An IMCA working group has reviewed, expanded and updated previous guidance to produce the new publication, which covers direct contamination of the diver while working in the water, contamination of the diver's equipment causing hazards to surface personnel required to handle it, and contamination of the atmosphere of a diving bell or deck decompression chamber either by contaminant entering directly or via the equipment of a returning diver.

In just over 20 pages, the guidance note has sections devoted to routes of entry of contaminants into the body; types of contamination and associated hazards; risk assessment; practical aspects/lessons learned; useful references; flow chart for risk assessment for both surface diving and bell diving.

Diving in Contaminated Waters is available from the IMCA at Email: publications@imca-int. com or Web: www. imca-int. com/ publications. It costs £5 for IMCA members and £10 for non-members.