ISO 24803:2017

Overview

ISO 24803:2017 - Recreational diving services - Requirements for recreational diving providers - defines the expected nature and quality of services delivered by organisations and individuals offering recreational scuba diving and snorkelling excursions. It covers a full range of service types including introductory diving, snorkelling excursions, training and education, organized and guided diving for certified divers, and rental of diving and snorkelling equipment. The standard does not apply to freediving (apnea diving) and generally excludes compressed gas supply, which is often governed by national legislation.

Key Topics

ISO 24803:2017 sets out common and service‑specific requirements. Major technical topics include:

• Information to clients: required introductory and in‑service information such as responsibilities, prerequisites (medical certification, qualifications), equipment and costs.
• Risk assessment: identification of hazards, who may be harmed, and control measures for safe operations.
• Surface support and vessel operations: roll call, activity timing, crewing, safety briefings and additional vessel equipment.
• Emergency equipment & procedures: minimum expectations for emergency preparedness and response during dive operations.
• Diving equipment: definition of essential scuba and snorkel equipment and notes on redundancy (e.g., alternative breathing systems, recommended practice in cold water or deeper dives).
• Staff qualifications and roles: requirements for instructors, dive leaders and support personnel for training, guided and organized dives.
• Training, sites and record keeping: criteria for theory facilities, open water training locations, staff competence and documentation.
• Environmental considerations: minimizing impacts to marine ecosystems through education and operational controls.
• Special client considerations: policies for minors and vulnerable persons, including documented guardian consent.

Applications

ISO 24803:2017 is practical for ensuring consistent, safe, client‑focused recreational diving services. Use cases include:

• Operational guidance for dive centres, boat-based operators, watersport centres, dive clubs and independent instructors.
• Development of internal policies for risk management, emergency response, client briefings and staff training.
• Benchmarking service quality for customer assurance, insurance, or local regulatory compliance.
• Informing training curricula and the design of safe introductory dives, snorkel excursions and equipment rental programs.

Who would use this standard

• Dive operators, dive shop managers and boat operators
• Scuba instructors, dive leaders and training agencies
• Tourism and watersports service providers seeking standardized safety and service quality
• Regulators and insurers assessing recreational diving operations

Related Standards (if applicable)

ISO 24803:2017 is part of a series; relevant documents referenced include:

• ISO 11121 (introductory programmes)
• ISO 13289 (snorkelling excursions)
• ISO 24801 (diver training levels 1–3)
• ISO 24802 (instructor training)

Keywords: ISO 24803:2017, recreational diving services, scuba diving providers, snorkelling excursions, dive training, dive operator safety, dive equipment rental, risk assessment, emergency procedures.