The Order of 14 October 1997, for which the safety rules for the exercise of underwater activities were adopted, regulated the general rules of diving in its various fields, as set out in Chapter III thereof. regulations for the practice of recreational-recreational diving. The norm comprised, as the only means, autonomous diving for the practice of recreational-recreational diving. The time since the publication of the standard, the technical advances experienced in the sports-recreational sector and the demand for modernization of the activity by the tourism-tourism sector, makes it necessary to update the existing ones. security rules.

Therefore, and within the framework of the provisions of Article 149.1.20 of the Constitution, the Royal Decree of Law 2/2011, of 5 September, approving the recast of the Law of Ports of the State and of the Navy Merchant, who entrusts in his article 263 to the Ministry of Development the competences relating to the safety of human life at sea.

Having regard to the final provision of the Order of 14 October 1997, which authorises the Director-General of the Merchant Navy to update the safety rules on a regular basis, in order to accommodate them technological innovations that occur in the sector, and prior technical advice from the Maritime Service of the Civil Guard (UAS), Maritime Salvage (SASEMAR) and the Navy Diving Center (CBA).

Understanding for recreational-recreational diving with surface supply, to all that incursion into hyperbaric medium, which aims to exercise a playful activity (sport/recreational), where breathable air is sent to the diver from the surface by means of a main supply system through an umbilical, counting said supply with an air accumulator vessel, or a bottle of compressed air, which ensures a continuous flow to the Divers that you supply.

And in order to establish a series of safety measures for the practice of recreational-recreational diving with surface supply, this Direction resolves:

First. Updating the safety standards of recreational-recreational diving to surface supply.

The practice of recreational-recreational diving with surface supply will be carried out according to the provisions set out in the Order of 14 October 1997, and to cover the particular activities, will be taken into account the following points:

1. The maximum depth will be 6 meters.

2. The dives into caves, caves, interior of sunken ships, or any type of dives that develop indoors, whether real or virtual, are expressly prohibited.

3. The activity shall be carried out by means of a main feeding system for the supply of a breathable surface with air accumulator, or a compressed air bottle, supervised, at all times, by a safety diver for every four divers with surface supply. This will be equipped with an autonomous diving equipment with at least two second stages.

4. The minimum unit in the water to carry out dives with surface supply will be a couple of divers.

5. The maximum ratio of surface supply divers, for the first stage, shall be two.

6. The only breathable mixture allowed will be atmospheric air.

7. The mandatory minimum equipment to be carried by a diver with surface supply shall be:

(a) A vest, type harness, with a buoyancy control device which must be at least one of the following swelling systems: oral, direct supply or fed by means of a botellin.

b) An indicator of input in reserve (alarm) or an internal pressure control device of the supply bottle.

c) A depth control device.

d) A ballast control device with fast zafing system.

e) Umbilicals, whose technical characteristics will be:

I. They shall be manufactured and approved for specific use of diving.

II. They shall be made up of a main supply hose assembly and a cape that supports the pull-ups or efforts made by the diver, which can be replaced by a mallet of resistant material, or by the components themselves, if so certifies the manufacturer.

III. When the regulatory assembly composed of 1. and 2. stages counts, with some connection between manual zafing elements, it shall be fitted with a locking system, which for disconnection the use of the two hands is necessary.

IV. It will have adequate buoyancy.

V. The total length shall be at least 50 per 100 greater than the depth of diving.

Second. Applicability.

This resolution shall apply from the day following that of its publication in the "Official State Gazette".

The present resolution does not exhaust the administrative route and against it, it is possible to bring an appeal, within one month, before the General Secretariat of Transport, in accordance with the provisions of Article 114 of the Law 30/1992, of 26 November, of the Legal Regime of Public Administrations and of the Common Administrative Procedure.

Madrid, July 28, 2015. -Director General of the Merchant Navy, Rafael Rodríguez Valero.