The Ministry of Emergency Situations has determined what skills a rescue diver should have

The department also indicated why a diver could be disqualified

The procedure for assigning, confirming and depriving diving qualifications was developed by the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations. New project departmental document was submitted for public discussion on the portal of draft regulatory legal acts.

The document states that professional divers can be assigned one of five qualifications – simply a rescue diver, then a 3rd, 2nd or 1st class rescue diver, and finally a diving specialist. For those for whom working underwater is not the main activity, but who have to dive from time to time, the qualification “light diver” is provided. To obtain qualifications, you need to undergo diving training, a medical examination to determine suitability for diving, and also pass tests from the Central Diving Qualification Commission of the Ministry of Emergency Situations or the regional diving qualification commission.

A diver of the lowest category must know the procedure for organizing diving descents, the responsibilities of all participants in the descent, he must also be familiar with the methods of performing diving work, the causes and signs of occupational diseases, methods of providing first aid, etc. A diving specialist must also know the regulations governing diving activities, all types of diving equipment and equipment and much more.

A diver of a higher qualification class, in addition to the work listed in the qualification characteristics of his class, must also know and be able to do everything that specialists of lower classes are supposed to know and be able to do.

To confirm their qualifications, rescue divers with a total diving experience of less than 500 hours must spend at least 60 hours underwater annually. But for diving specialists with more than 2,000 hours of experience, it is enough to spend 12 hours a year under water.

It is easier to lose a qualification than to gain one. Disqualification will be for gross violation of the Constitution, federal laws, acts of the president and government, as well as regulatory legal acts of the Ministry of Emergency Situations on the organization and performance of diving work, if this caused harm, created a threat of harm to health, and even more so resulted in the death of a person.