sites shall have a means of recovering an unconscious or injured diver from the water safely, effectively and timeously.

At the onset of any sign of malfunction of equipment or sign or symptom of distress, the diver shall, immediately notify the dive supervisor, the dive tender, and any diving buddy by an appropriate signal and terminate the dive.

If an inspector makes an inspection of a worksite and the required documentation is not available on site, the operation may be stopped until evidence is provided, that the required documentation is in order and the equipment is suitable and in date. It is strongly recommended that the required documentation is kept on site where reasonably practicable.