Regulations

Photo : Francisco Davids (Pexels)

The Act Respecting Safety in Sports was passed by the National Assembly on December 21, 1979. The minister responsible for enforcing the Act is tasked with ensuring the safety and well-being of individuals participating in sports. On June 10, 1997, the Act to Amend the Act Respecting Safety in Sports (S.Q. 1997, c. 37) was adopted to add a new chapter addressing safety in recreational scuba diving. This amendment followed the investigation reports of Coroner Denis Boudrias into the causes and circumstances surrounding fatal recreational scuba diving accidents that occurred over the previous decade. On June 1, 1999 (1999, G.O. 2, p. 2532), the Minister authorized the Federation to establish, by regulation, standards governing, among other things, the qualifications of individuals who participate in and teach recreational scuba diving. On February 5, 2002 (2002, G.O. 2, p. 1830), the Minister approved the Regulation Respecting Qualifications in Recreational Scuba Diving. The first recreational scuba diving qualification certificates were issued in 2004.

In Quebec, recreational scuba diving is governed by the Regulation Respecting Qualifications in Recreational Scuba Diving, enacted under the Act Respecting Safety in Sports (CQLR, c. S-3.1, c. V.2).

Under the Act (c. V.2, ss. 46.17 and 46.18), anyone who participates in recreational scuba diving (other than as part of a training course or qualification examination) or who teaches recreational scuba diving must hold a certificate confirming the level of qualification they have attained as a diver or diving instructor.

The Regulation Respecting Qualifications in Recreational Scuba Diving (CQLR, c. S-3.1, r. 8) specifies the conditions under which holders of qualification certificates may dive or teach, based on their level of certification. Diver qualification levels are Class A, B, C, and D, while instructor qualification levels are Class A, B, and C. The Class D diver qualification authorizes the holder to perform certain assistant instructor duties. For details on each qualification level and its requirements, consult the Regulation.

For visitors or individuals certified outside Quebec, a temporary equivalency certificate may be issued, subject to certain conditions.