Use of Club Boats.

It is essential that the handling of a RIB is carried out under the control of a qualified person at all times. This includes not only the on-site slow-speed manoeuvring during diving operations but also during the passage from launch point to site and vice versa.

Qualifications.

The CDA considers that the most appropriate qualification for a boathandler to have, when operating a RIB involved in recreational diving activities, is the CDA Diver Coxswain award. This award is given after the candidate has passed the boathandling assessment, which includes appropriate diving operational skills and manoeuvring techniques. Other qualifications are available from other training associations but it is paramount that only qualifications that include specific aspects of diving operations, should be accepted for diving operations.

Experience.

There are many boathandlers involved in branch diving activities, who have been successfully handling planing craft for many years and have never gained a recognised qualification. They may be members who have been taught by other experienced members during diving activities or gained the experience by owning their own boat. They may also have proved, over a number of years, that they are capable of handling a RIB in all the required circumstances associated with branch/club diving activities.

Their experience may be limited to specific types of boat and/or specific limitations of weather conditions. It is important that these limitations are acknowledged and not exceeded. It is highly recommended that these experienced persons do take the CDA Diver Coxswain Award to formally confirm their skills.

Training.

Attending a basic boathandling course does not imply that the person is competent at boathandling. Many of the skills taught may require further practice before that handler becomes competent. For this reason evidence of attending a boathandling course alone should not be considered evidence of the person’s competence.

For the new boathandler there needs to be additional evidence, in the form of logged hours, of experience in a variety of sea conditions, using various manoeuvring skills before the training is accepted. Training on more advanced courses may be considered sufficient evidence of competence since the boathandler would have been required to show competence in their basic skills as a pre-requisite for the course. It is therefore imperative that, in selecting a boathandler to manage a RIB on a recreational diving operation, all experience and training is taken into account when judging their suitability. The risk assessment associated with the trip must take into account the personal limitations and/or experience of the proposed boathandler.

While it is ideal that every dive boat should be under the direct control of a CDA Diver Coxswain provision must be made for the times when this Diver Coxswain wishes to dive themselves. For such circumstances there must always be another boathandler, deemed competent by the Coxswain under the conditions that prevail on site at the time, available to manage the boat for the duration of the dive, and in an emergency, recover the divers and boat to a safe haven.
If such a person is not available then the Diver Coxswain should not dive.