In the realm of diving and recreational activities, WorkCover Queensland emphasizes the significance of qualifications and competency for ensuring safety.

For high-risk diving work, including roles like divers, dive supervisors, standby divers, and attendants, adherence to AS/NZS 2299.1 SUPP 1:2007 Occupational Diving Operations Standard Operational Practice is crucial. This entails possessing qualifications such as relevant ADAS certifications aligned with the specific work being undertaken. The standard also outlines the team size and roles for different high-risk diving work scenarios.

In the context of general diving work, WorkCover Queensland advises a thoughtful review of the work to determine the most appropriate competency options. This involves considering factors like the diving environment, equipment, breathing gas, decompression schedule, tasks, tools, and associated hazards. Competency for general diving work involves holding an appropriate qualification, such as a statement of attainment from a VET course or a certificate from a dive training organization equivalent to AS/NZS 4005:2000. Additionally, divers must demonstrate sound knowledge and skills related to diving physics, equipment use and maintenance, decompression planning, communication, safe execution of diving work, and diving physiology and first aid.

For specific circumstances, alternative competency options exist, such as incidental diving work (e.g., for actors in film shoots) and limited scientific diving work (for visiting overseas scientists).

Recreational diving involves ensuring an adequate number of workers for various roles like dive supervisor, rescuer, first aid provider, and lookout. Dive supervisors, whether for general or resort diving, should hold relevant qualifications, be experienced, and capable of instructing, advising, and recognizing risks. Certificated divers must meet specified criteria, with additional considerations for EANx and mixed gas diving.

Similarly, in recreational snorkelling, a snorkelling supervisor, lookout, and guide play essential roles. They must possess the necessary skills and experience to ensure the safety of snorkellers. The availability of a guide may replace the lookout for smaller groups, contingent upon a prior assessment of the risks.

WorkCover Queensland emphasizes the importance of maintaining written evidence of diver and dive supervisor competence for at least 12 months. This evidence includes qualifications, certificates, training records, assessment tools and outcomes, diver's logbooks, dive safety logs, and statutory declarations.