Two offshore commercial divers and the director of a diving company have faced sanctions for making false claims regarding their diving qualifications. This misconduct could have posed severe safety risks, not only to themselves but to other divers during offshore operations.
An investigation led by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) uncovered the deceptive actions of the three individuals, who falsely exaggerated their diving experience. The consequences of such exaggerations could have been disastrous during an offshore incident.
As a result of the HSE investigation, two divers from the Portsmouth area have had their diving qualifications revoked. Furthermore, both divers and the director of the commercial diving company have received police cautions for fraud.
The investigation began in December 2022 when the HSE received information suggesting that two divers may have obtained their closed bell qualifications without the necessary prior diving experience. Of particular concern was the potential risk they posed, as both had worked for contractors in the North Sea.
To work as a saturation diver (commonly known as a closed bell diver) in the UK, one requires an approved qualification. Currently, only two dive schools worldwide offer this qualification: INPP in Marseille, France, and the Commercial Dive Academy in Tasmania.
The HSE proceeded to contact both dive schools and obtained details of the dives submitted by the divers during their enrolment. Inspectors subsequently verified this information with several UK diving contractors to validate the claimed diving experience. The contractors, who are legally required to retain dive records for two years, provided accurate details of dive depths and times for the individuals in question.
In a particularly egregious case, the director of the diving company failed to provide records despite signing and stamping the diver’s logbook himself. HSE investigations revealed that no diving had taken place on the dates recorded in the diver’s logbook, with ten dives being fraudulently forged. These forgeries had the director’s signature and stamp.
The other diver, although still short on actual experience, falsely claimed 106 dives, including 26 deeper than 15 meters, when the HSE could only find records of approximately 28 dives, with just one exceeding 15 meters.
Collaborating closely with Hampshire Police’s Fraud Investigation Team, the HSE pursued legal action. All three individuals admitted to making false logbook entries and received police cautions for fraud by false representation under the Fraud Act 2006.
HSE diving inspector Phil Crombie emphasised the importance of genuine diving experience for qualified closed bell divers. Faking experience, he warned, not only puts the individuals at risk but also endangers the lives of other divers. He stressed the need for offshore diving contractors to employ qualified divers and to adhere to the law regarding logbooks.
The investigations and police cautions resulted in the rapid withdrawal of their qualifications by the relevant authorities. Closed bell courses come at a significant cost for divers, and these individuals ultimately lost their investments without obtaining the intended qualifications.
