The BDSG COVID-19 team met on Thursday 21st May 2020 to discuss a mindful, progressive return to shore diving, because it naturally lends itself to social distancing above the surface.
Below the surface divers routinely dive in full personal protective equipment (PPE).
The BDSG has issued clear guidance for diving in England. When the devolved Government advice changes in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, the BDSG will also amend its advice. The Republic of Ireland resumed limited diving activities on Monday 18th May, e.g. recreational non-training shore diving to 12 metres.
BDSG Guidance for diving in England, as of 21 May 2020
1. You must follow the Coronavirus (COVID-19) government guidance for your country at all times.
2. You must follow the normal safety protocols recommended by your training organisation, and any special guidance provided by them regarding COVID19. 3. Without any specific guidance on water sports or diving, it is the BDSG’s interpretation that diving is considered as an outdoor activity and as such, shore diving should be practical if done while following points 5 and 6.
4. Boat diving will be inherently less practical, but some boat operators may be able to meet these recommendations.
5. You can dive with one other person not from your household if you follow the two-metre rule while out of the water.
6. You can dive with anyone from your household and there is no need to follow the two-metre rule while out of the water.
7. If you have had symptoms or a positive test for COVID-19, consult with a doctor before diving, ideally a doctor specialising in diving medicine, e.g. UK Diving Medical Committee (www.ukdmc.org). In any event, you should be following self-isolation guidelines relevant for your country if you have tested positive for COVID-19, came into contact with anyone tested positive or have any symptoms or suspect that you may have COVID-19.
8. We strongly recommend that only experienced and fit divers return to diving at this stage, due to the limited capacity of the emergency services.
9. Additional guidance and advice on the possible consequences of COVID-19 for diving is available from DAN Europe
(www.daneurope.org‘COVID-19 and Diving Activities: 10 Safety Recommendations’).
We believe that the Scottish Government will amend their COVID-19 restrictions on 28th May 2020.
At present the BDSG COVID-19 Working Group is meeting on a weekly basis, in order to review this guidance as the situation evolves.
The members of the BDSG are:
- BHA (British Hyperbaric Association)
- BSAC (British Sub Aqua Club)
- DAN Europe (Divers Alert Network)
- DDRC Healthcare (Diving Diseases Research Centre)
- DDST (Defence Diving Standards Team)
- Diving Ireland (Irish Underwater Federation)
- GADAP (Global Association of Diving Assistance Providers)
- GUE (Global Underwater Explorers) § HSE Diving Inspectorate (Health & Safety)
- IANTD (International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers)
- IDEST (Inspectorate for Diving Equipment, Servicing and Testing)
- FINS (Federation of Inland Dive Sites) § MCA (Maritime and Coastguard Agency)
- PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors)
- PBA (Professional Boatman’s Association)
- PSAI Europe (Professional Scuba Association International)
- RAID UK (Rebreather Association of International Divers)
- RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution)
- SAA (Sub Aqua Association)
- ScotSAC (Scottish Sub Aqua Club)
- SITA (Scuba Industries Trade Association)
- SSI (Scuba Schools International)
- TDI SDI (Technical Diving International / Scuba Diving International)
- UK DMC (UK Diving Medical Committee)
