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Maine Diver and Dive Tender License Safety Training Requirements

Beginning December 21, 2009, new requirements for safety training for divers and tenders are in effect. If you have held a tending license (since 1995) or diving license in the past you have until August 1, 2010 to get your current CPR and First Aid card. If, however, you renew your license prior to August 1, 2010, you will not need to show proof until January 1, 2011.

Tenders

Each person licensed as a sea urchin or scallop diving tender under 12 M.R.S. §6535 (sea urchin and scallop diving tender license), or acting as a tender under a license issued pursuant to 12 M.R.S. §6701(5)(B) (hand fishing scallop license with tender), or §6748(4)(B) (hand fishing sea urchin license with tender), must have completed safety training. The training requirements or equivalents include a Cardio-Pulmonary Response (CPR) Card and First Aid Card; plus the DMR Diving Safety Course for Tenders certificate of completion card; or receive a Department approved waiver.

• New applicants for a sea urchin and scallop diving tender license:
  Persons issued a sea urchin and scallop diving tender license pursuant to 12 M.R.S. §6535 who have never held a tender license in accordance with 12 M.R.S. §6535 or 12 M.R.S. §6536 shall provide a copy of a current (non-expired) Cardio-Pulmonary Response (CPR) Card and First Aid Card or equivalent at the time of a new license application. New tender license applicants are required to complete the DMR Diving Safety Course for Tenders (see details below).
• Renewing applicants for a sea urchin and scallop diving tender license:
  Persons seeking a renewal of this license are not required to take the course (they have already met this requirement) and will be required to present a current (non-expired) Cardio-Pulmonary Response (CPR) Card and First Aid Card or equivalent at the time of a new license application or at time of license renewal beginning August 1, 2010.
• New persons acting as a tender on a boat with a hand fishing scallop license with tender or a hand fishing sea urchin license with tender:
  Persons acting as a tender in accordance with 12 M.R.S. §6701(5)(B), or §6748(4)(B) who have never held a tender license in accordance with 12 M.R.S. §6535 or 12 M.R.S. §6536 must have in their possession, at the time when acting as a tender, a current (non-expired) CPR card, a current (non-expired) First Aid card and a DMR Diving Safety Course for Tenders certificate of completion card pursuant to 12 M.R.S. §6533, or Department approved equivalent documentation (see Waivers).
• Persons acting as a tender on a boat with a hand fishing scallop license with tender or a hand fishing sea urchin license with tender who have held a tender license in the past:
  Persons acting as a tender in accordance with 12 M.R.S. §6701(5)(B), or §6748(4)(B) who have held a tender license in accordance with 12 M.R.S. §6535 or 12 M.R.S. §6536 must have in their possession, at the time when acting as a tender, a current (non-expired) CPR card, a current (non-expired) First Aid card beginning August 1, 2010.

Scallop and Sea Urchin Divers

Persons licensed as a scallop diver in accordance with 12 M.R.S. §6701 (hand fishing scallop license) or sea urchin diver in accordance with §6748 (hand fishing sea urchin license) shall provide a current (non-expired) copy of a Cardio-Pulmonary Response (CPR) Card and First Aid Card or equivalent at license renewal time beginning August 1, 2010. (No new urchin or scallop diver licenses are being issued at this time.)

DMR Diving Safety Course for Tenders

Print the booklet and answer sheet and return the answer sheet and proof of a current CPR and First Aid Card to the address at the bottom of the sheet. Individuals must successfully pass with a score of 75 or better (allowing only 5 wrong) to get a Certificate of Completion. The test booklet and answer sheet are PDF files, and require Adobe Acrobat or free Adobe Reader software (download here), version 6 or higher to view or print.

• Test booklet - PDF file, 26 pages, 317 kb
• Test answer sheet - PDF file, 5 pages, 106 kb

For more information, write or call:
Marine Patrol Headquarters
Attn Tender Safety Training
Dept. of Marine Resources
21 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333
Telephone (207-624-6500)

Waivers

The Commissioner may waive the requirement to complete the CPR, First Aid or the DMR Diving Safety Course for Tenders as provided in Chapter 105.10(B) for any person who demonstrates to the Commissioner, either through documented experience or technical or professional accreditation, a level of knowledge at least equal to that expected from a person who completed the training requirements of this Chapter. It is the responsibility of the person seeking such a waiver to request that waiver in writing to the Commissioner and to provide any documentation the Commissioner determines necessary to make a decision.

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