ISO 13970:2011

Recreational diving services - Requirements for the training of recreational snorkelling guides

ISO 13970:2011 specifies requirements for snorkelling guide training programmes and the criteria to be met that permit a training organization to award a snorkelling guide qualification indicating that the requirements specified in ISO 13970:2011 have been met. ISO 13970:2011 also specifies the particular conditions under which the training is provided, in addition to the general requirements for recreational diving service provision specified in ISO 24803.

Services relatifs à la plongée de loisirs — Exigences minimales liées à la sécurité concernant la formation des guides avec tuba pratiquant la plongée de loisir

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 28-Nov-2011
• ICS: 03.080.30 - Services for consumers
• ICS: 03.100.30 - Management of human resources
• ICS: 03.200 - Leisure. Tourism
• ICS: 03.200.99 - Other standards relating to leisure and tourism
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 228 - Tourism and related services
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 228/WG 1 - Diving services
• Current Stage: 9093 - International Standard confirmed
• Start Date: 04-Dec-2024
• Completion Date: 13-Dec-2025

Overview

ISO 13970:2011 specifies minimum requirements for training recreational snorkelling guides and the criteria that a training organization must meet to award a snorkelling guide qualification. The standard complements general recreational diving service rules (ISO 24803) and aligns snorkelling excursion conduct with safety, environmental protection and consistent competency assessment.

Key topics and requirements

• Scope and purpose: Defines required competencies, training conditions and evaluation criteria for snorkelling guides.
• Prerequisites: Parental/legal consent for minors and documented medical screening to confirm suitability for guiding snorkellers.
• Theoretical knowledge: Equipment, snorkelling physiology, medical issues, environmental best practices, excursion planning, communications, accident management and local legal requirements.
• Personal snorkelling skills: Mastery of mask, fins, snorkel use; equipment preparation and maintenance; safe entries/exits; snorkel clearing; efficient surface and underwater swimming; ascent/descent procedures.
• Performance benchmarks (examples):
  • Vertical headfirst dive from surface in deep water
  • Swim at least 25 m underwater on a single breath
  • Face-down surface snorkel swim 800 m in 15 minutes or less
  • Ascend safely while protecting head and airway
• Leadership and excursion management: Site selection, emergency planning, participant limits and briefings, group control techniques, monitoring conditions, environmental protection, post-excursion debrief and equipment care.
• Rescue and first aid: Open-water rescue demonstrations (including casualty recovery from depth ≥5 m), management of cramps, panicked or unresponsive snorkellers, transport techniques, and a valid first aid/CPR qualification approved by the training organization.
• Training organization requirements: Quality-control procedures, intervention systems for non-compliant guides, permanent headquarters and public records of authorized guides.
• Instructor requirements: Instructors must be trained to teach/evaluate snorkelling guides and sanctioned by a training organization (note: a scuba instructor Level 2 per ISO 24802-2 meets this requirement).

Applications and who uses this standard

ISO 13970:2011 is used by:

• Snorkelling training organizations and dive schools to design compliant courses and issue recognized qualifications
• Tour operators and recreational diving service providers to set hiring, training and operational policies
• Regulatory agencies and certification bodies for inspecting or accrediting snorkelling services
• Snorkelling guide instructors to structure curricula and assessments Practical applications include creating training syllabi, defining minimum fitness/skill tests, standardizing excursion management procedures, and improving participant safety and environmental stewardship.

Related standards

• ISO 13289 - Conduct of snorkelling excursions
• ISO 24803 - Requirements for recreational scuba diving service providers (general service requirements)
• ISO 24802-2 - Safety requirements for training scuba instructors (Level 2)

Keywords: ISO 13970, snorkelling guide training, recreational snorkelling, snorkelling guide qualification, snorkelling excursion management, snorkelling safety, training organization.

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 13970
First edition
2011-12-01
Recreational diving services —
Requirements for the training of
recreational snorkelling guides
Services relatifs à la plongée de loisirs — Exigences minimales liées à
la sécurité concernant la formation des guides avec tuba pratiquant la
plongée de loisir
Reference number
©
ISO 2011
©  ISO 2011
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from either ISO at the address below or
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Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2011 – All rights reserved

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies
(ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO
technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an
International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO 13970 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 228, Tourism and related services.
Introduction
The International Standards on recreational snorkelling services are intended to establish a series of
specifications for safety practices and the provision of services. They specify:
 necessary levels of experience and competency of snorkel guides, and
 safety practices and requirements for recreational snorkelling service providers.
The requirements specified are minima; they do not preclude the provision of additional training or the
evaluation of additional competencies by a service provider.

iv © ISO 2011 – All rights reserved

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 13970:2011(E)

Recreational diving services — Requirements for the training of
recreational snorkelling guides
1 Scope
This International Standard specifies requirements for snorkelling guide training programmes and the criteria
to be met that permit a training organization to award a snorkelling guide qualification indicating that the
requirements specified in this International Standard have been met.
This International Standard also specifies the particular conditions under which the training is provided, in
addition to the general requirements for recreational diving service provision specified in ISO 24803.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 13289, Recreational diving services — Requirements for the conduct of snorkelling excursions
ISO 24803:2007, Recreational diving services — Requirements for recreational scuba diving service providers
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
snorkelling
activity of swimming while typically using a mask, a snorkel and fins, where participants remain at the surface
or make occasional breath hold dives, and where buoyancy devices can be used to provide surface support,
depending on the environmental conditions and participants' abilities
3.2
training organization
entity providing training systems and issuing qualifications for recreational diving, and which is responsible for
the implementation and quality management of training
NOTE The entity can include scuba diving federations and scuba diver training agencies.
3.3
snorkelling guide instructor
individual qualified to train snorkelling guides in accordance with Clause 13
3.4
confined water
swimming pool with a depth appropriate to the activity or body of water, offering similar conditions with regard
to visibility, depth, water movement and access
3.5
open water
body of water significantly larger than a swimming pool, offering conditions typical of a natural body of water
3.6
snorkelling equipment
equipment consisting of fins, a mask, a snorkel, a personal flotation device (if appropriate), a quick release
weight system (if appropriate) and an exposure suit (if appropriate)
NOTE An example of a personal flotation device is a snorkelling vest.
3.7
excursion management
actions and measures necessary to ensure safe conduct of recreational snorkelling activities, including
planning, briefing, conduct and control, emergency procedures and de-briefing
4 Competencies of a snorkelling guide
Snorkelling guides shall be trained such that, when evaluated in accordance with Clause 10, they are deemed
to have sufficient knowledge, skill and experience to plan, organize and conduct snorkelling excursions and
lead recreational snorkellers in open water.
Snorkelling guides are qualified to do the following:
 provide all elements of snorkelling excursion management;
 oversee groups of snorkellers from the shore, a boat, or other platform;
 lead groups of snorkellers in confined water and/or open water;
 provide advice and guidance to participants of snorkelling excursions including issues regarding
participants’ safety and techniques to minimize impact on the environment;
 conduct any specialized recreational snorkelling activities for which they have received appropriate
training;
 plan and execute appropriate emergency procedures.
If snorkelling and environmental conditions are significantly different from those previously experienced, a
snorkelling guide requires an appropriate orientation with regard to local environmental conditions.
In order to lead snorkellers on excursions which have more demanding operational parameters, a snorkelling
guide shall have appropriate specialized training and/or experience.
EXAMPLE Examples of such excursions include the following:
 night snorkelling excursions;
 snorkelling excursions in currents;
 snorkelling excursions on wreck sites.
Where further snorkelling instruction is required, in order to meet the above mentioned competencies, this can
only be provided by a suitably qualified snorkelling instructor.
2 © ISO 2011 – All rights reserved

5 Prerequisites for training
5.1 General
The provider of the training for snorkelling guides shall ensure that the client fulfils the prerequisites specified
in 5.2 and 5.3 in order to take part in the training course envisaged.
5.2 Minors
Documented parental or legal guardian consent shall be obtained when the applicant is a minor.
5.3 Heal
...