Regulation on recreational scuba diving in Quebec

In Quebec, the practice of recreational scuba diving is governed by the Regulation respecting recreational scuba diving qualifications authorized by the Act respecting safety in sports (R.S.Q., c. S-3.1, c. V.2).

Under the Act (c. V.2, ss. 46.17 and 46.18), a person who practices recreational underwater diving other than during a qualification course or examination, or who teaches, must hold a certificate attesting to the level of qualification that he has acquired in the field of underwater diving or teaching diving.

The Regulation respecting qualification in recreational underwater diving (L.R.Q., c. S-3.1, r. 8) specifies the conditions under which the holder of a certificate of qualification may dive or teach according to his level of qualification. The qualification levels are diver – class A, B, C and D and instructor – class A, B and C. The level of diver – class D allows to exercise certain functions of assistance to the instructor. For details of the levels and their requirements, see the Regulation.

For tourists or people certified outside Quebec, a temporary equivalence certificate can be issued under certain conditions.

Renewal of certificate of qualification

As an A, B, C diver 
(Every 3 years)
...have made a minimum of (10) ten recreational underwater dives using compressed gas within the last (3) three years OR
...demonstrate that you have participated in a refresher course during a dive supervised by a qualified instructor OR
...pass the examinations leading to the issuance of the certificate.

As a class D diver 
(every year)
...be a member in good standing, as an assistant instructor or chief diver, of one of the agencies listed in the appendix to the regulations AND
...demonstrate that you have participated, during the validity period of your certificate, in at least one 4-hour refresher clinic within the last 3 years.

As an A, B, C instructor 
(every year)
...be a member in good standing, as an instructor, of one of the agencies listed in the appendix to the regulation AND
...demonstrate that you have participated in at least one 4-hour refresher clinic in the past year during the validity period of your certificate.

Pour l’obtention ou le renouvellement d’un certificat de qualification, veuillez vous adresser à un moniteur qui a été accrédité à titre de mandataire par la Fédération. Consultez la list to find out which instructors are active, authorized to teach in Quebec and to issue certificates. For more information, please contact us by phone at 514-252-3009 or toll free at 1-866-391-8835 ext. 1 or by email at accreditation@quebecsubaquatique.ca

About the regulation

The Sports Safety Act was adopted by the National Assembly on December 21, 1979. The Minister responsible for its application is responsible for ensuring that the safety and integrity of persons in sports are ensured. The Act to amend the Act respecting safety in sports (SQ 1997, c. 37) was adopted on June 10, 1997 in order to insert a new chapter dealing with safety in recreational underwater diving. This amendment to the Act follows the Coroner Denis Boudrias' investigation reports on the causes and circumstances of death of victims of scuba diving accidents during the decade. On June 1, 1999 (1999, G.O. 2, p. 2532) the Minister empowered the Federation to make regulations respecting, among other things, the qualification of persons who practice and teach scuba diving. On February 5, 2002 (2002, G.O. 2, p. 1830), the Minister approved the Recreational Scuba Diving Qualification Regulations. The first recreational scuba diving certificates were issued in 2004.

Few links