Circular No. 14/2015/TT-BVHTTDL on the professional conditions for organizations conducting recreational sports diving activities

CIRCULAR

Regulations on Professional Conditions for Establishing and Operating Recreational Scuba Diving Activities

lặn biển thể thao giải trí

Pursuant to the Law on Physical Culture and Sports dated November 29, 2006;

“1. Position

Pursuant to Decree No. 76/2013/NĐ-CP dated July 16, 2013, promulgated by the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism;

Article 1. This Circular stipulates special conditions for organizing training and competitions in Golf.

The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism issues this Circular to regulate the professional conditions for establishing and operating recreational scuba diving activities.

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular stipulates the conditions regarding infrastructure, equipment, and specialized staff of establishments organizing recreational scuba diving activities.

Article 2. Applicability

This Circular applies to organizations and individuals participating in recreational scuba diving activities in Vietnam and those related parties.

Article 3. Explanation of Terms

In this Circular, the following terms are understood as follows:

1. Recreational scuba diving activity is a physical activity under the sea aimed at enhancing health and satisfying entertainment needs.

2. Inland waterway vessels (hereinafter referred to as vessels) include boats, ships, and other floating structures with or without engines operating on inland waterways.

Article 4. Conditions for Infrastructure, Area, Vessels, and Time for Organizing Recreational Scuba Diving Activities

1. Infrastructure and area for organizing scuba diving of sports establishments organizing scuba diving:

a) The diving area must have a complete system of buoys and signs positioned according to the chart approved on the nautical map. Buoys and signs must contrast in color with the water and surrounding environment for easy observation;

b) There must be an area for mooring vessels and anchoring vessels;

c) There must be changing rooms, storage areas, showers, sanitary facilities, and parking areas;

d) There must be a logbook recording participants in scuba diving including main contents: name, ID number, health status, address, and contact phone number when necessary;

đ) There must be a notice board displayed in an easily observable location specifying training hours, safety guidelines for divers, protection of marine environmental resources, and prohibited behaviors.

2. Vessels must comply with all legal regulations concerning inland waterway traffic.

3. The time for organizing activities must be suitable with the weather and climate conditions of each sea area and territorial waters as prescribed by law.

4. Provincial People's Committees directly under the Central Government shall specify in detail the areas and times for organizing recreational scuba diving activities within their jurisdiction.

Article 5. Conditions for Equipment and Gear for Scuba Diving

1. There must be equipment and gear for scuba diving including:

a) Personal protective equipment for guests: air compressor, compressed air cylinder, depth gauge, pressure gauge, temperature gauge, dive time gauge, diving suit, weight belt, fins, mask, snorkel, valve system, air hose leading to the mouthpiece, and other equipment;

b) Communication systems and life-saving buoys;

c) First aid kits and oxygen cylinders.

2. Technical diving equipment must meet technical safety requirements as prescribed by law.

Article 6. Conditions Regarding Specialized Staff

1. There must be instructors and guides meeting the following requirements:

a) Instructors:

- Hold a professional diving certificate issued by the General Department of Physical Culture and Sports, the Vietnam Underwater Sports Association, or foreign recreational scuba diving organizations and recognized by the General Department of Physical Culture and Sports;

- Have continuously worked as a recreational scuba diving guide for two years confirmed by the establishment organizing recreational scuba diving activities.

b) Guides must hold a professional diving certificate from the General Department of Physical Culture and Sports or the Vietnam Underwater Sports Association.

2. There must be medical personnel with a professional level of at least a college degree.

3. There must be vessel operators and machinery operators serving scuba diving who hold licenses and professional certificates as prescribed by law.

Article 7. Conditions for communication information and ensuring safety when organizing sea diving activities

1. Having a communication system ensuring continuous connection with the local or national search and rescue center to the areas within the unit's management scope.

2. When organizing sea diving activities, the sports facility shall be responsible for:

a) Guiding participants in sea diving to use air tanks, diving equipment, and lifebuoys before allowing them to participate in the activity;

b) Purchasing bodily insurance for participants in sea diving activities;

c) Considering the health condition of participants in sea diving;

d) Arranging no more than two instructors guiding diving for each dive session; each instructor guiding diving shall not exceed one person per dive session;

e) When there is someone diving underwater, the boat must hoist a signal flag to ensure safety for the diver. The signal flag has a swallowtail shape, half white and half blue;

f) Not allowing people with heart disease, hypertension, respiratory diseases, those who have consumed alcohol or stimulants to participate in sea diving.

3. Participants in sea diving activities shall be responsible for declaring their health status according to the regulations of the facility and bear responsibility for their declaration.

Article 8. Implementation organization

1. The General Department of Physical Education and Sports shall be responsible for guiding and inspecting the implementation of this Circular.

2. The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Department of Culture and Sports) of provinces and centrally governed cities shall be responsible for guiding and implementing this Circular at the local level.

Article 9. Transitional Provisions

Sports facilities organizing sea diving recreational activities that have been established but do not meet the conditions stipulated in this Circular must supplement and complete the conditions within six months from the date this Circular takes effect.

Article 10. Effective Date

This Circular takes effect from February 20, 2016.

During implementation, if any difficulties arise, organizations and individuals are requested to promptly report them to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for study and timely resolution./.