Page 242 - Manual for Activities directed at the Underwater Cultural Heritage

to diving operations where technical equipment is operated in different environments, this is of the utmost importance. In order to help formulate the plan and assist in the overall operations of a project, reconnaissance of dive sites and other working areas such as moorings, harbours and marinas where vessels will be operating from, prior to the start of a project, is strongly advised. In addition, visits to emergency treatment facilities in order to establish prior contact is encouraged, especially if the area where the activities are taking place is not normally frequented by divers.
Before work commences on a project, the dive plan should be read by all project participants, who should acknowledge that they understand the document. Emergency procedures should be clear and reviewed with all participants, and the location and operation of first-aid and communication equipment and transport options should be made known.
The aims of the project
The aims of the project should already be clearly stated in the project design (see Chapter II Project design). In this introductory section of the dive plan, however, these aims should be briefly revisited with a clear indication of how the diving activities will assist in achieving the project’s objectives.
Activities/ working methods
This section of the dive plan should provide a description and the dates and times of the planned diving activities during the project.
Depending on the type of project (assessment, survey, excavation, consolidation or monitoring activities), tasks could vary from simple visual SCUBA diver reconnaissance to the extensive shifting of sediment using a dredge, an airlift or other earthmoving equipment, and the recovery of small artefacts or items of considerable size. This section of the dive plan should clearly state what types of diving will be done and the equipment to be used: for example, SCUBA diving or surface-supply diving, as well as
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Safety