The class of Scientific and Archaeological 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. archaeology including:
   1. investigation of sites of historic interest;
   2. investigation of the analysis of physical remains;
   3. the recovery from such sites of articles for preservation and further analysis⁽³⁾;
   4. education instruction;
2. scientific research or scientific educational instruction;

but does not include diving:

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

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

HSE approves the following qualifications for the class of Scientific and Archaeological 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⁽⁴⁾:
  • 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)
• Diving Experience under The Diving Operations at Work Regulations 1981 exemption DOW/1/81 (General)⁽⁵⁾

Recreational

• CMAS 3*
• CMAS 3* equivalent in a recreational agency/organisation whose qualifications are approved by HSE for the class of Recreational Diving

European

• European Scientific Diver (ESD) - SCUBA only
• Advanced European Scientific Diver (AESD) - SCUBA only

Australia

• Diver Accreditation Scheme - Part 1 - SCUBA to 30m only
• Diver Accreditation Scheme - Part 1 - Surface Supply⁽⁶⁾
• Diver Accreditation Scheme - Part 2 - to 30m only - [SCUBA & Surface Supplied to 30m]
• Diver Accreditation Scheme - Part 2 - Restricted⁽⁷⁾ - 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⁽⁸⁾ - [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⁽⁹⁾

• 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⁽¹⁰⁾

• 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]
• Dykkersertifikat Klasse S - Selvforsynt svømmedykkerutstyr (SCUBA) - [Diving Certificate Class S - Scientific Diver (SCUBA)] - [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]

HSE approves the following additional qualifications for the class of Scientific and Archaeological Diving:

In benign pools, tanks or aquariums⁽¹¹⁾, which is defined as diving inland in Great Britain in a tank or pool artificially constructed for the purpose of swimming or diving or use as an aquarium, where the diver is in full view from the surface at all times, and where no entanglement or entrapment hazards are present:

Recreational

• CMAS 2*
• CMAS 2* equivalent in a recreational agency/organisation whose qualifications are approved by HSE for the class of Recreational Diving

Footnotes

1. See also Scientific and archaeological diving projects: Diving at Work Regulations 1997, Approved Code of Practice, ISBN 0 7176 1498 0. back
2. S.I. 2001 No. 2127. back
3. The recovery of items other than for scientific or archaeological purposes is likely to be covered by the class of Inland/Inshore Diving. back
4. 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
5. This qualification was issued for a limited period on the introduction of the Diving at Work Regulations 1997. back
6. Certificate includes the text:
   Competent to perform Aquaculture operations to 30m on SSBA only. back
7. ADAS Part 2 - Restricted certification means the holder has not completed the ADAS tool skill modules. back
8. ADAS Part 3 - Restricted certification means the holder has not completed the ADAS wet bell, hot water suit and tool skill modules. back
9. Surface Supplied divers can only conduct dives in SCUBA if the back of the surface supplied certificate has been endorsed for SCUBA diving. back
10. Issued by the Department of Economic Development, Northern Ireland back
11. See also HSE Information Sheet:  Diving Information Sheet No. 8:  Diving in benign conditions, and in pools, tanks, aquariums, and helicopter underwater escape training. back