Circular No. 21/2018/TT-BVHTTDL stipulates on material infrastructure, equipment, and training of specialized staff for recreational scuba diving

CIRCULAR

Regulations on material infrastructure, equipment, and training of specialized staff for recreational scuba divingđào tạo nhân viên chuyên môn đối với môn Lặn biển thể thao giải trí

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

Pursuant to Decree No. 106/2016/NĐ-CP dated July 1, 2016 of the Government stipulating conditions for operating sports activities;

Pursuant to Government Decree No. 79/2017/NĐ-CP dated July 17, 2017, on functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism;

At the proposal of the Director-General of the General Department of Physical Training and Sport;

The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism issues this Circular to regulate material infrastructure, equipment, and training of specialized staff for recreational scuba diving.

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

Article 1. This Circular regulates material infrastructure, equipment, and training of specialized staff to meet the requirements for practicing and competing in recreational scuba diving.

Article 2. Standards for material infrastructure and equipment for high-performance sports training and competition in recreational scuba diving shall be implemented in accordance with Article 43 of the Law on Physical Education and Sports.

Article 2. Applicability

This Circular applies to organizations and individuals organizing training, competitions, and training of specialized staff for recreational scuba diving in Vietnam.

Article 3. Material Infrastructure

Clause 1. The diving area must have a complete system of buoys and signs properly positioned according to the chart on the nautical map. Buoys and signs must have contrasting colors with the water and environmental scenery to facilitate observation.

Clause 2. There must be inland waterway vessels to transport divers, instructors, rescue personnel, and equipment and tools for recreational scuba diving.

Clause 3. There must be areas for mooring and anchoring inland waterway vessels.

Clause 4. There must be changing rooms, storage areas, showers, and sanitary facilities for divers; first aid kits as prescribed by the Ministry of Health.

Clause 5. There must be a logbook recording divers including main contents: full name, ID number or citizen identification card number, health status of the diver, address and contact phone number when necessary.

Clause 6. There must be a diving rules board specifying main contents: practice hours, prohibited participants, attire when participating, safety measures.

Article 4. Equipment

Clause 1. Personal protective equipment for divers and instructors: air compressors, compressed air tanks, oxygen tanks, depth gauges, pressure gauges, temperature gauges, dive time gauges, diving suits, weight belts, fins, masks, snorkels, valve systems, air delivery tubes to the mouth, life jackets.

Clause 2. Communication systems ensuring continuous connection between local or national search and rescue centers and activity areas within the management scope of the facility.

Article 5. Safety Assurance

Clause 1. When there are divers underwater, inland waterway vessels organizing diving activities must hoist flags to signal safety for divers.

Clause 2. Instructors must instruct divers on how to use air tanks, diving equipment, life jackets, and diving techniques.

Clause 3. Divers are responsible for declaring their health status according to the regulations of the sports facility and bear responsibility for their declarations.

Article 6. Instructor-to-Diver Ratio

Each instructor may guide no more than one diver per dive session.

Clause 1. The General Department of Physical Education and Sports, the Vietnam Water Sports Association, or Provincial Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism organize training for specialized staff for instructors and rescue personnel in recreational scuba diving.

Clause 2. The General Department of Physical Education and Sports is responsible for developing the content and program for specialized training for instructors and rescue personnel in recreational scuba diving to be decided by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Clause 3. Certificates of specialized training for instructors and rescue personnel in recreational scuba diving are issued by the training organization. The model certificate of specialized training for instructors in recreational scuba diving is specified in Appendix I attached hereto. The model certificate of specialized training for rescue personnel in recreational scuba diving is specified in Appendix II attached hereto.

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.

Clause 2. Cultural, Sports and Tourism Inspection Agencies shall conduct inspections and handle violations of this Circular within their authority.

Clause 3. Provincial Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism are responsible for implementing this Circular.

Article 9. Effective Date

Article 11. This Circular takes effect from June 1, 2018.

Article 12. Circular No. 14/2015/TT-BVHTTDL dated December 22, 2015 of the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism regulating the professional conditions of facilities organizing recreational scuba diving activities shall cease to be effective from the date this Circular takes effect. During implementation, if any difficulties arise, agencies and individuals are requested to promptly report to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for study and resolution.

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