CRITERIA FOR ASSESSMENT OF DIVING CERTIFICATES
ONshore / offshore
As far as diver training is concerned, the Dutch law makes no difference between onshore or offshore diving.
A diver who wishes to work with SCUBA must have the Dutch Certificate “Duikarbeid Categorie A”, a diver who wishes to work with surface demand equipment, whether offshore or onland, needs the Dutch Certificate “Duikarbeid Categorie B”.For Closed bell (saturation) diving, the diver needs the Dutch Certificate “Duikarbeid Categorie C. *)
For low risk diving in pools or aquarium with a maximum depth of 9 metres the diver needs the Dutch Certificate “Duikarbeid Categorie D”.
*) and the ‘old’ HSE certificates (before 1998) will be accepted (see below)
Working Conditions Legislation
The aims of training are laid down in the Working conditions legislation (Working Conditions Law, Act, regulation and guidance). They are published by the SDU (State printers & publishers) and also obtainable through the bookshops.
An extract (in Dutch), concerning diving is published by the NDC.
Individual assessment
Divers who do not hold a Dutch certificate and wish to work in the Netherlands or on the Dutch Continental Shelf, must have their certificates assessed.
For ‘old’ British HSE certificates (before 1998) there is a special arrangement (see below).
The certificates are assessed for validity, equivalence, authenticity and rightful ownership.
validity (experience requirement)
Diving certificates are valid for 24 months following date of issue, and will remain valid as long as the holder can prove the following experience (logbooks!):
- Category A, B and D: at least 30 dives in the preceding 24 months;
- Category C: at least 10 bell runs (closed bell) in the previous two years, of which five as a bell man and five as a lock-out diver;
- Diving supervisor: supervised at least 30dives in the preceding 24 months.
At the moment of your assessment you need to fulfil this experience requirement.
If you can not fulfil this experience requirement it is possible to follow an Refresher Course by a diving school approved by the Assessment Committee.
Equivalence
IDSA training standards
The Dutch qualifications compare roughly to the training standards of the International Diving Schools Association as follows:
Category A– IDSA level 1
Category A&B– IDSA level 3
Category C – IDSA level 4
Note: the validity requirement is implemented
Since there are many British certified divers working in the Netherlands, below is given specific information about HSE certificates.
HSE certificates before 1998
Certificates, issued by the British HSE under the British diving regulations from before 1998 will be accepted as before, subject to the validity requirement.
These certificates will be considered equivalent as follows:
Part III– Category A
Part I – Category B
Part II – Category C
You don’t need your certificates assessed.
HSE certificates after 1997
The British HSE Category B”(SSE) will usually be considered equivalent to Dutch Certificate “Duikarbeid Categorie A”
The following combination of certificates will usually be considered equivalent to CategoryB:
HSE Category A (SCUBA) + HSE Category B (SSE) + offshore top up + IMCA tools training or equivalent as shown in logbook + the following total amount of logged diving minutes:
1600 minutes total, including at least 200 minutes to at least 10 meters and between 40 – 50 metres: at least 150 minutes of which at least in open water with a total bottom time of at least 75 minutes.
The dives can not been done in the Dutch Sector
HSE Category C (Closed Bell) will usually be considered equivalent to Dutch Certificate “Duikarbeid Categorie C”.
Note: the validity requirement is implemented
There is some misunderstanding about the use of the Dutch certificate “Duikarbeid Categorie C”. With this certificate you are allowed to do Closed Bell Diving or Saturation Diving in the Dutch sector.
We have to inform you that you are not allowed to do Surface Supplied diving work in the Dutch sector. Therefore you need the Dutch certificate “Duikarbeid Categorie B” or an HSE Part I certificate with a date of issue from before 1998.
Statement
Statement of the Assessment Committee concerning the Dutch Certificate “Duikarbeid Categorie C” (Closed Bell) dated 2006: For courses followed by INPP at Marseille or the Underwater Centre (including HSE)or for ADAS and DCBC Certificates a simplified procedure is implemented.
ADAS certificates
The Dutch qualifications compare roughly to the training standards of ADAS as follows:
Categorie B – ADAS Part 3
Categorie C – ADAS Part 4 (Closed Bell)
Note: the validity requirement is implemented
DCBC certificates
The Dutch qualifications compare roughly to the training standards of DCBC as follows:
Categorie B –Unrestricted Surface-Supplied Diver
Categorie C – Closed Bell Diver
Note: the validity requirement is implemented
Authenticity
All applicants must submit original certificates and logbooks for inspection.
For the logbook inspection,for instance,the most important dives are:
- Those made during training (for the comparison with the Dutch training standards);
- Supposing the dive training took place more than two years previously, then the dives made during thepast 24 months. (this due to the validity requirement in the Netherlands)
Divers who do not hold HSE, INPP, ADAS or DCBC certificates must further submit full informationon their training school, i.e. training course information, training programme, textbooks, syllabi, etc.
Mutual recognition with Australia and Canada
Since 21st September the NDC has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Australian Diving Accreditation Scheme, ADAS,
and The Diver Certification Board Canada, DCBC
Concrete this means that a part of the assessment can be done by ADAS or Canada. For instance: the ID verification by a face-to-face meeting.
This does not mean that you receive automatically the Dutch Certificate. The digital copy made by ADAS or DCBC of your logbook will be sent to the Committee for study.
Note: the validity requirement is implemented
For more details see the memoranda herewith.
Rightful ownership
Rightful ownership of certificates will be checked with the relevant government department and/or the training school.
Method of assessment
Paper check
The application form must be filled out completely and truthfully.
Incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration.
If an application is found to be untruthful the certificate will be refused.
Interview
All applicants will be invited to appear before the Assessment Committee. (see our memorandum of understanding with ADAS and DCBC!)
All applicants must submit original certificates and logbooks for inspection.
All applicants will have their logbooks and certificates inspected and by means of a question and answer procedure the Committee will assess if the applicant has an adequate knowledge of basic diving safety.
We have to check your ID (face to face meeting)
When you already have done an earlier assessment or training which result in a NDC-certificate, it is possible that we don’t have to see you in person. Please let us know in advance that you already have a NDC-certificate. !
Inwater assessment
If the Assessment Committee deems it necessary, the applicant may be subjected to inwater assessment.
For this eventuality all applicants must be able to show a valid medical certificate and bring suitable clothing.
Conditions
For the appeals procedure, costs and conditions of payment see the general information on assessment of certificates for commercial diving and diving medical assistance.
Address NDC
NDC
Buitenhofdreef 280
2625 RE DELFT
The Netherlands
Telephone + 31 (0) 15 2512020
Telefax+ 31 (0) 15 2512021
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