Recreational Scuba Diving

Recreational Scuba Diving Industry

Recreational scuba diving or sport diving is diving for the purpose of leisure and enjoyment, using scuba equipment. The equipment used for recreational diving is mostly open circuit scuba, though semi closed and fully automated electronic closed-circuit rebreathers may be included in the scope of recreational diving. Risk is managed by training the diver in a range of standardized procedures and skills appropriate to the equipment the diver chooses to use and the environment in which the diver plans to dive. Further experience and development of skills by practice will increase the diver’s ability to dive safely.

Legal constraints on recreational diving vary considerably across jurisdictions. Recreational diving may be industry regulated or regulated by law to some extent. The legal responsibility for recreational diving service providers is usually limited as far as possible by waivers which they require the customer to sign before engaging in any diving activity. The extent of responsibility of recreational buddy divers is unclear, but buddy diving is generally recommended by recreational diver training agencies as safer than solo diving, and some service providers insist that customers dive in buddy pairs.

Public Law No. 7-47 (Safe Diving Act of 1990) provides that recreational scuba diving occupies an important role in the tourism industry. It is important that the Northern Mariana Islands continue to be known and trusted for safe diving. House Bill 16-11, now Public Law 16-6, grants the Department of Public Safety the power to enforce the diving law. Specifically, it allows police officers to issue citation to those who operate businesses for scuba instruction or scuba diving tours without meeting legal requirements. Under the law, diving instructors are required to be certified and to obtain substantial liability insurance to ensure that only skilled divers will be permitted to provide recreational dive services to residents and tourists on the islands.

Diving, however, carries risks just like any other activity or employment performed on the water. Equipment failures, hazardous conditions, and many other dangers could result in injury or death for any diver, particularly if the diver is employed by a shipowner or school. In general, lawyer is involved when scuba diving accidents occurred and compensation shall be granted if negligence, recklessness or equipment failure is to blame for scuba injury or death. The Firm offers legal representation to scuba accident victims in the CNMI by lawyers with experience and knowledge to help client obtain the compensation they deserve when injury or death occur due to a scuba diving accident. We also represent dive operators.