Who must be notified at the beginning and end of dive operations?

• A. OOD
• B. CDO
• C. Port Ops Scheduler
• D. Ship

Answer: (A)

Notifying the Officer of the Deck at the start and end of dive operations provides clear, on-deck safety and coordination. The OOD is responsible for the ship’s deck safety, control of the watch, and ensuring that all on-deck activities run within the ship’s safety parameters. When diving begins, the OOD becomes the immediate point of contact to authorize access to working areas, coordinate with surface teams, and monitor any hazards that could affect the ship’s operations. At the end of the dive, the OOD confirms that divers are accounted for, equipment is secured, and the deck is safe before resuming normal duties. While other roles like the Command Duty Officer or Port Operations Scheduler have important responsibilities, the standard practice for dive start/end notifications centers on the Officer of the Deck.