AFI 10-3504: DIVE PROGRAM

AFI 10-3504 — index record

Number	AFI 10-3504
Title	DIVE PROGRAM
Published	October 28, 2024
Certified current	October 28, 2024
Office of primary responsibility	AF/A3
Issued by	Headquarters, Department of the Air Force
Status on the index	Current
Last index action	UpdateContact, May 28, 2026
Source index	Air Force e-Publishing
Index last read	October 20, 2026

Copied from Air Force e-Publishing (index). The publication itself is the authority; this page does not summarize or interpret it. Verify the current edition on the index before acting.

From the publication itself

Text below is lifted mechanically from the official PDF (27 pages, read October 20, 2026) with no editing or interpretation. Quote the document, not this page.

Purpose, in the publication’s words

This instruction establishes AF/A3S as the AF proponent for diving matters. It provides broad guidance for AF diving programs to standardize dive qualification and requalification standards, increase mission effectiveness and safety, and ensure compliance with Department of Defense (DoD) reporting requirements. 1.1.1. The Secretary of the Navy serves as the DoD Executive Manager for Joint Military Diving Technology and Training (MDT&T), is the DoD military diving proponent, and has primary responsibility for developing dive procedures and equipment that are of common interest to the DoD. Per Office of the Chief of Naval Operations Instruction (OPNAVINST) 3150.27D, Navy Diving Policy and Joint Military Diving Technology and Training Program, the Secretary of the Navy delegates the responsibilities for the Single Manager of Joint MDT&T to the Director of the Undersea Warfare Division, who further delegates the technical authority for Joint MDT&T to Naval Sea Systems Command, Office of the Director of Ocean Engineering, Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (NAVSEA 00C).

Summary of changes, as printed

This instruction has been completely rewritten and reorganized; therefore, it must be studied in its entirety. A significant amount of new procedural information has been incorporated. New guidance includes, but is not limited to, scope of this instruction, roles and responsibilities, mishap reporting, medical support procedures, logistics, administration, qualification, training, and currency requirements.

Chapter 1—AIR FORCE DIVE PROGRAMp. 5
Chapter 2—ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIESp. 8
Chapter 3—ADMINISTRATIONp. 15
Chapter 4—DIVING QUALIFICATION, TRAINING, & CURRENCY REQUIREMENTSp. 17
Chapter 5—RESTRICTIONS & PROCEDURESp. 22
Chapter 6—DIVING SUPPORT EQUIPMENT AND LOGISTICSp. 27
Attachment 1—GLOSSARY OF REFERENCES AND SUPPORTING INFORMATIONp. 30
Attachment 2—SAMPLE MEMORANDUM FOR DIVING DUTY ORDERSp. 37

All 57 contents entries

Chapter 1—AIR FORCE DIVE PROGRAMp. 5
1.1. Purposep. 5
1.2. Scopep. 5
1.3. General Guidancep. 5
1.4. Waiver Authority and Deviations from Guidancep. 6
Chapter 2—ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIESp. 8
2.2. The Air Force Command Diver and Air Force Dive Program Managerp. 9
2.3. Air Force Chief of Safety (AF/SE)p. 10
2.4. Air Force Surgeon General (AF/SG)p. 10
2.5. Career Field Managers (CFMs)p. 10
2.6. Air Education and Training Command, (AETC/A3LS)p. 11
2.7. Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC)p. 11
2.8. MAJCOM Commandersp. 11
2.9. MAJCOM Command Divers and MAJCOM Dive Program Managersp. 12
2.10. Diving Unit or Activity Commandersp. 13
2.11. Unit Dive Program Manager (UDPM)p. 14
2.12. Diversp. 14
Chapter 3—ADMINISTRATIONp. 15
3.1. Dive Duty Authorizationp. 15
3.2. Diving Position Validationp. 15
3.3. Funding for Diving Requirementsp. 15
3.4. Diving Duty Ordersp. 15
3.5. Diving Duty Requalificationp. 16
3.6. Removal from Diving Dutyp. 16
3.7. Dive Qualification Badgesp. 16
Chapter 4—DIVING QUALIFICATION, TRAINING, & CURRENCY REQUIREMENTSp. 17
4.1. General Training Requirementsp. 17
4.2. AF Basic SCUBA Diver Qualificationp. 17
4.3. AF Combat Diver Qualificationp. 18
4.4. AF Diving Medical Technician (DMT) (diving)p. 18
4.5. AF Hyperbaric Medical Technician (HMT) (non-diving)p. 18
4.6. AF Diving Medical Officer (DMO) (diving qualification)p. 19
4.7. AF Hyperbaric Medical Officer (HMO) (non-diving qualification)p. 19
4.8. AF SCUBA Dive Supervisorp. 19
4.9. AF Combat Dive Supervisorp. 19
4.10. Currency and Refresher Requirementsp. 20
4.11. AF Diver Recurrencyp. 20
Chapter 5—RESTRICTIONS & PROCEDURESp. 22
5.1. Ascent to Altitude After Diving or Flying After Divingp. 22
5.2. Dive Profile Limitationsp. 22
5.3. Corrective Lensesp. 22
5.4. Nitrogen-Oxygen (NITROX) Divingp. 22
5.5. Closed Circuit Underwater Breathing Apparatus (CC-UBA) Divingp. 23
5.6. Enclosed Space SCUBA Diving (ESSD) Operationsp. 23
5.7. Cold Water Diving Operationsp. 23
5.8. Breath-hold Diving Operationsp. 23
5.9. Swift Water SCUBA Diving Operationsp. 24
5.10. Mishap and Incident Reporting and Investigationp. 24
5.11. Medical Support Proceduresp. 25
Chapter 6—DIVING SUPPORT EQUIPMENT AND LOGISTICSp. 27
6.1. General Logisticsp. 27
6.2. Diving Equipment, Tools, and Accessoriesp. 27
6.3. Maintenance and Material Management (3M) “Dive Locker.”p. 27
6.4. Safety Boat Requirementsp. 28
6.5. Divers’ Breathing Gasp. 29
Attachment 1—GLOSSARY OF REFERENCES AND SUPPORTING INFORMATIONp. 30
Attachment 2—SAMPLE MEMORANDUM FOR DIVING DUTY ORDERSp. 37

Other AFI publications nearby in the series

829 AFI records on the Air Force index. Search the full index.

Works of the United States Government are not subject to copyright (17 U.S.C. § 105). This site is not affiliated with the Department of the Air Force or any government agency.

AFI 10-3504

AFI 10-3504 — index record

From the publication itself

Purpose, in the publication’s words

Summary of changes, as printed

Contents

Other AFI publications nearby in the series

Calculators for the subject of this series