Rules &
Regulations

Red Sea fish ID table: The most shallow-water species by Mr. Andrey Ryanskiy

The rules and regulations of the CDWS when submitting for the CDWS card through the online portal, this agreement must be read and acknowledged by the applicant in order to submit the card application. 

Issuing law no. 8 of 2022, On the enactment of the Hotel and Tourist Establishments Act.

Evaluation Sheet for water sports centers-For all activities except Snorkeling-, and for non-professionals working in Diving and Water Sports centers and Safari Boats.

Balance Sheet 2020-2021

Estimated Budget 2021-2022

This document includes: 

• Establishing the CDWS.
• The General Assembly of the Chamber of Diving and Water Sports and its members.
• The most important roles and responsibilities that the CDWS aims to achieve.

List of suppliers offering biodegradable and reusable alternatives to single-use plastics available in Egypt

Single-use plastic ban guidelines for diving and water sports centers 

Single-use plastic ban guidelines for boats 

A quick exercise to do with your crew: Track your plastic footprint by the Earth Day Network 

Recommendations for tackling plastics during Covid-19 recovery in tourism by the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative 

Tourism plastic reduction factsheet and guide by the Sustainable Hotel Alliance

Plastic Reduction in the Tourism Sector Chart by the World Travel and Tourism Council 

As part of the CDWS collaboration with Eco Egypt Experiences' marine conservation campaign, we made available the attached posters with a QR code to report environmental violations. 

Marine Life Photography Guidelines

Adopt A Reef Guideline

The CDWS Annual Report for 2020

Battery poster, Arabic - English

Guidelines to the code of conduct - Combined, Arabic - English

Green Fins guidelines to the code of conduct - Diver, Arabic -English

Green Fins guidelines to the code of conduct - Dive operator and staff, Arabic - English

Code of conduct, Arabic - English

Environmental briefing guidelines, Arabic - English

Why we don't feed fish infographic, Arabic - English

Icons, Arabic - English

Ecological significance of icons explained, Arabic - English

Marine souvenir poster, Arabic - English

Do not feed the fish poster, Arabic - English

No gloves, Arabic - English

No litter/ marine debris poster, Arabic - Englsih 

Non-toxic cleaning (clean & green) recipe, Arabic - English

No Plastic, Arabic - English

Sunscreen Infographic, Arabic - English

No touch, Arabic - English

Reef Safe Sunscreen, Arabic - English

Marine toilet sign, Arabic - English

Trash breakdown, Arabic - English

Used oil poster, Arabic - English

Underwater photography guidelines, Arabic - English

Balance Sheet 2019-2020

Estimated Budget 2020-2021

Snorkeling technical manager registration form, requirements, and declaration

Snorkeling Technical Manager Training Agenda

Module 1:Snorkel Knowledge Development Outline includes information about physics, physiology, environment and rescue. 

Module 2:Snorkel Supervision and risk management outline, this module includes information about snorkeling equipment, environmental considerations, emergency care, and safety considerations.

Module 3: Hospitality and professionalism

Module 4: Environmental Protection, Conservation and Related Laws

Module 5: Primary and secondary care overview, emergency first response primary care (CPR) and secondary care (First Aid)

Module 6: ISO 13289 standards and requirements for the conduct of snorkelling excursions

Module 7: A: Manual and Protocol of Audits for Water Sports Centers (Snorkelling Service Providers)

Module 7: B: Emergency Plan

Module 7: C: Medical and Responsibility Declaration, risk awareness statement for recreational snorkelers 

Module 7: D: Information Sheet for Snorkeling Medical Screening 

Module 7: E: Equipment Inventory Snorkel

Module 7: F: Boat List

Module 7: G:Technical Requirement for Water Sport Center

Module 7: G: Quality Assurance Report 2021

Module 8: Penalties Manual

The reasons and the structure of the training program, 

Environmental briefing guidelines for diving, snorkelling, and boat activities.

Course registration instructions, rules and regulations for the attendees during the course and instructions after completing the course. 

Part 1: Introduction to the natural resources of the Red Sea 

Part 2: Ecosystems in the Red Sea

Part 3: Marine Debris

Part 4: Fishing and distributing marine life at the diving sites 

Part 5: Fixed boat mooring systems

Part 6: Environmental guidelines laws and legislations

Part 7: Art of hospitality and reporting irregularities 

The Chamber of Diving and Water Sports encourages helping to protect our coastal and marine environment by organizing beach and dive clean-ups. You can also help by filling out the Ocean Trash Collection Form.  We recommend you apply the best practice guidelines during all clean-ups. The environmental department at the CDWS will help with the organization of larger clean-ups. You can share your pictures & data directly to [email protected], we promote your efforts.  

Simple and easy tips on how to remove single-use plastic from your center available in English and Arabic. 

These guidelines explain which single-use plastic or styrofoam items should be banned from boats & replaced with the suggested alternatives, the guidelines are available in English and Arabic. 

Environmental Awareness Course Registration Forms Arabic and English Versions

Environmental Awareness Course Material (Single-use plastic)

Environmental Awareness Course Material (Diving, Snorkeling and Daily)

Technical manager course registration form and requirements 

Technical Manager Training Agenda for the 5 days of the training.

Technical Manager Training Index, Modules and General Information.

Technical manager Training, Module 1: General Information and Technical manager duties

Technical Manager Training, Module 2: ISO and Local Rules 

Technical Manager Training, Module 3: Hospitality and Professionalism 

Technical Manager Training, Module 4: Environmental Protection, Conservation and Related Laws

Technical Manager Training, Module 5: Necessary Paper Work

Technical Manager Training, Module 6: Safety and Emergency Planning 

Technical Manager Training, Module 7:Penalty List and Common Violations

Technical Manager Training, Module 8: ISO Audit and Certification Producers 

Technical Management Training, Module 9: Incident/Accident Management and Report

Technical Manager Training, Attachment: Audit Report

Technical Manager Training, Attachment: Audit Protocol 

Technical Manager Training, Attachment: Snorkeling Excursions

Technical Manager Training, Attachment: Intro Dive

Technical Manager Training, Attachment: Dive Centers

Quality Assurance Report 2021

All facilities must ensure that customers sign the attached health declaration forms by DAN before doing any activity. 

Table for quantitative and proportion of additives for diving equipment disinfection

COVID-19 Regulations and operational constraints for Safety Precautions and resuming business 

The CDWS Guidelines for COVID-19 Precautions and Prevention Measures

COVID-19 Safety Guidelines Poster for dive, water sports centers and boats.

Decree Number 630 of 2017 regarding the fundamental common regulations

Law Number 1 of 1973 Regarding Touristic Facilities 

Law Number 85 of 1968 Regarding the Touristic Chambers and the Egyptian Tourism Federation 

The CDWS Establishment Resolutions

The CDWS annual report for 2019.

Estimated Budget 2019-2020

Balance sheet 2018-2019

Exception Letter Request

Exception Letter Endorsement

Crew List

Evaluation form for the Professional and First Aid courses for diving and snorkelling professionals

Manual and Protocol of Audits for Water Sports centres (Snorkelling Service Providers)

Manual and Protocol of Audits for Diving Centers and Safari boats

Dive Centers Requirements

ISO 24803_DiveCentres_2017-03

ISO 13289 - Water sports centers offering snorkeling activities 

ISO 11121_IntroDive_2017-03

ISO 13970 - Requirements for the training of snorkeling guides

ISO 24801-1 Supervised

ISO 24801-2 Autonomous

ISO 24801-3 Leader

This excel sheet includes the following: 

• Equipment Inventory for compressors 
• Equipment Inventory for tanks
• Equipment Inventory for O2 tanks
• Equipment Inventory (maintenance) for Regulators 
• Equipment Inventory (maintenance) for BCD
• Others: (Suits, Diving Masks & Snorkels, Diving Fins, Led Weights, Weight Belts, Life Jackets, and extra equipment inventory) 

Safari Boat Standards 

Technical Requirement for Water Sport Centers

Conditions of adding Kite surfing as an activity to CDWS members' safari boat.

The rules and regulations in case of occasional technical diving activities done by clients, tec clubs or schools and hosted by a recreational diving operation (safari boat/dive center)

This certification scheme specifies minimum requirements to certify the conformity of the services of technical diving service providers. Technical diving centres are legitimate MOT licensed diving centres that provide the following in addition to the regular recreational scuba services and has successfully obtained a Recreational Technical Diving Service Provider Certification (RTDSPC) from CDWS: 1. Teach technical diving courses. 2. Organize guided technical dives. 3. Blend and/or sell diving gas mixes such as: Nitrox, Trimix, Heliox and O2 for diving. Recreational Technical diving service providers must apply for a (RTDSPC) from CDWS and should comply with the technical training agency standards and the following requirements. FOR FULL INFORMATION DOWNLOAD THE PDF

Filling station

Updated: 19 August 2010 To meet internationally recognised standards, the cylinder testing requirements for centres set out by the CDWS committee are detailed in this PDF document. FOR FULL INFORMATION DOWNLOAD THE PDF

For full information on maximum depths for recreational activities and for different activities please download the PDF.....

For the diving activities: the CDWS is implementing the World Recreational Scuba Training Council (WRSTC) standards www.wrstc.com for recreational diving. For more information please download the PDF.

The CDWS' official statement in regards to wearing gloves and carrying dive knives can be downloaded here

The CDWS strongly forbids scuba divers and photographers to use these sticks in an attempt to promote an eco-friendly marine environment in the Red Sea. The penalty list for environmental violations will apply. FOR FULL INFORMATION DOWNLOAD THE PDF

To be allowed to dive solo; a diver has to successfully pass a solo diving training course and earn such a certification from a recognized training agency. FOR FULL INFORMATION DOWNLOAD THE PDF

CDWS welcomes legitimate foreign dive professional in Egypt. There are two ways for you to conduct diving activities legitimately in Egypt:

Trying to reach an optimal coverage, this project is calling upon divers and dive guides to help monitoring the shark populations in the Egyptian Red Sea. Your experience and ongoing daily activities in the water make you perfect volunteers, who can provide a wealth of information. All it will take for the guides is to be willing to spend a few minutes of your time to fill out the electronic log sheets after your day's diving and for all divers (guides and guests alike) to share their underwater images.

Pre-Dive Information for Guests

Safe Diving Practices & Guidelines

Technical Manager Declaration 

Technical Manager Declaration-Snorkel

Audit Request

Suggested Tanks List

Dive Log Sheet

Boat List 

Emergency Plan 

Incident-Accident Reports

Penalties Manual

Example of a Medical and Responsibility Declaration Snorkel

Example of an Information Sheet for Snorkel Medical Screening

First Aid for Safari Boats

First Aid for daily boats 

The document was last amended and approved by the CDWS general assembly on the 21st of December 2018

The CDWS annual report for 2015

The CDWS annual report for 2010