CDWS has emphasized the implementation of the training agencies standards. All diving operations must comply with the international standards for recreational scuba diving service provider registered as ISO 24803:2007/ EN 14467:2004 in order to obtain a license to operate in Egypt.

MAXIMUM DEPTHS

As for the maximum depths for recreational diving:
- CDWS is implementing the World Recreational Scuba Training Council (WRSTC) standards http://www.wrstc.com/ for recreational diving.
- The maximum depth for diving with compressed air is 40 meters (if the training qualifications and the experience of the divers allow it)
- For Enriched Air diving; the maximum depth is up to a partial pressure of Oxygen (PPo2) = 1.4 ATA

For other activities:
- For Advanced Enriched Air and/or decompression procedures divers the maximum depth is 45 meters
- For Extended Range dives the maximum depth is 55 meters
- For Normoxic TRIMIX the maximum depth is 65 meters
- For Hypoxic TRIMIX the maximum depth is 100 meters

For technical diving deeper than the above mentioned depths:
For any technical diving deeper than the above mentioned depths – using open circuits or closed circuit rebreathers - a written request must be submitted to the CDWS technical committee – at least one week prior to the dive date – and must include the following:
1. Divers training qualifications,
2. Proof of diving experience,
3. The dive plan and the dive gas mixes,
4. The dive location,
5. Proof of support team's training qualifications,
6. List of emergency equipment available at the site and the emergency plan,
7. Proof of dive insurance covering the team to the planned maximum depth,
The technical committee will study the request and will issue an approval if all documents are acceptable.

RATIOS

For the diving activities:

CDWS is implementing the World Recreational Scuba Training Council (WRSTC) standards http://www.wrstc.com/ for recreational diving.
This means that you simply use your training agency ratios, procedures, rules, recommendations and standards for your diving activities.
The students to instructor ratio during training courses are specified by the training agencies standards.
For guided dives or organised dives, however, it is not practical to impose a ratio of certified divers to dive leader.
The Manager of the dive operation and the dive pros of a licensed operation are perfectly capable of making the right professional decisions based on the qualification of the diver(s), their proof of experience and how recently they dived, divers' capabilities, the dive location, weather conditions, etc.

For snorkelling activities:

Since most of the participants in snorkelling activities won't be qualified skin divers or previously trained for snorkelling; the CDWS regulation - approved by the ministry of Tourism - requires that the maximum number of snorkellers participating in an open water activity is 12 snorkellers to one snorkelling guide.
Of course, this ratio may be reduced by the operation manager or the snorkelling guide if the sea conditions, location or the abilities of the participants requires modification in order to be on the safe side.

KNIVES

The official CDWS statement with regards to wearing gloves & carrying dive knives

Wearing gloves as a thermal protection is not restricted, however, touching corals and marine life is strictly prohibited.
Therefore, it is highly recommended not to wear gloves if not needed as a thermal protection.
Carrying dive knives as a tool is not restricted; the use of dive knives as a signalling device, to cut lines and to free entanglements is allowed; however, it is strictly prohibited to use dive knives as a weapon or to cut, damage, kill, touch or harass marine life.