IMCA ES1699 – Diver and diving supervisor certification

The acceptance criteria for diver training certificates to be recognised by IMCA for offshore diving are set out in IMCA Information Note 1385 Diver training certificates – IMCA acceptance criteria. 

The following certificates are currently recognised by IMCA for offshore diving under IMCA D014 International Code of Practice for Offshore Diving:

1.1  Surface-supplied diver certificates

1.2  Closed-bell diver certificates

1.3  Association of Commercial Diving Educators (ACDE) Certificates Issued Since 1993

Certificates issued by US training schools which are accredited by the ACDE in respect of training/assessments performed in accordance with US Standard ANSI/ACDE-01-1993 and its successor standard ANSI/ACDE-01-1998. These schools are independently audited and certificates from them can be accepted as showing suitable basic training. Subsequent diving experience needs to be demonstrated by logbook entries. A list of currently accredited schools can be found at their website.

No other diver training certificates are currently recognised by IMCA.

2.1 IMCA Diving Supervisor certification scheme

IMCA has run the IMCA Offshore Diving Supervisor Scheme for a number of years – see IMCA D013 IMCA offshore diving supervisor and life support technician certification schemes.

Two levels of IMCA supervisor certificate are available:

• IMCA Air Diving Supervisor
  
  
• IMCA Bell Diving Supervisor.

To hold an IMCA diving supervisor certificate, the supervisor must sit and pass an IMCA examination. To be eligible to sit the examination, the supervisor must:

• meet minimum entry criteria (including holding the appropriate diver qualification and having appropriate experience)
  
  
• complete and pass an IMCA-approved trainee diving supervisor training course
  
  
• then complete a minimum number of panel hours under direct supervision offshore as a trainee supervisor, and
  
  
• be recommended by their company following satisfactory offshore reports.

These certificates are only issued by IMCA.

Diving supervisor and life support technician (LST) certificates issued by AODC (which merged to form IMCA in 1995) remain valid (except for those listed as withdrawn and suspended by IMCA). AODC certificates are not replaced with IMCA certificates.

IMCA approves trainee diving supervisor courses run in accordance with IMCA G010 IMCA assessment procedure for training course approval and associated documents, as listed on our website. Training providers issue their own certificates on successful completion of the course. Such certificates are not valid diving supervisor certificates and only show completion of the trainee diving supervisor course.

2.2 Comparable certificates

IMCA has entered into recognition arrangements with the following organisations:

• Australian Diver Accreditation Scheme (ADAS)
  
  
• Diver Certification Board of Canada (DCBC), and
  
  
• Netherlands Diving Centre Certification Institute (NDC-CI).

Under these arrangements, the following certificates are recognised by IMCA as being appropriate for diving supervisors for the purposes of compliance with IMCA guidance:

• ADAS offshore diving supervisor
  
  
• DCBC offshore diving supervisor, and
  
  
• NDC-CI offshore diving supervisor (category B4 – surface demand equipment to 50 metres including wet bell).

2.3 Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

In 2021, IMCA introduced a mandatory diving supervisor CPD scheme. In order to be considered ‘in-date’ by IMCA, all diving supervisors who wish to maintain the validity of their IMCA recognised certificates are required to undertake appropriate CPD in accordance with the requirements of the IMCA Diving CPD scheme, and to satisfy IMCA that this has been done.

The IMCA Diving CPD App provides a platform to facilitate this. App registration is open to all IMCA certified diving supervisors, and registrations are also accepted from ADAS, DCBC, and NDC-CI certified diving supervisors. Users can share their progress and CPD status via the App.

IMCA only recognises IMCA and comparable diving supervisor certificates for work with an IMCA Member company when the holder’s CPD status is ‘in-date’.

IMCA-issued certificates can be verified online which includes the CPD status (‘in-date’ or ‘out-of-date’) of diving supervisor certificate holders.

Additionally, some diver and supervisor certificates have expiry dates and need to be periodically renewed in accordance with the requirements of the relevant issuing authorities. IMCA does not recognise certificates that have passed their expiry dates.

See the links below for more information.