{"abstract":"OSHA is issuing this final rule to amend its Commercial Diving Operations (CDO) standards. This final rule allows employers of recreational diving instructors and diving guides to comply with an alternative set of requirements instead of the decompression-chamber requirements in the current CDO standards. The final rule applies only when these employees engage in recreational diving instruction and diving-guide duties; use an open-circuit, a semi-closed-circuit, or a closed-circuit self-contained underwater-breathing apparatus supplied with a breathing gas that has a high percentage of oxygen mixed with nitrogen; dive to a maximum depth of 130 feet of sea water; and remain within the no-decompression limits specified for the partial pressure of nitrogen in the breathing-gas mixture. These alternate requirements essentially are the same as the terms of a variance granted by OSHA to Dixie Divers, Inc. in 1999.","action":"Final rule.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF LABOR","name":"Labor Department","id":271,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/labor-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/271","parent_id":null,"slug":"labor-department"},{"raw_name":"Occupational Safety and Health Administration","name":"Occupational Safety and Health Administration","id":386,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/occupational-safety-and-health-administration","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/386","parent_id":271,"slug":"occupational-safety-and-health-administration"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/2004/02/17/04-3289.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":1910,"title":29}],"citation":"69 FR 7351","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":null,"correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"This final rule becomes effective on March 18, 2004.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":["Docket No. S-550"],"dockets":[],"document_number":"04-3289","effective_on":"2004-03-18","end_page":7366,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"full_text_xml_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/xml/2004/02/17/04-3289.xml","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2004/02/17/04-3289/commercial-diving-operations","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/04-3289?publication_date=2004-02-17","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-2004-02-17/04-3289/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":16,"page_views":{"count":276,"last_updated":"2026-08-26 20:15:05 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2004-02-17/pdf/04-3289.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":null,"publication_date":"2004-02-17","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2004/02/17/04-3289.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{"1218-AB97":{"issue":"200304","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/1218-AB97/commercial-diving-operations-revision","title":"Commercial Diving Operations: Revision","xml_url":"http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=200304&RIN=1218-AB97&operation=OPERATION_EXPORT_XML","priority_category":"Substantive, Nonsignificant"}},"regulation_id_numbers":["1218-AB97"],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":false,"signing_date":null,"start_page":7351,"subtype":null,"title":"Commercial Diving Operations","toc_doc":"Commercial driving operations","toc_subject":"Safety and health standards, etc.:","topics":["Health","Occupational safety and health","Safety"],"type":"Rule","volume":69}