PCSSD to Regulate Dive Operators

To avoid deaths among divers, the Philippine Commission on Sports SCUBA Diving (PCSSD) is set to regulate the industry of scuba diving.

The PCSSD has recently made its last public consultation for the new implementing rules and regulations for diving activities yesterday in Waterfront Hotel, Lahug. This is the last of the four series, the rest were conducted in Palawan, Mindanao and Batangas.

PCSSC commissioner Benedict Reyes said the new IRR is to ensure safety of divers, improve the diving industry and protect the dive sites.

He said once the IRR is done, dive operators will be ordered to accredit themselves so the PCSSD, being the implementing arm, will have an idea how they operate.

He said they also want to get data from different dive organizations of how many dive instructors, masters, and others that they have given accreditation. This way, he said, they will be able to keep track of the growing industry.

There may be less among divers, but Reyes said that can still be prevented if the divers are properly trained, and this is what they will be telling dive operators to do. Of the millions of tourists that come to the country each year, 10 percent of them go diving, which is a big chunk, he said.

He said they are expecting to fully implement this IRR next year.

Image Credit: www.elysium-hotel.com