Australian Diver Accreditation Scheme

What Australian Diver Accreditation Scheme does

Australian Diver Accreditation Scheme (ADAS) is a non-profit, Australia-registered training organisation (RTO 88104) headquartered in Dunoon, NSW, operating for over 20 years as the country's primary accreditation body for occupational divers. The organisation certifies occupational divers, diving supervisors, and allied specialists across both onshore and offshore sectors, supporting industries that depend on certified diving labour including oil and gas, construction, aquaculture, media, scientific research, police/public safety, and (newly) hyperbaric tunnelling.

ADAS's core technical offering is a tiered certification system: Parts 1-4 cover progressively deeper and more complex diving (Part 1: SCUBA to 30m; Part 2: SSBA to 30m; Part 3: SSBA to 50m; Part 4: Closed Bell/Saturation), alongside supervisor training programs (onshore and offshore), Diver Medical Technician (DMT), Life Support Technician (LST), Chamber Operator, Atmospheric Diving System (ADS), and WHS certifications. A distinctive technical asset is the ADAS Diving Supervisor Simulator — developed as a world-first in 2011 — which delivers immersive scenario-based training for diving supervisors. The organisation also issues AQF/VET-compliant qualifications under ASQA oversight.

The business model rests on three revenue streams: (1) recurring certification fees paid by individual divers on a 5-year renewal cycle, (2) one-time card and logbook sales to certified divers, and (3) ongoing training school accreditation fees collected from a network of Approved Training Establishments (ATEs). The customer base is distributed across individual divers, accredited training schools, and end-user industries requiring certified personnel, with international recognition extending through an IMCA Memorandum of Understanding. Certification fees were increased by approximately 20% in 2022, indicating pricing power within the captive Australian market.

Name

Australian Diver Accreditation Scheme

Legal name

Australian Diver Accreditation Scheme

Website

https://adas.org.au

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Australian Diver Accreditation Scheme (ADAS) is a non-profit Registered Training Organisation (RTO 88104) that certifies occupational divers, supervisors, and allied specialists across Australia, serving oil and gas, construction, aquaculture, tunnelling, and public safety industries through its Parts 1-4 certification framework and proprietary supervisor simulator.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Occupational Diving Certification and Training

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Scuba Diving & Freediving Centers (Training, Guided Dives) (THAAAKAD)

Keywords

• Occupational diving certification
• Diver training standards
• Hyperbaric accreditation
• Commercial diving licenses
• Diving supervisor training

Headquarters

HQ city

Dunoon

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Certification Fees: ADAS issues certifications and licenses to occupational divers, supervisors, and related professionals. Certification holders must renew every five years.
2. Card and Logbook Sales: ADAS sells ADAS cards, diver logbooks, and task books to certified members. Ships worldwide via Australia Post.
3. Training School Accreditation: Accredits training establishments (ATEs) to deliver ADAS training courses and assessments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ADAS is the national Registered Training Organisation (RTO 88104) for occupational diving in Australia and New Zealand. It issues Parts 1-4 diver certifications (SCUBA to 30m, SSBA to 30m, SSBA to 50m, and Closed Bell/Saturation), accredits training establishments, and provides supervisor, DMT, LST, and WHS certifications. ADAS also operates the world-first Diving Supervisor Training Simulator and delivers AQF/VET qualifications aligned with Australian Standards (AS/NZS 2299.1) and IMCA international standards.

Product overview

The Australian Diver Accreditation Scheme (ADAS) operates as a certification and accreditation body for occupational diving professionals in Australia and internationally. ADAS offers a comprehensive portfolio of diver certification programs spanning from entry-level SCUBA diver (Part 1) through to advanced Closed Bell/Saturation diving (Part 4), alongside specialized supervisor, medical, and technical certifications. The core offering consists of ADAS Diver Certification (Parts 1-4) providing progressive qualifications from SCUBA to 30m through to Closed Bell saturation diving, complemented by Supervisor Training programs for both onshore and offshore environments. Supporting infrastructure includes the ADAS Diving Supervisor Simulator (world-first technology where simulator hours count double), and ADAS Online Learning/ADAS Learning Essentials providing free digital revision modules. Specialized certifications include Diver Medical Technician (DMT), Life Support Technician, Chamber Operator, WHS Certificate, and Atmospheric Diving System (ADS) training. ADAS also provides AQF/VET Qualifications under ASQA accreditation, Logbooks for recording dive hours, and new offerings such as First Aid and Nitrox courses. The organization functions as RTO 88104 with ASQA reaccreditation for vocational qualifications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ADAS Diver Certification (Parts 1-4) Occupational diving certification programs including Part 1 (SCUBA to 30m), Part 2R (SSBA to 30m), Part 3R (SSBA to 50m), and Part 4 (Closed Bell/Saturation) diving certifications for commercial divers.
• ADAS Supervisor Training Onshore and Offshore Diving Supervisor certification and training programs, including Trainee Offshore Supervisor Air (TOSA) and Trainee Offshore Supervisor Bell (TOSB) pathways leading to diploma qualifications.
• ADAS Diving Supervisor Simulator World-first training simulator developed by ADAS in 2011 allowing diving supervisors to gain panel hours toward certification, with every hour spent training counting as two hours of offshore field-based panel time. Available through PDTA in Sydney.
• ADAS Online Learning / ADAS Learning Essentials Free online revision modules accessible at revision.adas-online.org including Diving Physiology and Illnesses, Diver Physics, and pre-course preparation materials.
• Diver Medical Technician (DMT) Training Diver Medical Technician certification for onshore and offshore divers, with full and refresher courses available; onshore DMT certification validity extended to 36 months.
• ADAS First Aid and Nitrox Courses Newly introduced courses combining online and face-to-face training, including Provide First Aid, CPR, Oxygen Administration, and Nitrox enriched air diver training.
• Life Support Technician (LST) Training Training and certification for Life Support Technicians working in saturation diving environments, with competency assessment aligned to IMCA standards.
• Chamber Operator Training Clinical Chamber Operator training conducted through ADAS training establishments, including facilities like Alfred Health's Hyperbaric Medicine department.
• WHS Certificate Work Health and Safety certificate providing skills and knowledge for onshore diving work classified as general diving under Model WHS Regulations Part 4.8.
• ADAS Logbooks Official ADAS logbooks for recording dive hours and supervisor panel time. Available for order online with flat rate shipping worldwide.
• Hyperbaric Tunnelling Training Specialised training for hyperbaric tunnel workers with assessment tools and accredited HTMS school pathway.
• Atmospheric Diving System (ADS) Training Training for Atmospheric Diving Systems for deep operations, conducted through International Diving Academy (IDA) in Fremantle, Australia.
• AQF/VET Qualifications Nationally Recognised Training qualifications under Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA), including Certificate IV and Diploma qualifications with various specialisations in hyperbaric operations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Certification holders must renew every five years, ensuring continued proficiency and compliance.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• International Maritime Organization (IMO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerADAS participates in IMO's International Day for Women in Maritime (May 18 annually) and aligns with IMO's Women in Maritime program. ADAS runs a mentoring program for women in the occupational diving industry.
• International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerADAS has memoranda of understanding with IMCA for mutual recognition of diving supervisor certifications. IMCA provides guidance documents and the IMCA CPD app for continuing professional development.
• NOPSEMA (National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNOPSEMA regulates offshore diving operations in Australian waters. Updated Diving Guidelines (2025) and regulations under OPGGS Act affect ADAS certified divers and supervisors.
• Standards AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerADAS participates in Standards Australia committees for diving standards including final review of AS/NZS 4774.1 Standard.
• ADAS Accredited Training Establishments (ATEs)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of ~10+ accredited training schools including Commercial Dive Academy (CDA), Professional Divers Training Academy (PDTA), Underwater Training Centre SA (UTCSA), Omne Marine Training Centre (OMTC), Medical Training Solutions (MTS), Alfred Health Hyperbaric Medicine, and International Diving Academy (Malaysia).

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA): International industry body for offshore marine contracting that issues its own diving supervisor certification and has mutual recognition MoUs with ADAS, making it the closest functional peer globally.
• Association of Diving Contractors International (ADCI): US-based trade association that accredits commercial divers and diving contractors and publishes commercial diving standards, directly comparable to ADAS's role in Australia/NZ.
• Fortis Subsea (formerly The Underwater Centre, Tasmania/Fort William): Commercial diver training establishment offering ADAS-aligned and other occupational diving courses; competes at the ATE level for the same cohort of trainees.
• Diving Certification Board of Canada (DCBC): Canadian national body that certifies occupational divers and supervisors across provinces; operates an analogous certification and accreditation model to ADAS in a different jurisdiction.
• International Diving Schools Association (IDSA): International association of commercial diving schools that sets training standards and accredits member schools; comparable network-and-standards role to ADAS's ATE framework.

Broad incumbents

• UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE): UK regulator with statutory authority over occupational diving, including the approval of diving training and certification; broader mandate than ADAS but a key counterpart for ADAS-certified divers working in UK waters.
• Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI): World's largest recreational diving certification body; operates a different segment (recreational vs occupational) but uses a comparable agency/accreditation model at global scale.
• NOPSEMA (National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority): Australian federal regulator of offshore petroleum safety whose Diving Guidelines reference ADAS certifications; sits adjacent to ADAS as a regulatory authority rather than a competitor.

Others

• International Maritime Organization (IMO): UN agency that ADAS partners with on the Women in Maritime mentoring program; an upstream international body whose regulatory framework ADAS aligns to.
• Standards Australia: Australian national standards body with which ADAS collaborates on diving standards (e.g., AS/NZS 4774.1); an upstream enabling body rather than a competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/australian-diver-accreditation-scheme

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Australian Diver Accreditation Scheme