Divers warned over dangers of forging documents

Divers and supervisors have been warned that they could be putting lives at risk if they forge documents, and could also face criminal charges.

It comes after a diving supervisor received a Police Caution under the Fraud Act 2006 for signing blank pages of a diver’s log book.

The diver had subsequently falsified details of dives to make it look like he had the necessary experience needed for a Closed Bell course in Scotland.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) alerted the police when initial checks by course leaders indicated that some of the dives were not possible without a very high risk of decompression illness.

Chris Sherman, HSE’s chief inspector of diving said: “Divers and supervisors need to be reminded that logbooks are legal documents which must be completed accurately.

“Had the man succeeded in completing the course, which is for experienced divers only, he could have led dives which he was not properly qualified for, putting others at risk.

“HSE diving teams will investigate all cases where divers are found to hold forged documents or qualifications and will work with police where necessary.”

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