Chamber Operations is a specialised training component within the commercial diving programme, preparing you to operate recompression chambers safely during diving and treatment operations. It develops the knowledge and operational understanding required to manage chamber procedures, apply treatment processes correctly, and respond appropriately to emergencies and unplanned events in line with recognised safety standards and South African commercial diving regulations.
In South Africa’s Commercial Diving Regulations (May 2022), the chamber operator is defined as the Recompression Chamber Operator—a competent person registered to operate an occupied air diving chamber. This module builds your understanding of pressure vessels for human occupancy, chamber components and safety systems, gas and oxygen supply procedures, and the safe monitoring and management of occupants during therapeutic recompression and decompression-related treatment.
You will learn correct procedures for chamber preparation and documentation, briefing chamber occupants, locking personnel in and out, operating BIBS systems safely, managing oxygen breathing periods, recognising oxygen toxicity, applying treatment tables, and maintaining chamber hygiene and decontamination standards. Scenario-based activities and assessments reinforce decision-making, safety discipline, and consistent operational readiness.
Key areas covered include:
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Chamber systems, PVHO requirements, and safety standards
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Chamber roles, responsibilities, and regulatory expectations
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Valves, locks, gas supply systems, oxygen systems, and testing procedures
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Fire safety, contamination control, and operational monitoring
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Oxygen safety, oxygen toxicity, and BIBS use
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Decompression illness, treatment tables, and chamber procedures
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Documentation, preparation, and briefing of occupants
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Tender change-outs, medical lock operations, and emergency procedures
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Chamber hygiene, decontamination, and good housekeeping
By the end of this module, you will be able to prepare and operate a recompression chamber safely, manage occupant briefing and monitoring requirements, apply correct oxygen and treatment gas procedures, follow treatment tables and operational rules, maintain documentation and hygiene standards, and respond effectively to emergencies during chamber operations.
Course Features
- Lectures 60
- Quizzes 11
- Duration Lifetime access
- Skill level All levels
- Language English
- Students 352
- Certificate Yes
- Assessments Self
- 20 Sections
- 60 Lessons
- Lifetime
- Introduction1
- Pressure Vessels for Human OccupancyObjective: Develop the knowledge required to explain PVHO requirements and chamber systems used in commercial diving operations.
Knowledge: Explain chamber roles, availability, components, testing requirements, valves, inlets/BIBS, viewports, and gas supply systems.
Skills: Demonstrate PVHO understanding by identifying chamber components and explaining safe operational readiness requirements.9 - Approaches to SafetyObjective: Develop the knowledge required to apply safety principles and risk controls during chamber operations.
Knowledge: Explain chamber operation effects on the body, fire safety, electrical safety, contamination risks, monitoring, ventilation, and emergency medical kit requirements.
Skills: Demonstrate safety awareness by identifying hazards and selecting appropriate controls during operational scenarios.9 - Chamber ViewportsObjective: Develop the knowledge required to support safe chamber operation through correct viewport care, inspection, and maintenance practices.
Knowledge: Explain viewport function and inspection requirements, along with basic maintenance and testing standards for chamber safety and compliance.
Skills: Demonstrate operational readiness by identifying viewport risks, applying basic care and inspection practices, and recognising required maintenance checks.1 - Chamber Internal and External ValvesObjective: Develop the knowledge required to explain safe use of chamber piping, valve connections, and external shell valve operation.
Knowledge: Explain chamber valve systems, piping connections, and safe operational principles for internal and external valves.
Skills: Demonstrate operational understanding by applying safe valve-handling procedures during operational scenarios.3 - Chamber LocksObjective: Develop the knowledge required to explain chamber lock functions and safe ingress/egress procedures under pressure.
Knowledge: Explain entry and main locks, purpose, safety principles, and correct operational use during chamber operations.
Skills: Demonstrate understanding by applying correct lock procedures and safety precautions in scenarios.2 - Gas SupplyObjective: Develop the knowledge required to explain chamber gas supply systems and safety requirements.
Knowledge: Explain chamber gas supplies, supply management principles, and key safety considerations for operational support.
Skills: Demonstrate awareness by identifying safe supply controls and monitoring requirements during operations.2 - Chamber Oxygen SupplyObjective: Develop the knowledge required to explain oxygen systems, administration components, and oxygen safety controls.
Knowledge: Explain oxygen systems, regulators, pillar valves, oxygen equipment, fire/explosion hazards, and safe oxygen handling procedures.
Skills: Demonstrate oxygen safety awareness by applying correct precautions and identifying hazards during oxygen administration.7 - Oxygen ToxicityObjective: Develop the knowledge required to recognise oxygen toxicity and apply correct response procedures during treatments.
Knowledge: Explain oxygen toxicity, CNS and pulmonary symptoms, and how to respond during oxygen breathing periods.
Skills: Demonstrate response readiness by identifying symptoms and selecting correct control actions during scenarios.3 - Decompression Illness and Treatment TablesObjective: Develop the knowledge required to explain treatment table use and rules for chamber-based decompression illness response.
Knowledge: Explain treatment tables, table rules, and Treatment Table 6 structure and purpose.
Skills: Demonstrate understanding by applying basic table rules and selecting correct procedural steps in scenarios.3 - Chamber Documentation and PreparationObjective: Develop the knowledge required to prepare a chamber safely and complete required documentation for treatment operations.
Knowledge: Explain documentation requirements, chamber preparation steps, therapeutic recompression procedures, and preparation for use standards.
Skills: Demonstrate readiness by selecting correct preparation actions and maintaining documentation requirements accurately.5 - Briefing of OccupantsObjective: Develop the knowledge required to brief chamber occupants and explain key principles affecting chamber operations.
Knowledge: Explain chamber entry procedures, Boyle/Dalton/Henry laws, roles and responsibilities, post-treatment restrictions, and briefing requirements.
Skills: Demonstrate briefing competence by applying correct briefing content and communication procedures for safe chamber entry and use.5 - Compressing to DepthObjective: Develop the knowledge required to apply safe compression and descent procedures during chamber operations.
Knowledge: Explain blowdown procedure, duties during oxygen breathing periods, and occupant care during descent.
Skills: Demonstrate operational understanding by selecting correct compression steps and applying safe occupant monitoring practices.3 - Venting a ChamberObjective: Develop the knowledge required to explain venting procedures and environmental control requirements.
Knowledge: Explain environmental control principles and safe ventilation procedures during chamber operations.
Skills: Demonstrate readiness by selecting correct venting actions to maintain safe chamber conditions.1 - Treatment Gas: Safe Use of BIBSObjective: Develop the knowledge required to operate BIBS safely and manage common BIBS issues during treatment.
Knowledge: Explain BIBS systems, correct use procedures, and problem-solving requirements during treatment operations.
Skills: Demonstrate operational competence by applying safe BIBS use procedures and selecting appropriate fault responses.3 - Locking Personnel In and Out of the ChamberObjective: Develop the knowledge required to manage tender change-outs and operate the medical lock safely.
Knowledge: Explain tender change-out procedures, medical lock operations, and safety precautions during personnel transfers.
Skills: Demonstrate safe practice by applying correct locking procedures and safe medical lock operation steps.2 - Decompression and Chamber Emergency ProceduresObjective: Develop the knowledge required to explain surface decompression principles and apply emergency procedures during chamber incidents.
Knowledge: Explain surface decompression concepts, emergency procedures, and decontamination/hygiene requirements during response actions.
Skills: Demonstrate emergency readiness by selecting correct response actions and maintaining control and communication during incidents.4 - Compression ChambersObjective: Develop the knowledge required to explain compression chamber uses and operational requirements in controlled environments.
Knowledge: Explain compression chamber uses, environmental control, laws, and recompression principles.
Skills: Demonstrate understanding by identifying appropriate chamber use scenarios and safety requirements.3 - Practice Tests4
- Final Assessment1
