[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 46, Volume 7]
[Revised as of October 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 46CFR197.346]

[Page 431]
 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
   CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 197_GENERAL PROVISIONS--Table of Contents
 
                 Subpart B_Commercial Diving Operations
 
Sec. 197.346  Diver's equipment.

    (a) Each diver using SCUBA must have--
    (1) Self-contained underwater breathing equipment including--
    (i) A primary breathing gas supply with a cylinder pressure gage 
readable by the diver during the dive; and
    (ii) A diver-carried reserve breathing gas supply provided by--
    (A) A manual reserve (J valve); or
    (B) An independent reserve cylinder connected and ready for use;
    (2) A face mask;
    (3) An inflatable floatation device;
    (4) A weight belt capable of quick release;
    (5) A knife;
    (6) Swim fins or shoes;
    (7) A diving wristwatch; and
    (8) A depth gage.
    (b) Each diver using a heavyweight diving outfit must--
    (1) Have a helmet group consisting of helmet, breastplate, and 
associated valves and connections;
    (2) Have a diving dress group consisting of a basic dress that 
encloses the body (except for head and hands) in a tough, waterproof 
cover, gloves, shoes, weight assembly, and knife;
    (3) Have a hose group consisting of the breathing gas hose and 
fittings, the control valve, the lifeline, communications cable, and a 
pneumofathometer; and
    (4) Be provided with a helmet cushion and weighted shoes.
    (c) Each surface-supplied dive operation using a heavyweight diving 
outfit must have an extra breathing gas hose with attaching tools 
available to the standby diver.
    (d) Each diver using a lightweight diving outfit must have--
    (1) A safety harness;
    (2) A weight assembly capable of quick release;
    (3) A mask group consisting of a lightweight mask and associated 
valves and connections;
    (4) A diving dress group consisting of wet or dry diving dress, 
gloves, shoes or fins, and knife; and
    (5) A hose group consisting of the breathing gas hose and fittings, 
the control valve, the lifeline, communications cable, and a 
pneumofathometer (if the breaking strength of the communications cable 
is at least equal to that required for the lifeline, the communications 
cable can serve as the lifeline).
    (e) Each surface-supplied air dive operation within the no-
decompression limits and to depths of 130 fsw or less must have a 
primary breathing gas supply at the dive location.
    (f) Each surface-supplied dive operation outside the no-compression 
limits, deeper than 130 fsw, or using mixed-gas as a breathing mixture 
must have at the dive location--
    (1) A primary breathing gas supply; and
    (2) A secondary breathing gas supply.
    (g) Each diver diving outside the no-decompression limits, deeper 
than 130 fsw, or using mixed-gas must have a diver-carried reserve 
breathing gas supply except when using a heavy-weight diving outfit or 
when diving in a physically confining area.

                               operations