Diver certification
Diving medical certificates — no further extensions
Effective October 1, 2020, all divers who currently hold a valid WorkSafeBC diving medical certificate should arrange to have their dive medical performed prior to the medical certificate’s expiry. There will be no further extensions to expiration dates at this time. Please see this announcement, as well as our COVID-19 information and resources page.
Commercial divers must be trained and certified by a person or agency acceptable to WorkSafeBC.
Where to get certified
The current standard for diver training is CSA Standard Z275.4-97, Competency Standard for Diving Operations. Workers who have successfully completed this course are deemed to have met the standards acceptable to WorkSafeBC. A commercial diving certificate with an expiry date must be renewed to remain compliant with Part 24 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation.
All divers, diving supervisors, and divers' tenders must also be trained in CPR, oxygen (O2) therapy, and diving accident management. For more information, see Diving Training Providers.
Certified divers from out of province
WorkSafeBC may recognize commercial diver certification from other jurisdictions. These out-of-jurisdiction certificates are evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the Certification Services department of WorkSafeBC. For questions about whether a diver has been certified to a standard acceptable to WorkSafeBC, please contact WorkSafeBC's diving coordinator at 604.276.3100.
Resources
Diving Physicians
A list of physicians considered knowledgeable and competent in diving medicine for the purposes of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation.
Diver's Log Book
Provincial regulations require that dive logs be kept by all occupational divers as well as divers undergoing occupational dive training. This hardcover, personal commercial diver's log book is designed...