We take safety really seriously here at Reef Check Australia and are committed to ensuring our divers operate under the safest conditions possible. At the same time we hold regular reviews to ensure we comply with all state and federal diving regulations.
Please download the full Reef Check Australia Dive Policy and Procedures.
Reef Check Course Participant Requirements
A Reef Check Course Participant is a diver who is currently enrolled in the Reef Check Training Course.
- Competency: PADI Advanced Open Water diver (or equivalent) and 18 years of age or older.
- Training: Enrolled in the Reef Check Australia Training Course (this includes the PADI Reef Health Surveyor Distinctive Specialty certification).
- Experience: Must have 25 logged dives with 2 in the past 6 months.
- Medical Fitness: Currently fit and healthy to dive.
- Equipment Servicing: Must supply the required diving equipment (as listed in RCA Dive Policy & Procedures). Divers are responsible for ensuring that their equipment is safe and maintained as specified by manufacturers' requirements.
- Evidence of emergency health cover: (e.g. Queensland ambulance cover, DAN dive insurance, private health cover).
- Reef Check Course Participants must have in-water supervision by a Reef Check Trainer or Team Leader
Reef Check Volunteer Surveyor Requirements
The role of a Volunteer Surveyor is to collect Reef Check data following the Reef Check protocol.
Australian Resident:
- Competency: PADI AQF Rescue Diver (or equivalent). A recreational Rescue Diver certificate that has been issued under the Australian Qualifications Framework.
- Training: Completed the Reef Check Australia Training Course. Proof of training is gained from completion of a Reef Check Australia Training course.
- Experience: Must have logged proof of 30 dives, relevant to the shallow reef diving carried out by RCA.
- Medical Fitness: A current Certificate of Medical Fitness to Dive (Occupational Dive Medical AS2299). The certificate must not be more than one year old and cannot have been replaced or revoked.
- Evidence of Equipment Servicing: Reef Check participants are responsible for supplying required diving equipment (as listed in RCA Dive Policy & Procedures). Divers are responsible for their equipment maintenance and regular servicing, and must provide Reef Check Australia with service reports showing current equipment servicing (including Regulator with secondary air source and Buoyancy Compensator Device), as dictated by manufacturers specifications.
- Evidence of emergency health cover: (e.g. Queensland ambulance cover, DAN dive insurance, private health cover).
- Volunteer Surveyors must have in-water supervision by a Team Leader (or equivalent)
Non-Australian Resident:
- Competency: PADI Rescue Diver (or equivalent).
- Training: Completed the Reef Check Australia Training Course.
- Experience: Must have logged proof of 60 relevant dive hours.
- The criteria for Medical Fitness, Evidence of Equipment Servicing and Evidence of Emergency Health Cover is the same as for Reef Check Volunteer Surveyors.
- Restrictions: Reef Check Visiting Volunteer Surveyors cannot dive more than 28 days per 6 month period without further qualification.
Clean-Up Divers
A Clean-Up Diver is a recreational diver participating in underwater clean-up activities with Reef Check.
- Competency: PADI Advanced Open Water diver (or equivalent) and 18 years of age or older.
- Experience: Must have available logged proof of 25 dives, and one logged dive within the last year.
- Medical Fitness: Currently fit and healthy to dive.
- Equipment Servicing: Must supply the required diving equipment. Divers are responsible for ensuring that their equipment is safe and maintained as specified by manufacturers' requirements.
- Clean-up divers must be supervised by a Divemaster or equivalent.