From offshore to aquaculture: Bringing diving expertise to new waters

As aquaculture moves into deeper and more exposed waters, diving operations are becoming more demanding. Greater depth, harsher conditions and reduced accessibility increase the need for robust planning, suitable equipment, competent supervision and effective emergency preparedness.

Although offshore energy and aquaculture are different industries, both depend on safe underwater work. Experience from established offshore diving operations can therefore provide useful guidance as aquaculture faces more complex conditions.

This development may require clearer operational frameworks, adapted regulations and a shift in diving methodology.

Learning from incidents

Accidents and unwanted events provide important opportunities for learning. The key questions are why an incident occurred and how a recurrence can be prevented.

Experience from offshore diving shows the value of looking beyond the immediate technical cause. Procedures, risk assessments, communication, planning, equipment design and human factors may all affect the outcome.

Regulations and procurement in practice

Diving, vessel operations, equipment and occupational safety may be governed by different regulations and standards. The challenge is not only to understand these requirements, but to apply them to real operations.

Practical experience is equally important when procuring diving and underwater services. Clients need clear requirements, realistic risk assessments and qualification criteria that address competence, experience, capacity, equipment and safety systems, rather than price alone.

Experience that can cross industry boundaries

The offshore diving industry has extensive experience in planning and executing demanding underwater work. Relevant principles include operational risk assessment, safe interaction between divers, vessels and equipment, effective barriers, emergency preparedness, verification and systematic learning from incidents.

Offshore solutions cannot simply be transferred to aquaculture, as the operating environment, economics and practical needs differ. The value lies in applying established knowledge where it can improve safety and solve new challenges.

Where NUI Advisory Services can contribute

NUI combines experience from diving, hyperbaric operations, safety and technical verification. NUI Advisory Services can review operational concepts, risk assessments, procedures and technical solutions, interpret requirements and provide an independent specialist perspective.

NUI can also support procurement by defining qualification criteria and assessing whether potential diving and underwater service providers have the required competence, experience, capacity, equipment and safety systems.

After an unwanted event, independent technical and operational expertise can help identify lessons for future operations.

Different Industries Similar underwater risks. Decades of diving experience can provide valuable lessons for a rapidly developing aquaculture industry.