1910.425: Surface-Supplied Air Diving
Employers doing surface-supplied air diving must stay within depth limits of 190 fsw, or 220 fsw for bottom times of 30 minutes or less, and keep a decompression chamber ready for dives outside no-decompression limits or deeper than 100 fsw. Each diver must be continuously tended, with enough breathing gas, standby divers and reserve gas as the rule requires.
Key takeaways
- 1910.425 is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart T).
- OSHA cited it 2 times in the last 3 years, in 2 inspections, with $8,275 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most-cited part: 1910.425(c) Procedures (2 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.425, "Surface-supplied air diving", is an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart T). It has 18 numbered paragraphs. The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
Show the full text of 1910.425 (18 paragraphs)
(a) General. Employers engaged in surface-supplied air diving shall comply with the following requirements, unless otherwise specified.
(b) Limits.
(1) Surface-supplied air diving shall not be conducted at depths deeper than 190 fsw, except that dives with bottom times of 30 minutes or less may be conducted to depths of 220 fsw.
(2) A decompression chamber shall be ready for use at the dive location for any dive outside the no-decompression limits or deeper than 100 fsw.
(3) A bell shall be used for dives with an inwater decompression time greater than 120 minutes, except when heavy gear is worn or diving is conducted in physically confining spaces.
(c) Procedures. Open (c) 2 citations
(1) Each diver shall be continuously tended while in the water. Open (c)(1) 2 citations
(2) A diver shall be stationed at the underwater point of entry when diving is conducted in enclosed or physically confining spaces.
(3) Each diving operation shall have a primary breathing gas supply sufficient to support divers for the duration of the planned dive including decompression.
(4) For dives deeper than 100 fsw or outside the no-decompression limits:
(i) A separate dive team member shall tend each diver in the water;
(ii) A standby diver shall be available while a diver is in the water;
(iii) A diver-carried reserve breathing gas supply shall be provided for each diver except when heavy gear is worn; and
(iv) A dive-location reserve breathing gas supply shall be provided.
(5) For heavy-gear diving deeper than 100 fsw or outside the no-decompression limits:
(i) An extra breathing gas hose capable of supplying breathing gas to the diver in the water shall be available to the standby diver.
(ii) An inwater stage shall be provided to divers in the water.
(6) Except when heavy gear is worn or where physical space does not permit, a diver-carried reserve breathing gas supply shall be provided whenever the diver is prevented by the configuration of the dive area from ascending directly to the surface.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.425.
On March 23, 2024, an employee was utilizing surface supplied air diving equipment to clean sediment from the inside of an enclosed standpipe water tank with a 24-foot water depth. The estimated water temperature was 53.42 degrees Fahrenheit. Sediment cleaning was performed using a hand-held…
Where and how often it was cited
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.425, plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.425.
Most-cited parts of this rule
- 1910.425(c) Procedures 2 citations
- 1910.425(c)(1) 2 citations
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Frequently asked questions
How deep can surface-supplied air diving go?
Not deeper than 190 fsw, except dives with bottom times of 30 minutes or less may go to 220 fsw.
When must a decompression chamber be ready?
For any dive outside the no-decompression limits or deeper than 100 fsw.
When must a bell be used?
For dives with an inwater decompression time greater than 120 minutes, except when heavy gear is worn or diving is in physically confining spaces.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.425 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-10-20
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.