Over the last few years Iʼve become generally known as cave diver, my love affair with caves started as a child some forty five years ago following my father into the dry underground world. I started cave diving in 1992 this was also the same time I started sidemount diving.

Traditional cave diving in the UK has always been sidemount. But Iʼm not just a cave diver and have had a long history of wreck and ocean diving around the world. Basically the art and act of diving still fascinates me today.

Every few years I try to learn new diving skills and put myself back into the student role. It keeps the diving exciting and always good to refresh the theory and learn different techniques from other instructors.

One course I should have done many years ago was the HSE scuba, due to many factors it just never happened. But my son Robert Thomas in early 2022 got me to join in on his HSE scuba course along with fellow cave diver Connor Roe and four other students. The course was run by Bristol Channel Diving and Neil Brock was the HSE approved Instructor.

As the oldest student on the course it had some benefits and was great to have a three diver cave team that was used to working together and more importantly used to working underwater.

So what is HSE Scuba ? To work on Media, Scientific, Archaeological, inshore or inland projects in the UK the diver needs to be able to comply with the Health and Safety Executive Diving Approved Codes of Practice (ACOP).

The diver is using a full face mask with either hard wired or through water communication, using a harness and lifeline system, assisted by a diving tender and dive supervisor on the surface. Finally the diver has a fully kitted standby diver on the surface in case of problems.

The diving is very different from recreational Scuba or Tech diving, as the diver is in place to support a camera crew, build a structure, survey a wreck site, basically itʼs a job of work but underwater. Not always the fun stuff.

The theory covers the usual diving practices of Decompression theory but using United States Navy tables, Diving Medicine, Compressor operation, Chamber operation and the Law and Diving, what you can and cannot do!

Now as a diver at work you really need to have the diving as second nature, as the primary objective is to do the job and you are just using diving equipment to get you the diver to the work site. Whilst working on the bottom in the UK being warm and dry is really rather nice.

I was using my OʼThree 90 Ninety Tri-Lam that Iʼve used extensively underground so I know Iʼm warm, dry and have plenty of flexibility when working. Water temperature for the fourteen course dives was 7.c in fresh water and 9.c in Portland Harbour. Having a diving tender to help you fit the full face mask ensures your hood is covering all exposed skin on your face.

In warmer locations around the world the 65 semi dry or even GBS 3mm wetsuit would be ideal.

On successfully completing the course I was rather tired and in need of a dayʼs rest before launching back into teaching cave and sidemount. But really Looking forward to upcoming HSE diving Jobs.

Topside-Diver one……