The class of Police Diving ⁽¹⁾ is defined as diving inland in Great Britain and inshore within United Kingdom territorial sea adjacent to Great Britain (generally 12 nautical miles from the low water line) which is covered by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (Application outside Great Britain) Order 2001 ⁽²⁾ in support of:

1. diving projects undertaken by constables and civilian employees of a Police Authority in connection with investigations under its statutory undertaking;
2. diving projects undertaken by constables and civilian employees of a Police Authority on behalf of Crown Agents, HM Customs and Excise and any other agencies in connection with investigations under their statutory undertakings;

but does not include diving:

1. deeper than 50 metres;
2. where closed bell or saturation diving techniques are used;
3. from vessels maintaining station by the use of dynamic positioning;

for which a qualification for the class of Offshore Diving is required.

If it is decided to use divers other than constables and civilian employees of a Police Authority, then the qualifications of such divers are to be those of the relevant approved class of diving.

HSE approves the following qualifications for the class of Police Diving.

Great Britain

• HSE Closed Bell Diving
• HSE Part II
• HSE Part II (Restricted) (Air range only)
• Transitional Part II (issued between 1 July 1981 - 31 December 1981)
• TSA or MSC Bell Diving (issued between August 1975 and June 1981)
• HSE Surface Supplied Diving
• HSE Part I
• Transitional Part I (issued between 1 July 1981 - 31 December 1981)
• TSA or MSC Basic Air Diving (issued between August 1975 and June 1981)
• HSE Part III
• Transitional Part III (issued between 1 July 1981 - 31 December 1981)
• HSE Part III (Restricted - Tank)
• HSE SCUBA Diving
• HSE Part IV
• Transitional Part IV (issued between 1 July 1981 - 31 December 1981)
• HSE Part IV (Restricted - Tank)
• The following UK Military Diving Qualifications⁽³⁾:
  • Royal Navy - Clearance Diving Officer - Professional Qualifying Course
  • Royal Navy - Diver 1 - Professional Qualifying Course
  • Royal Navy - Ships Diver Course (SCUBA only)
  • Army - Army Diving Course (SCUBA & Surface Supplied)
  • Army - Advanced Diver Course (Surface Supplied only)
  • Army - Diving Course Module 2 (Surface Supplied only)
  • Army - Diver Class 1 (Surface Supplied only)
  • Army - Compressed Air Diver Course (SCUBA only)
  • Army - Diving Course Module 1 (SCUBA only)
  • Army - Diver Class 2 (SCUBA only)
• UK Police Diving Qualification:
  • Police Surface Supplied Diver

Australia

• Diver Accreditation Scheme - Part 1 - SCUBA to 30m only
• Diver Accreditation Scheme - Part 1 - Surface Supply⁽⁴⁾
• Diver Accreditation Scheme - Part 2 - to 30m only - [SCUBA & Surface Supplied to 30m]
• Diver Accreditation Scheme - Part 2 - Restricted⁽⁵⁾ - to 30m only - [SCUBA & Surface Supplied to 30 m]
• Diver Accreditation Scheme - Part 3 - [SCUBA, Surface Supplied & Surface Supplied (Top-Up)]
• Diver Accreditation Scheme - Part 3 - Restricted⁽⁶⁾ - [SCUBA & Surface Supplied] + HSE Surface Supplied (Top-Up)
• Diver Accreditation Scheme - Part 4 - [Closed Bell]

Belgium

• Operator Van Onderwaterwerken/Operateur de Travaux Subaquatiques - [SCUBA & Surface Supplied]

Canada⁽⁷⁾

• Category 1 Diver - [Surface Supplied & Surface Supplied (Top-Up)]
• Category 2 Diver - [Surface Supplied & Surface Supplied (Top-Up)]
• Category 3 Diver - [Closed Bell]
• Bell Diver - [Closed Bell]
• Surface Supplied Mixed Gas Diver to 70m - [Surface Supplied & Surface Supplied (Top-Up)]
• Unrestricted Surface Supplied Diver to 50m - [Surface Supplied & Surface Supplied (Top-Up)]
• Restricted Surface Supplied Diver - to 30m only - [Surface Supplied to 30m]
• Unrestricted SCUBA Diver - to 40m only - [SCUBA to 40m]
• Restricted SCUBA Diver - to 20m only - [SCUBA to 20m]

Denmark

• Erhvervsdykker - [Air Diving Qualification] - [SCUBA, Surface Supplied & Surface Supplied (Top-Up)]
• SCUBA-Dykning - [SCUBA Diving Qualification] - [to 25m] - [SCUBA to 25m]

Finland

• Ammattisukeltajan Ammattitutkinto - [Professional Diver] - [Surface Supplied & SCUBA]
• Kevytsukeltajan Tutkinto - [Light Diver] - [SCUBA to 30m]

France

• Classe 1 - Mention A - [SCUBA]
• Classe 2 - Mention A - [SCUBA, Surface Supplied & Surface Supplied (Top-Up)]
• Classe 3 - Mention A - [Closed Bell]
• Classe 1A - Mention B - [SCUBA to 12m]
• Classe 1 - Mention B - [SCUBA to 40m]
• Classe 2 - Mention B - [SCUBA to 60m]
• Classe 3 - Mention B - [Closed Bell]

Germany

• Geprüfter Taucher/Geprüfte Taucherin - [Inspected/Examiner/Qualified Diver] - [SCUBA & Surface Supplied]
• Bescheinigung für Forschungstaucher - [SCUBA]

Ireland

• Commercial Surface Supplied Diving - [Surface Supplied & SCUBA]

Netherlands

• Duikarbeid Categorie A - [SCUBA]
• Duikarbeid Categorie B - [SCUBA, Surface Supplied & Surface Supplied (Top-Up)]
• Duikarbeid Categorie C - [Closed Bell]

Northern Ireland⁽⁸⁾

• Part I - [equivalent to HSE Part I]
• Part III - [equivalent to HSE Part III]
• Part IV - [equivalent to HSE Part IV]

Norway

• Dykkersertifikat Klasse I - Overflateorientertdykker - [Diving Certificate Class I - Surface Orientated Diver] - [SCUBA, Surface Supplied & Surface Supplied (Top-Up)]
• Dykkersertifikat Klasse II - Klokkedykker - [Diving Certificate Class II - Bell Diver] - [Closed Bell]
• Dykkersertifikat Klasse III - Anleggsdykking - [Diving Certificate Class III - Advanced Underwater Work] - [SCUBA, Surface Supplied & Surface Supplied (Top-Up)]
• Dykkersertifikat Klasse R - Redningsdykker - [Diving Certificate Class R - Rescue Diver] - [SCUBA to 30m]

Portugal

• Professional divers (mergulhadores profeissionais) and the equivalent category (categorias) naval qualifications (mergulhadores da Armada):
  • Mergulhador - Chefe - [SCUBA & Surface Supplied to 60m]
  • Mergulhador - 1a Classe - [SCUBA & Surface Supplied to 60m]
  • Mergulhador - 2a Classe - [SCUBA & Surface Supplied to 40m]
  • Mergulhador - 3a Classe - [SCUBA & Surface Supplied to 20m]

South Africa

• Class I - Saturation Diver - [Closed Bell]
• Class II - Surface-Supplied Mixed Gas Diver - [SCUBA, Surface Supplied & Surface Supplied (Top-Up)]
• Class II - Surface-Supplied Air Diver - [SCUBA, Surface Supplied & Surface Supplied (Top-Up)]
• Class III - Surface-Supplied Nitrox Diver - [SCUBA & Surface Supplied to 30m]
• Class III - Surface-Supplied Air Diver - [SCUBA & Surface Supplied to 30m]
• Class IV - SCUBA Nitrox Diver - [SCUBA to 30m]
• Class IV - SCUBA Air Diver - [SCUBA to 30m]

Spain

• Buceador Instructor - [Closed Bell]
• Buceador de Primera Clase o de gran profundidad - [Closed Bell]
• Técnico en Buceo a Media Profundidad - [SCUBA, Surface Supplied & Surface Supplied (Top-Up)]
• Buceador de Segunda Clase o de media profundidad - [SCUBA & Surface Supplied]
• Buceador/A 2a Clase - [SCUBA & Surface Supplied]
• Bussejador/A 2A. Classe - [SCUBA & Surface Supplied]
• Buceador de Segunda Clase restringido o de pequeña profundididad - [SCUBA & Surface Supplied to 30m]
• Buceador/A 2a Clase restringido - [SCUBA & Surface Supplied to 30m]
• Bussejador/A 2A. Classe restringit - [SCUBA & Surface Supplied to 30m]

Sweden

• Certifikat A - [SCUBA to 30m and SCUBA surface supplied to 40m]
• Certifikat B - [Surface Supplied to 50m]
• Certifikat C - [Closed Bell]

Footnotes

1. See also An Approved Code of Practice for Police Diving Projects, Association of Chief Police Officers General Policing and Marine Subcommittee and Health and Safety Commission. back
2. S.I. 2001 No. 2127. back
3. Certificate includes the text:
   The Royal Navy or Army [Course Name] has been incorporated into the Health and Safety Executive List of Approved Qualifications under Regulation 14(1) of the Diving at Work Regulations 1997.
   Note: Some of the course names have minor text variations. back
4. Certificate includes the text:
   Competent to perform Aquaculture operations to 30m on SSBA only. back
5. ADAS Part 2 - Restricted certification means the holder has not completed the ADAS tool skill modules. back
6. ADAS Part 3 - Restricted certification means the holder has not completed the ADAS wet bell, hot water suit and tool skill modules. back
7. Surface Supplied divers can only conduct dives in SCUBA if the back of the surface supplied certificate has been endorsed for SCUBA diving. back
8. Issued by the Department of Economic Development, Northern Ireland back