New rules aim to boost diving

Malta's first regulations governing dive centres have been launched by the Tourism and Culture Ministry, on the recommendation of the Malta Tourism Authority, in an attempt to boost the already strong niche market, which it believes has the potential for further growth.

"The main reason behind the recreational diving service provider regulations is to organise this important sector in a professional way in order to attract more potential divers to Malta," the director of the MTA's product planning and development directorate, Mario Attard, told The Times.

The "detailed and unique" regulations are the first of their kind even at a Mediterranean level, Mr Attard continued. Apart from ensuring safety and professionalism, the intention is to use them as a marketing tool to promote the important niche that diving tourism is in the international field.

"Diving is risky and requires safety measures and professional organisation, which the new regulations cover," Mr Attard said. "They add value to the sector, when compared to other destinations."

About 40,000 divers, mostly from the UK and Germany, visit Malta every year and that is not including the families and friends accompanying them. There are currently 31 licensed dive centres, which, until 2001, were registered with the police, as well as a number of pending applications.

According to the regulations, for the MTA to license a dive centre it would have to have third-party liability insurance, as well as a director for diving, who can be the owner, or licensee, and is responsible for the diving operations.

Compressors, cylinders and other operating equipment must also be certified by competent persons, or authorities, which are currently being identified. The MTA is in consultation with the professional diving associations and is also working hand in hand with the Malta Standards Authority for clearance on who is competent to carry out the equipment certification, Mr Attard said.

Among other provisions, the 32 specific regulations lay down that minors must have the written consent of their parents, or a guardian before diving.

Divers must also fill in a medical statement to ensure their suitability for diving before they dive. If the director for diving does not feel it is satisfactory, he can ask for a full medical examination, Mr Attard said, quoting the rules.

The regulations also specify what sort of information the clients should receive from dive centres, which have an extensive checklist and must ensure communication, he pointed out.

While cutting bureaucracy, the regulations also shift the onus onto the diver, who is now directly accountable and responsible.

"We wanted to come up with a formula that would safeguard safety issues, responsibility and accountability, while, on the other hand, ensuring there is no unnecessary bureaucracy for the sake of tourism and not to distance potential divers from visiting Malta," Mr Attard said.

The MTA and, in particular, its product planning and development directorate, which is responsible for drafting regulations to ensure that tourism service providers offer the required standards, has been working on the new diving rules for the last two years.

A wide consultation process was involved, with the participation of diving representatives. Feedback from the dive centres, with which the directorate discussed the issue for six months, was highly positive throughout and even individual divers offered their complete support, Mr Attard explained.

Expert advice was also sought and specific European standards were adhered to.

Mr Attard, who has experience in drafting regulations, said it was a "tough" set of rules to draw up due to the technicality of the subject and the fact that the sport is considered to be high risk and, therefore, requiring serious caution.

Being the first time regulations of this sort were drafted, it meant going to great lengths to ensure that every area was covered, Mr Attard said.

The dive centres were in the process of "getting their house in order" and at an advanced stage of having the new requirements in place, he continued. It would then be up to the MTA enforcement directorate to ensure that the dive centres were licensed and organised according to law.