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Why the Latest Issue of CADC Magazine Matters — and Why You Should Read It

The Winter 2025–2026 edition of CADC Magazine is not a light read — and it wasn’t meant to be.

This issue goes straight to the core of where Canadian commercial diving stands today, where it’s drifting, and what needs to change if we’re serious about safety, professionalism, and consistency across the country.

The cover theme says it plainly: One Country. One Standard. One Regulation. Canada’s commercial diving safety framework cannot keep fragmenting by province, sector, or political convenience. The water doesn’t care where you’re working — and neither should the minimum level of protection afforded to the people doing the work.

Inside this issue, you’ll find:

A Hard Look Back — and Forward

In Beneath the Surface: The Evolution of Canadian Diving, CADC Executive Director Doug Elsey reflects on more than five decades in the industry — from the early, unstructured days of commercial diving to the standards-driven profession we rely on today. It’s not nostalgia. It’s context. And it’s a reminder that today’s rules exist because someone learned the hard way.

Why Validation Matters in a Digital World

As logs, certifications, and medicals go digital, verification has never been more important. In Diving in a Digital World: The Importance of Validation, DCBC CEO Tracy Childs explains why convenience without validation creates risk — and how credential verification protects contractors, supervisors, inspectors, and divers alike.

The Case for National Harmonization

The feature article One Country. One Standard. One Regulation tackles the growing problem of provincial carve-outs and sector-specific exemptions head-on. It explains why patchwork regulation weakens safety, increases liability, and puts divers at risk — and why CSA Z275 standards must form the national baseline, everywhere in Canada.

Emergency Plans Are Only Words Until You Drill Them

Aaron Griffin’s Contingency Plans: You’ve Planned It, But Did You Drill It? delivers one of the most practical pieces in the issue. Drawing from real drills and real failures, it shows how seemingly solid emergency plans fall apart under stress — and why drills are not paperwork, but lifelines.

What’s Changing in CSA Z275.2 — and Why It Matters

In In Depth: Major Revisions in the 2026 Edition of CSA Z275.2, Jonathan Chapple walks through the most significant updates to the standard, including:

• Mandatory risk management

• Clearer SCUBA limitations

• Reinforced minimum crew requirements

• Human factors in diving
  These aren’t theoretical changes — they reflect how work is actually being done in the water today.

Members at Work

The issue also highlights Canpac Marine Services in the Member Spotlight and showcases CADC members working in some of the toughest environments in the country. It’s a reminder that professionalism isn’t marketing — it’s how the job gets done when no one’s watching.

This edition of CADC Magazine isn’t about headlines or fluff. It’s about holding the line on safety, competence, and consistency in an industry where the margins are thin and the consequences are real.

If you work in Canadian commercial diving — as a contractor, supervisor, diver, regulator, insurer, or client — this issue is worth your time.

👉 Read or download the Winter 2025–2026 CADC Magazine now

Because standards don’t matter until someone needs them — and by then, it’s too late to wish we’d paid attention earlier.

The Canadian Association of Diving Contractors (CADC) is leading a renewed national initiative to harmonize occupational diving safety standards across all provinces, territories, and the federal government. This effort—known as the Harmonization Project—aims to bring Canada’s diving industry under one consistent, modern, and enforceable safety framework based on the CSA Z275 Diving Standards.

Commercial diving plays a vital role in the Canadian economy, supporting marine construction, infrastructure maintenance, aquaculture, environmental work, scientific research, and emergency response. Despite the national scope of these operations, the rules governing diver safety vary widely. Canada currently has 13 different regulatory systems, creating inconsistencies in requirements, training recognition, enforcement expectations, and labour mobility.

CADC is working with regulators and stakeholders to complete the work started in the 1990s and move Canada toward a unified national standard.

Why Harmonization Matters

1. Consistent Safety Across Canada

Commercial diving remains one of the highest-risk occupations in the country. The CSA Z275 series provides clear, detailed, and technically validated requirements for safe diving operations. A harmonized national system ensures these protections apply equally everywhere.

2. National Recognition of Competency

The CSA Z275.4 competency standard ensures divers, supervisors, tenders, and hyperbaric physicians meet a consistent level of training and experience. Harmonization removes barriers to interprovincial mobility and strengthens the professionalism of the workforce.

3. Modern, Efficient Regulation

A unified approach eliminates duplicated provincial efforts and removes outdated or conflicting requirements. By adopting the latest CSA standards, jurisdictions gain access to a modern national framework updated regularly by experts from industry, labour, government, and technical fields.

4. Stronger Legal Clarity

Under Canada’s Criminal Code, employers must take reasonable steps to protect workers. CSA standards provide a clear definition of these obligations and support consistent enforcement and due-diligence expectations across jurisdictions.

How Canada Can Implement Harmonization

Transitioning to a national standard does not require rewriting every provincial regulation. Jurisdictions can adopt the CSA standards through:

• Direct incorporation by reference in OHS regulations

• Adoption through enforceable codes of practice

• Updating older CSA references to the latest editions

These approaches maintain provincial authority while establishing a unified national safety baseline.

Completing a National Effort 30 Years in the Making

The foundation for harmonization was established during the 1997 National Harmonization Project. That work identified the CSA Z275 standards as the clear, consensus-based solution for a unified Canadian diving safety regime.

Today, CADC is advancing this initiative with renewed urgency. The industry, regulators, and technical experts are aligned in recognizing the benefits of a modern, harmonized approach.

Bringing all jurisdictions under one set of national standards will:

• improve safety,

• enhance mobility,

• reduce administrative duplication,

• strengthen accountability, and

• support a more competitive, professional industry.

CADC will continue working with government partners and industry stakeholders to advance this important national initiative.

August 11, 2025 – [TORONTO, ON] — The Canadian Association of Diving Contractors (CADC) is raising urgent safety concerns over the Ontario Government’s recent amendment to O. Reg. 629/94 – Diving Operations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Effective July 1, 2025, Ontario Regulation 140/25 amended O. Reg. 629/94 to create a sector-specific exemption for the screen industry. The change removes the requirement for certain underwater roles to hold certification to the CSA Z275.4-22 – Competency Standard for Diving Operations, unless the diver is explicitly assigned to a safety-critical role such as a standby diver or supervisor.

According to CADC, this change:

• Originated from requests and advocacy by representatives of the film industry.

• Was implemented without formal consultation with the broader commercial diving sector.

• Allowed only one week of public posting before the amendment took effect.

• Mirrors a 2014 regulatory exemption granted to the aquarium sector — also introduced without sector-wide safety consultation — which remains in place today.

“This is not modernization — it is the removal of a long-standing safety requirement that applied equally across all sectors,” said Doug Elsey, P.Eng., Executive Director of CADC. “Water doesn’t care if you’re filming a movie or repairing a bridge — the hazards are the same. By removing the requirement for CSA-certified competency in certain roles, Ontario is creating a two-tier safety system and shifting the legal burden from regulation to individual supervisors.”

From Uniform Safety to Sector-Driven Exceptions

Until now, Ontario’s diving regulation applied equally to construction, inspection, salvage, research, and screen industry diving. All divers had to meet the same baseline for competency, medical fitness, equipment, and emergency protocols — regardless of employer or project type.

By carving out exemptions based on sector identity rather than operational risk, the Ministry has replaced a consistent safety framework with selective exceptions. CADC warns this approach sets a precedent for other sectors to seek similar carve-outs without a technical or risk-based justification.

The Risks of Lowering Competency Requirements

The CSA Z275.4-22 standard is Canada’s nationally recognized minimum competency benchmark for occupational divers. It ensures divers have the documented training, skills, and capability to safely operate in high-risk underwater environments.

Allowing uncertified divers to work in non-safety-critical roles in the screen industry increases the likelihood of:

• Use of unqualified personnel lacking critical knowledge of decompression, emergency procedures, contamination hazards, and equipment operation.

• Higher accident risk, where inadequate response in an emergency can endanger both the diver and others in the operation.

• Erosion of professionalism, reducing the value placed on proper training and certification.

Shifting Liability to Supervisors

Under the amended regulation, supervisors may be required to oversee uncertified or underqualified divers. This substantially increases both legal and ethical liability, as they must now assess and mitigate the risks posed by divers whose competencies are not verified to CSA standards.

In the event of an incident, supervisors could face prosecution under Bill C-45 (the Westray Law) if it is determined they failed to take all reasonable steps to protect the safety of workers.

“A supervisor’s role assumes the divers under their control are already competent,” Elsey said. “When that assumption is removed, supervisors become the last barrier to systemic failure — without the tools or authority to guarantee competence.”

Weakened Enforcement and Clarity

Previously, enforcement officers could confirm compliance by checking for valid CSA Z275.4 certification. The new exemption forces inspectors into case-by-case determinations, such as:

• Is the diver’s role “supporting the safety” of another?

• Is the dive “for screen purposes” or incidental maintenance during production?

• Does the diver qualify under the exemption?

This ambiguity creates inconsistent enforcement and the potential for work to be misclassified to avoid competency requirements.

Undermining National Standards

The CSA Z275 series of diving standards are the product of decades of work by regulators, industry, safety experts, and medical professionals. They establish the minimum — not the maximum — safety baseline for diving in Canada.

By allowing certain sectors to bypass these standards, Ontario risks:

• Undercutting CSA’s role as a unifying national safety benchmark.

• Encouraging other provinces to weaken their alignment with CSA standards.

• Sending the message that safety compliance can be negotiated rather than determined by operational hazards.

CADC’s Call to Action

CADC urges the Ontario Government to:

1. Rescind the sector-based exemption in section 4.1(8) of O. Reg. 629/94.

2. Reaffirm a task-based, risk-driven approach that applies equally to all sectors.

3. Ensure enforcement clarity by requiring all divers to meet CSA Z275.4 competency.

4. Engage in open consultation with the diving industry before making regulatory changes affecting safety.

“Ontario has been a leader in aligning diving regulations with national standards,” Elsey added. “This amendment reverses that leadership and opens the door to lobby-driven exceptions. We can modernize the regulation — but not at the cost of diver safety.”

Disclaimer:
This statement reflects the position of the Canadian Association of Diving Contractors based on its interpretation of Ontario Regulation 140/25, Ontario Regulation 629/94, and the CSA Z275.4-22 – Competency Standard for Diving Operations. The information provided is accurate to the best of CADC’s knowledge as of the date of publication and is based on the text of the regulation, publicly available information, and CADC’s expertise in commercial diving safety. CADC will update its position if further clarification or amendments to the regulation are issued by the Ministry of Labour.

If there’s one throughline in this issue of CADC Magazine, it’s this: excuses in our industry are not tolerated.

Not for skipping briefings.
Not for running inadequate crews.
Not for cutting corners because “it’s always been done this way.”

This one is reflected in every article you’ll read here. From criminal court rulings to offshore emergencies, from diver shortages to legacy preservation—this issue is a wake-up call.

We lead with the hard truth. In “No More Excuses,” we break down the King v. R. case, where a site supervisor’s negligence resulted in a young worker’s death—and a three-year prison sentence. The ruling was done this spring in New Brunswick. This wasn’t an offshore dive gone wrong. It was a land-based tragedy in another industry. But make no mistake— a reality of the consequences of not following Canada’s Bill C-45 (about the requirement to protect your workers) is set for all of us:. If you’re in a position of responsibility and fail to follow safety standards, the consequences can be criminal. That warning applies directly to our sector. Dive supervisors, project managers, clients—this is your red flag. This is reality. Not only can you face fines – you can face criminal charges – and jail!!

We follow it with “Last Breath”, where veteran DSS Dennis Barrington peels back the dramatics of a major saturation diving film to reveal a sobering reality: emergencies offshore don’t wait for permission. When the lights go out and a diver’s lifeline is severed, it’s the people on site—their training, experience, and split-second decisions—that save lives. Dennis connects this to his own history on the Grand Banks, where near-misses and rescues were part of the job, and where the margin for error was—and still is—razor thin.

We shift gears with “DCBC Update”, where Tracy Childs brings us the numbers we can’t ignore almost half of our newly certified divers leave the industry within two years. Training isn’t the issue—retention is. We need to rethink how we support divers through their early careers, how we make the work sustainable, and how we help qualified people return to the industry when they’re ready.

In “The Challenge of Telling Our Underwater Story”, Vickie Jensen captures the heart of British Columbia’s subsea legacy. From HYCO’s Pisces submersibles to Phil Nuytten’s Deep Rover, this province punched well above its weight in global undersea innovation. We need to invest in preserving that story before it slips below the surface. It’s more than history—it’s our origin story.

Then we take you to the frontlines in “Member Spotlight: ODS Marine”. This Ottawa-based company exemplifies what it means to operate safely, smartly, and with pride. Their barge systems, dive crews, and project scope show the kind of technical capability Canadian contractors bring to the table—and the culture of mentorship that keeps divers in the industry for the long haul.

Jonathan Chapple gives us a critical look ahead in “In Depth: CSA Z275.2 Update”. The next edition of Canada’s diving safety code is in the works, and it’s not just a refresh. With new sections on risk assessment, diving in currents, human factors, and the long-overdue formal definition of an underwater construction site, the standard is evolving to meet modern challenges. These aren’t theoretical changes—they’re the backbone of how we operate safely and legally.

And finally, we take a moment to honour one of our own. “Glen Costello Honoured” pays tribute to a man who led with integrity, fought for safer diving practices, and left a legacy that shaped both the CADC and Canada’s commercial diving standards. His Lifetime Achievement Award is richly deserved—and a reminder that leadership isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s just steady, persistent, and unshakable.

So where does that leave us?

Right here, in a moment of reckoning—and opportunity.
To raise the bar. To train better. To supervise better. To demand more from ourselves and the people who hire us. To do our job safely. To make it safer.
To say what needs to be said when a job isn’t safe.
And to mean it.

Because the next time a diver’s life is in your hands, there won’t be time to Google a dive standard or regulation.
You’ll either know what to do—or you won’t.
You’ll either have followed dive procedures as outline in CSA Z275.2— Diving Operations – or you didn’t.
You’ll either have planned for the worst—or hoped for the best.

The difference isn’t just professional. It’s personal. It’s legal. It can mean the difference between life or death.

As an association, CADC will keep promoting professionalism and safety. But this isn’t about policy. It’s about education. It’s about people.

People like Glen. People like your divers. People like you.

Stay professional. Stay informed. Stay safe. No more excuses.

Have a successful SAFE summer – everyone comes home at the end of the dive!

1. Here is a direct link to the digital: https://flip.matrixgroupinc.net/cadb/2025/summer/#page=1
2. And here is the link to the magazine page that has all the past issues: https://magazines.matrixgroupinc.net/cadc/

At the 2025 Canadian Underwater Conference & Exhibition in Vancouver, BC, the Diver Certification Board of Canada (DCBC) presented its Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously to Glen Costello—a respected commercial diving pioneer, founder of Canpac Divers Inc., and past president of the Canadian Association of Diving Contractors (2012–2014).

The award was accepted by his wife, Charlie Costello, during a moving ceremony that recognized a lifetime of groundbreaking achievements, unshakable ethics, and advocacy for diver safety.

Glen’s underwater career was built on a foundation of hard-earned experience—from military service in the Peace Keeping Corps in Egypt and the Middle East, to ironwork on major infrastructure projects, and finally into commercial diving where he left an indelible mark. As President of Canpac Divers from the early 1980s until 2012, Glen led deepwater projects involving ROVs, manned submersibles, salvage, and marine construction across Canada and abroad.

He was instrumental in organizing commercial divers under Local 2404 of the Pile Drivers, Divers, Bridge, Dock and Wharf Builders union, fighting for fair wages, pensions, and safe working conditions. He also contributed significantly to regulatory development, serving on CSA dive standards subcommittees and assisting in the formation of diving safety regulations for WorkSafeBC.

Glen’s technical experience was wide-ranging—hydrographic survey, NDT, submarine cable installation, ROV work, salvage—and his willingness to share knowledge made him a mentor to many. His integrity, persistence, and unwavering commitment to diver safety made him a fitting recipient of this national honour.

The CADC congratulates Charlie Costello and the Costello family on this well-earned recognition of Glen’s enduring legacy. His contributions continue to shape our industry and the standards we uphold today.

(This is a public service announcement from the CADC to all diving contractors – April 20 2025)

A recent legal decision out of New Brunswick Feb 2025 has major implications for all of us in the commercial diving sector as well as any industrial or commercial construction industry. Don’t ignore the warning.

In King v. R., 2025 NBCA 12e, the New Brunswick Court of Appeal upheld a criminal negligence conviction against a worksite supervisor after the death of an 18-year-old worker. The supervisor, who failed to follow basic confined space safety protocols, was sentenced to three years in prison. His actions—or more accurately, his inaction—cost a young worker his life.

This decision wasn’t about fines. It wasn’t about policy violations. It was about criminal accountability under Bill C-45—Canada’s Westray Law. And for anyone directing high-risk work like commercial diving, the message could not be clearer: if you neglect safety and someone dies, you may go to jail.

What Happened and Why It Matters

In the King case, a leak test was conducted in an 8-foot confined space while a young worker remained inside. No hazard assessment was done. No emergency plan was in place. No confined space procedures were followed. The supervisor didn’t read the equipment’s safety manual. He never warned the worker the space was going to be flooded. The result was fatal.

The court ruled this was a marked and substantial departure from what a reasonable supervisor would have done. They confirmed that a “common sense” hazard like flooding a confined space during a leak test was enough to establish criminal negligence.

Let’s be clear—this could have easily occurred in a commercial diving context: confined space entries, pipeline work, tanks, lockout-tagout failures, inadequate supervision, or improperly briefed divers. The parallels are unmistakable.

What This Means for ALL DIVING CONTRACTORS

This case sends a message to supervisors and employers across Canada—the courts are prepared to impose jail sentences when safety is ignored. In the diving industry, where hazards are immediate and often life-threatening, we must assume the legal threshold is even higher.

In the case of  CADC members, we are expected to meet—and in many cases exceed—the safety standards laid out in CSA Z275.2 and Z275.4. These are not just best practices—they are often incorporated directly into law. Courts will judge our actions against these standards if things go wrong.

What You Need to Do Now

For CADC Contractors – and Dive Contactors in general – and Supervisors:

• Train and certify all supervisors to meet CSA Z275.4. This is non-negotiable. Being “experienced” is not enough. Formal training matters.
• Conduct proper hazard assessments for all dive operations—especially those involving confined spaces or hazardous conditions.
• Follow CSA Z275.2 to the letter as a minimum safety policy. This includes proper crew sizes, equipment checks, emergency procedures, dive plans, and documentation.
• Document everything. If there’s no paper trail—no logs, no plans, no hazard forms—it didn’t happen in the eyes of the court.
• Reinforce a culture of safety. Encourage your divers and tenders to raise concerns. Give them the power to speak up—and act on it.

For Clients Who Hire CADC Members and ANY diving Contractor:

• Hire only qualified, CSA-compliant contractors.  CADC members are required as a condition or membership to follow CSA Dive Standards as a minimum. If a diver is hurt on your site and you hired based on cost over competence, you may share liability.
• Ask for credentials and safety plans. Require that your contractor follows CSA standards and provide written confirmation of their procedures.
• Support safe operations. That means allowing time for safety assessments and giving the contractor the room to plan properly. Don’t rush the job.

Bottom Line

King v. R. wasn’t about policy. It was about accountability. The case proved that criminal negligence laws under Bill C-45 apply to supervisors and companies who ignore known risks.

In our industry, we are often dealing with confined space entries, delta P,  unstable environments, heavy lifting, and pressure systems. If a diver is hurt or killed because a hazard was ignored, the legal consequences can be catastrophic—for the supervisor, the employer, and potentially the client.

Don’t assume this can’t happen to you or your team. Now is the time to act:

• Review your operations
• Verify your training
• Reaffirm your safety culture
• And above all—put safety first every single time.

One glance outside at the weather in December is all it takes to remind us that winter is here, along with its ice and snow, and all the unpredictable changes to climate that makes life more challenging. But, as we in the industry know, commercial diving was never meant to be easy.

This is a profession that demands precision, calculated risks, and the ability to solve problems in the most challenging environments. Every dive balances expertise, experience, and safety protocols, with lives depending on getting it right.

In this issue of CADC Magazine, we shine a light on the work, innovation, and regulations that keeps our industry moving forward and set new standards for safety, professionalism, and ingenuity.

A CADC Magazine deep dive In the cover story, ‘Behind the Scenes: What It Takes to Approve a New Diving Standard,’ I guide you through the often tedious but critical process of developing new safety standards. From identifying gaps to navigating red tape to gathering input through public reviews, the article highlights the dedication required to ensure divers return home safely. It’s a long, detailed journey, but one that’s essential to saving lives and upholding the professionalism of our industry.

Kirk Krack’s feature, ‘Rolling in the DEEP: The ‘NASA of the Sea’ Takes Saturation Diving into the 21st Century,’ explores how DEEP is revolutionizing saturation diving with their groundbreaking subsea habitats, Sentinel and Vanguard. Inspired by Canadian diving pioneers such as Dr. Joe MacInnis, DEEP is redefining what’s possible in underwater exploration. Imagine living and working comfortably on the seabed – it’s habitat living version 2.0!

Written by Bob Clarke of ASI, ‘The Isolation of Failed Piping Using Remotely Operated Vehicles’ demonstrates the ingenuity of ROV technology in tackling complex underwater challenges. Detailing projects at British Columbia’s This is a profession that demands precision, calculated risks, and the ability to solve problems in the most challenging environments. Every dive balances expertise, experience, and safety protocols, with lives depending on getting it right.

Winter 2024-2025 up front requirements, the article underscores CSA’s commitment to evolving safety and operational needs. Safer, smarter, better At its core, this issue of CADC Magazine reflects the intentional effort and collaboration required to make the commercial diving industry safer and smarter. Excellence does not happen by chance – it is built on dedication and an unyielding drive to improve.

Whether it’s advancing safety standards, embracing new technologies, or showcasing stories of resilience and innovation, this edition is filled with practical insights you can apply in your work.

So, grab a coffee, watch the snow fly, and dive into the pages ahead. These stories are more than words – they’re a call to action for all of us to keep pushing boundaries, solving problems, and leading the way in commercial diving.

Remember, it’s cold out there, but the water below the ice is always a steady 0°C (32°F). Being a tender in Canada’s winter might suck – but we wouldn’t trade this work for anything. Welcome to our world. Stay safe, and all the best in the New Year!

DOWNLOAD YOUR COPY NOW!!! CLICK HERE

In the commercial diving world, standards aren’t just paperwork – they’re lifelines. They are what stand between a diver and the myriad of risks that lurk below.
But how does a diving standard actually come to be?

It’s easy to imagine a few folks in a boardroom, shaking hands and signing papers, but in reality, the journey from idea to official standard is long, winding, and full of obstacles. Anyone who’s ever been involved in this process knows it’s more like navigating a labyrinth of approvals, discussions, and – yes – more than a fair share of red tape.
The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Dive Committee meetings in November recently gave new Canadian Association of Diving Contractors (CADC) members a glimpse into just how much bureaucratic weight can slow down a well-meaning initiative.
Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to get a diving standard approved, why it’s worth the hassle, and why it can sometimes feel like you’re swimming upstream.

Step one: identifying the need
It all starts with a need.
Maybe there’s a new technology in the field, a recent accident that exposed a safety gap, or a fresh environmental factor that diving operations need to account for. This need is often flagged by industry experts, safety consultants, or even directly from divers and operators experiencing issues in the field. It’s a grassroots beginning, but without this on-the-ground intel, we wouldn’t know where our standards might be falling short.
Once the need is identified, it’s flagged by CADC and others for review by CSA or similar regulatory body. Think of this as the stage where you bring your idea to the door, knock, and wait to see if they’ll answer. Often, it can take months – or even years – before a perceived gap becomes a priority on the standards agenda.

Step two: building the working groups
Once the need has been acknowledged, a working group of stakeholders is put together. This isn’t your average office committee. In the case of diving standards, you’re talking about a blend of experts, commercial divers, dive companies, engineers, manufacturers, medical professionals, regulatory representatives, training groups, and safety inspectors.
The goal? To gather every possible perspective to address the identified need comprehensively. But here’s where things start to get tricky.
Each member brings their expertise – as well as their biases. What a diver prioritizes might differ from what an engineer or regulator considers critical. Medical experts might push for more stringent health standards, while manufacturers focus on practicalities of equipment specs. It’s the classic case of too many cooks in the kitchen, and every cook thinks their ingredient is essential.
The result? Hours of debate, compromise, and more than often, sometimes a few heated arguments.
It’s in these meetings where red tape really starts to show. Every proposed change or addition has to be examined from every angle. What if this requirement adds prohibitive costs for contractors? Will it impact the timeline of a job? How do we ensure every diver in the country can meet this standard? And the ultimate question – how do we measure and enforce it? Every decision has ripple effects and the working group must weigh them all.

Step three: drafting the standard
Once the group reaches a tentative consensus, which is a Herculean task in itself, the drafting begins. This isn’t about just putting ideas down on paper; it’s about crafting clear, measurable language that leaves no room for ambiguity. The standard must be legally sound, scientifically accurate, and – ideally – practical to follow in the field. This can take several drafts, with members of the working group scrutinizing each word to ensure it covers the necessary ground without over-complicating things.
At this stage, the red tape turns technical. Every clause is analyzed for loopholes, conflicts with existing standards, and unintended consequences. Lawyers may step in to ensure the language is legally sound, and medical experts will review health guidelines. Engineers will go over every technical aspect to ensure the feasibility of equipment standards. It’s meticulous, mind-numbing work, and any misstep could lead to confusion – or worse, a dangerous gap in safety.

Step four: public review and industry feedback
Once the draft is finished, it goes out for public review. This is where industry professionals, diving contractors, and even the public get a chance to weigh in. It’s a critical part of the process, but it also introduces another layer of delays. Every comment or suggestion needs to be considered and responded to, often leading to more revisions.
During this stage, practical feedback from those who will actually use the standard – divers, supervisors, and contractors – is especially valuable. Sometimes suggestions will reveal unforeseen challenges in applying the standard to real-world scenarios. For example, a seemingly simple requirement might not work in remote or harsh environments where resources are limited. Each piece of feedback is carefully considered, and adjustments are made where needed.
Public review is a double-edged sword; it’s essential to catch potential oversights, but it can also bog down the process with contradictory suggestions, industry resistance, or calls for broader exemptions. Striking a balance is no easy feat.

Step five: approval and implementation
Once every hurdle has been cleared, the standard is finally submitted for formal approval by the CSA main Technical Committee, which can involve multiple rounds of voting and final reviews. Even at this stage, unexpected setbacks can arise. Maybe a government agency requests additional data, or a legal issue surface that needs ironing out. But if all goes well, the standard is finally approved and published.
Then, there’s the challenge of implementing the new standard. Training programs need to be updated, equipment may need upgrades, and divers and supervisors must adjust to new procedures. For those who’ve invested time and energy into the standard’s creation, this is the payoff. But for the industry, it’s the beginning of a learning curve, and sometimes a steep one.

Why bother with all this red tape?
If this sounds like a lot of work; it’s because it is. So, why do we go through this lengthy and bureaucratic process?
Simple: because lives are on the line. The stakes in commercial diving are high, and a poorly designed standard could mean the difference between life and death for a diver in a high-risk situation. It’s a serious commitment, and one that everyone involved takes personally.
It’s easy to get frustrated with the red tape and the endless meetings, but every hour of debate, every draft revision, and every piece of feedback brings us closer to a safer industry. These standards aren’t just words on a page – they’re the invisible supports that keep divers safe and bring them back to the surface, day after day.
So, the next time a new standard is released, take a moment to appreciate the behind-the-scenes work that went into it. It’s not glamorous and it’s rarely quick, but it’s always essential.

Doug Elsey is the Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Diving Contractors. He has been working in the commercial and military diving industry for more than 45 years.

(Pre Print – Winter 24-25 CADC Mag)
In November 2001, it was announced at a CSA meeting in Toronto that the Canadian Association of Diving Contractors (CADC) under the leadership of their Executive Director Jim Wilson, was going to lead the development of a federally regulated not-for-profit organization to certify the competence of divers across Canada. The goal was to replace the system that the National Energy Board (NEB) had put in place in the late 1980’s, a system that the NEB had declared was no longer part of their purview.
Everyone wanted them to succeed, and with good reason. The value of competency-based certification by an independent, nationally recognized organization was apparent to all present.
Divers saw the value in replacing a plethora of certificates with one nationally recognized certificate showing their principal diving qualification on the front, and various endorsements on the back. A certificate issued by the Diver Certification Board of Canada (DCBC) accomplished this mostly because it was designed by divers for divers. While the CEO was an expert in terms of competency and certification, he was not a diver.

Supervisors were supportive because they also wanted a single certificate which showed all of their qualifications. They also wanted to be sure that the divers they worked with were as qualified as they said they were. Having a certificate issued by a national independent body gave them confidence in their divers. Contractors were similarly pleased to have a reliable source from which to obtain verification of competence and experience.

Over time, regulatory bodies came to appreciate the competency certification provided by DCBC. Regulators no longer had to go through the lengthy process of certifying divers. They had only to write in their regulations that divers had to be proven competent as described in the CSA Competency Standard Z275.4 and then look for a DCBC certificate. CSA Z275.4 applies to occupational diving, hyperbaric facility, and remotely operated vehicle (ROV) operations conducted in connection with all types of work and employment and describes the requirements for minimum competency levels for all personnel directly associated with the identified techniques of diving or ROV operations. Canadian safety and health legislation requires that all workers be competent to perform the work assigned to them. It requires competency in both the theory and use of the type of diving apparatus or ROV employed. This Standard had been established to provide diver and ROV training facilities, and the diving and ROV industry, with a uniform minimum level of competency necessary for the various levels of diver and ROV techniques. Currently the DCBC is the only Canadian national organization that certifies diving and ROV personnel as meeting the CSA Standard.

As mentioned, commercial diver certification in Canada was first put in place by the National Energy Board (NEB) in the mid to late 1980’s in support of the development of the oil and gas fields off the coasts of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. Canadian divers who held NEB certificates had international recognition, particularly from those nations working in the North Sea. Those divers wanted to retain their international recognition therefore DCBC’s CEO was dispatched to the UK to discuss the issue with officers of their Health and Safety Executive (HSE), and of the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA). Discussions with the HSE led to an agreement that national diver certifying bodies had to have national government oversight and be totally independent of the commercial diving industry in each country. Thus began the total separation of the CADC and DCBC.

The result was an independent certification system (DCBC) which retained for Canadian offshore divers the international recognition they had grown to enjoy under NEB. The meetings with HSE, followed soon after by meetings with Paul Butler of the Australian Diver Accreditation Scheme (ADAS), led in short order to the creation of the International Diving Regulators Forum, later to become the International Diving Regulators and Certifiers Forum (IDRCF) involving Australia, Canada, France, Norway, South Africa and the United Kingdom. The IDRCF guaranteed Canadian unrestricted surface supplied divers world-wide recognition, all based on competency-based certification. In the following years the IDRCF was expanded to include IMCA and ADCI of the United States.

Clients looking to hire competent contractors to guarantee themselves a successful outcome, also wanted to protect themselves from liability issues by doing due diligence. More and more operators (clients) have begun to hire Inshore Diving Safety Specialists (IDSS), certified by DCBC as having at least eight years experience in at least seven areas of diving expertise. Any diving supervisor with eight years of experience would appear to be competent in most aspects of diving however while experience and competence complement each other, they are different; competence can be measured whereas experience cannot.

That is perhaps why IMCA has put into place a Continued Professional Development program. In order to retain good standing in IMCA, supervisors have to study experiential safety reports and complete regular, quarterly assessment exams in order to demonstrate continued proficiency, or competence. Once again, competence can be measured whereas experience cannot.

The DCBC certification is based on the CSA Competency Standard, CSA Z275.4. This Standard goes far beyond simply requiring a certain number of hours of training; it includes specific competency elements involving diving theory, tools, burning, welding and various underwater activities at specified depths. For example, to be considered competent each diver must complete a diver rescue at 165 fsw, in addition to the plethora of other underwater skill described in the standard.

DCBC has put in place a program that allows any diver or diving supervisor to demonstrate the competencies required of the standard, whether their initial training was in Canada or overseas. The Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR), is a process that allows divers to apply their previous diving and training experience towards a DCBC certificate. If the assessment review shows a diver is lacking in any specific competency, they can attend an accredited training establishment and demonstrate those competencies. The system is designed to include every competent person, not to exclude them.

The bottom line is that competency-based certification demonstrates to the world that you are competent to carry out the duties that are required of a person in your position. It is the strongest performance indicator to any potential employer, no matter at what level you are employed.

Author: DCBC Nov 2024

It’s summer 2024 and its busy!!! Busy in a good way! All CADC members are indicating a hectic season. At the same time, they are also noting that the crazy period of last year with a shortage of divers is leveling itself out. Some infrastructure projects that fired up last year are continuing and crews and contracts are in place. So – it is also busy in a steady way! Indicators are that it is about to get busier yet!!

It’s the same here at the CADC office as we deal with various meetings on regulatory changes and initiatives – namely stressing to regulators to get up to speed on current best practices and change the regulations. As usual, we seem to run into the same red tape on change, elections coming up and as such, regulators seem to be focusing more on drifting along rather than moving around. If you detect frustration, you have it right!!!

The Canadian Association of Diving Contractors (CADC) – in our article “CADC Sets the Standard” – traces the CADC’s journey from its start, responding to the National Energy Board’s call for a unified voice, to its ongoing efforts in standards, regulations and industry representation within our industry.  It’s been a long journey, but we are significant strides in our efforts to contribute to the our occupational / commercial diving sector. We have a crucial role ensuring safety and competency nationally across the industry. An interview with our present and past presidents showcases their impression of our efforts. (Spoiler: We are getting it right!!)

The new CEO of the Diver Certification Board of Canada (DCBC) Tracy Childs shares her personal reflection on the DCBC journey and vision for the future. With extensive experience in the diving certification process in Canada, the new CEO emphasizes the continuity of DCBC’s mission to enhance safety and competency. The article offers a glimpse into the CEO’s visits to accredited schools and international collaborations, highlighting a strong commitment to supporting high standards. Tracy has got this!!

This is a heads up for the “owner” when hiring a diving contractor. Ontario Ministry of Labour’s Matthew Neundorf’s insightful piece, “Who’s Responsible When Things Go Wrong?”, delves into the Internal Responsibility System under Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act. Neundorf, a Provincial Specialist, clarifies the shared responsibilities among divers, employers, and insurance companies. This article serves as a crucial reminder of the legal and ethical duties necessary to ensure safe diving practices by the owner as well as the contractor. If you are an owner – you bear responsibility for what happens on a dive site that includes diver safety!!

David Parkes, the former CEO of DCBC, takes us on a historical journey through the organization’s evolution in his feature, “DCBC: Where it All Began.” Parkes recounts the founding of DCBC following the National Energy Board’s announcement and details its establishment of national standards and international collaborations. His narrative provides a comprehensive overview of DCBC’s significant impact on the diving industry over the past two decades. (David was honoured this year by CADC for his significant contribution to the diver certification process in Canada – and promoting it internationally for recognition.

Our member spotlight this issue presents an inspiring story of Aquatech Diving & Marine Services Ltd. in Alberta. Founded by John Dickau and now owed by Steve Berube, Aquatech has evolved from humble beginnings into a leading provider of industrial hazmat, search and recovery, and potable water diving services. The article highlights Aquatech’s unwavering commitment to safety, innovation, and community service, emphasizing its growth and success in the competitive diving market.

In “ROVs: A Diver’s Best Friend,” Chad Gillen from Deep Trekker Inc. discusses the integration of Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) in diving operations. Gillen emphasizes the complementary roles of ROVs and divers, showing how technology can enhance safety, efficiency, and data acquisition in various underwater tasks. This article paints a compelling picture of the future of diving, where human ability and technological innovation work hand in hand.

These articles collectively reflect our ongoing commitment to safety, innovation, and excellence in the commercial diving industry. As we navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead, I hope these stories inspire and inform your work. Thank you for your continued support and dedication to advancing our field. It’s a long journey to make our industry safe, efficient and professional. We are all part of it.

DIGITAL VIEWING:

1. ONLINE READING: https://flip.matrixgroupinc.net/cadb/2024/summer/#page=1
2. DOWNLOADABLE  VERION: https://magazines.matrixgroupinc.net/cadc/

Participate – it’s your industry.

Stay safe …

Doug Elsey
Executive Director, CADC