Diving

All you need to know about our diving safety procedures.

Diving  includes

  • Activities using SCUBA, Surface Supplied equipment, Rebreathers, etc.
  • Breath-hold activities, such as snorkeling and freediving
  • Chamber diving (hyperbaric/recompression chamber)

The roles and responsibilities of our Officers, People Leaders, Dive Coordinators and Diver/Dive Support personnel can be found on our Diving at the University of Tasmania intranet webpage.

Dive Manual

We are transitioning from our  2009  Dive  Procedures Manual  to the UTAS  Dive Manual and Appendices Ver 9.0 which was approved  on 30th June 2022.  Both the new and prior manuals  are provided below for your reference.    It is advised that you begin using the new  manual as soon as practical.    For more information and familiarisation sessions, visit the UTAS Diving Community Teams Page 

Diving Safety Committee

The Committee advises the University Dive Officer regarding development and implementation of relevant University policies, minimum standards and procedures.
Learn more

Diving  Framework

An overview of the interaction between legislation, standards and other guidance material,  plus key acronyms and definitions used in scientific diving.
Learn more

The University is a member of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS). The University Diving Safety Committee members are listed as a Diving Control Board member or DSO of University of Tasmania by the AAUS. The AAUS provides technical advice to the University of Tasmania in accordance with AS/NZS 2299.2:2002 Occupational Diving Operations-Scientific Diving.

For the purposes of the AAUS procedures, this sub-committee fulfils the same role as a Diving Control Board (DCB) and the members fulfil the same role as Dive Safety Officer (DSO).

Diving safety committee

The Diving Safety Committee (the Committee) is the advisory body responsible for supporting safe diving practices at the University of Tasmania, including in relation to relevant legislation, Australian Standards, Codes of Practice, industry requirements and the University’s Diving Minimum Standards and Procedures.

The Committee advises the University Dive Officer regarding development and implementation of relevant University policies, procedures and the  Diving Safety Manual.

The University of Tasmania is a member of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS). The AAUS provides technical advice to the University of Tasmania in accordance with Scientific Diving industry standards. For the purposes of the AAUS procedures, this committee fulfils the same role as a Diving Control Board (DCB) and the University Dive Officer fulfils the same role as Dive Safety Officer (DSO).

The Committee meet quarterly.

Committee Members
Chair - Executive Director - IMAS Catriona MacLeod  ongoing
Director, Safety and Wellbeing Chris  Arnold ongoing
University Dive Officer  TBA ongoing
Principal Dive Officer (IMAS Taroona) Jane Ruckert   ongoing
Autonomous Maritime Systems Operator/Technician (AMC Search)  Martin Filleul  ongoing
Lecturer  Maritime Training  Ocean - Seafaring - AMC TBA  2 years
Academic  Divers Jeff Ross (appointed August 2019)
Chris White (appointed June 2022)
Expiry August 2021
Expiry June 2024
Professional Scientific Divers  Antonia Cooper (appointed August 2019)
Lachlan Tainsh (appointed September 2022)
Expiry August 2021
Expiry September 2024
Independent (external) professional diver Jonathan Benjamin (Flinders University)(appointed 2017) Expiry June 2019
Advisory Members
General Manager - AMC Gregory Truloff  ongoing
Operation Manager - IMAS Kirsten le Mar ongoing
Diver Health Expert from the  Dept of Diving  and Hyperbaric Representative Medicine at RHH   ongoing

Invitee - Chair Vessel Safety Committee

Secretariat - Support to the Committee - Safety and Wellbeing representative

For advice or to submit an Agenda item for Diving committee, please email dive.safety@utas.edu.au

Meetings 2023

Tuesday 21st  March  2023via zoom 2.30pm to 3.30pm
Tuesday 6 June 2023via Zoom11.00am to 12.00pm
Tuesday 5th September 2023via Zoom11.00am to 12.00pm
Tuesday 5th December 2023via Zoom 11.00am to 12.00pm