All Practice Exams
100+ Free HSE Surface Supplied Top-Up Practice Questions
HSE Surface Supplied Top-Up Offshore Diver Qualification (UK Health and Safety Executive) practice questions are available now; exam metadata is being verified.
✓ No registration✓ No credit card✓ No hidden fees✓ Start practicing immediately
~75-85% Pass Rate
100+ Questions
100% Free
Loading practice questions...
Same family resources
Explore More UK HSE Commercial Diving Qualifications
Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.
2026 Statistics
Key Facts: HSE Surface Supplied Top-Up Exam
100 MCQs
Practice Questions
HSE Offshore Diving Syllabus
180 Mins
Time Limit
HSE Assessment Guidelines
75%
Passing Score
HSE Commercial Diving Standards
5 Mins
Max SurDO2 Surface Interval
HSE ACOP L103 / IMCA SurDO2
5 Metres
Min Clearance to DP Thrusters
IMCA D 010 / HSE Offshore
Annual
Medical Renewal
HSE AMED Regulations
The HSE Surface Supplied Top-Up qualification requires passing a rigorous theoretical assessment alongside practical offshore dive evaluations. This question bank covers offshore dive safety, wet bell LARS operations, SurDO2 hyperbaric protocols, and DP vessel diving safeguards. This is an English-language MCQ study adaptation for the official assessment; it does not replace required practical, oral, written, or hands-on performance.
Sample HSE Surface Supplied Top-Up Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your HSE Surface Supplied Top-Up exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1Which United Kingdom statutory regulation and associated Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) specifically govern offshore commercial surface-supplied diving operations?
A.The Diving at Work Regulations 1997 and HSE ACOP L103 (Commercial Diving Projects Offshore)
B.The Diving at Work Regulations 1997 and HSE ACOP L104 (Commercial Diving Projects Inland/Inshore)
C.The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and Offshore Installations Order 2005
D.The Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 and ACOP L108
Explanation: Offshore commercial surface-supplied diving operations in the UK are regulated under the Diving at Work Regulations 1997 (DWR 97) and supported by HSE ACOP L103 ('Commercial Diving Projects Offshore'). ACOP L104 applies strictly to inland and inshore commercial diving operations.
2What is the critical safety function of the non-return valve (check valve) fitted to the air inlet manifold of a surface-supplied commercial diving helmet or bandmask?
A.It prevents catastrophic helmet depressurization and squeeze if the main supply umbilical is severed or depressurized
B.It diverts exhaled air directly into the hot water suit to maintain thermal insulation
C.It automatically regulates breathing gas supply pressure to match ambient water depth
D.It isolates the reserve bailout cylinder from the surface supply manifold during normal diving operations
Explanation: The non-return valve on a diver's helmet or bandmask permits air flow only into the helmet. If the surface supply umbilical is cut, severed, or loses pressure, the valve closes instantly, preventing the high ambient water pressure from sucking air out of the helmet and causing fatal thoracic/cranial squeeze.
3What is the standard temperature range for hot water delivered from the surface heating unit to a diver's hot water suit during deep offshore surface-supplied diving?
A.25°C to 30°C (77°F to 86°F)
B.48°C to 55°C (118°F to 131°F)
C.38°C to 42°C (100°F to 108°F)
D.60°C to 65°C (140°F to 149°F)
Explanation: Hot water suits receive heated sea water maintained between 38°C and 42°C at the diver's manifold to protect against hypothermia without scalding the skin. Temperatures above 45°C cause thermal burns, while temperatures below 35°C fail to maintain core thermal equilibrium in cold offshore waters.
4What is the primary function of a Kellems grip (mesh strain relief sleeve) fitted to a diver's umbilical at the harness attachment point?
A.To serve as a secondary lifting point for recovering an unconscious diver to the deck without a harness
B.To transfer pulling tension from the umbilical directly to the diver's harness, protecting gas line fittings from strain
C.To clamp the hot water hose to the communication cable to prevent thermal heat loss along the umbilical
D.To lock the pneumofathometer tube to the primary air hose to prevent acoustic noise interference
Explanation: A Kellems grip (wire mesh strain relief) grips the outer bundle of the umbilical and attaches securely to a heavy D-ring on the diver's safety harness. This ensures mechanical strain or pulling forces are absorbed by the harness rather than pulling on fragile gas hose fittings or electrical comms connectors.
5Under commercial diving safety standards, what is the maximum permissible depth measurement tolerance for a pneumofathometer gauge used on an offshore surface control panel?
A.Accurate within ± 5.0 metres (± 16.4 feet) for dives up to 50 metres depth
B.Accurate within ± 0.25 metres (± 0.8 feet) or 0.5% of full scale
C.Accurate within ± 2.0 metres (± 6.5 feet) across all operating depths
D.Accurate within ± 10.0% of the maximum measurable panel pressure
Explanation: Pneumofathometers are precision gauges critical for decompression tracking and must be calibrated to high accuracy standards, typically within ± 0.25 metres (or 0.5% of full scale deflection), and re-calibrated at least every 6 months under HSE and IMCA requirements.
6Under HSE ACOP L103, who holds ultimate operational responsibility for the planning, safe execution, and supervisory control of an offshore surface-supplied diving operation?
A.The Working Diver performing the subsea task
B.The Master (Captain) of the Diving Support Vessel
C.The Client Representative onboard the vessel
D.The appointed Diving Supervisor
Explanation: Under the Diving at Work Regulations 1997 and ACOP L103, the appointed Diving Supervisor has absolute legal and operational responsibility for the safety of the diving operation and all personnel in the dive team. While the Vessel Master holds overall command of the vessel, the Supervisor controls diving activity.
7What is the minimum typical pressure rating and cylinder capacity for a diver's emergency bailout bottle used in offshore surface-supplied diving?
A.10 to 12 litres water capacity rated to 200 or 300 bar working pressure
B.50 litres water capacity rated to 50 bar working pressure
C.2 litres water capacity rated to 100 bar working pressure
D.3 litres water capacity rated to 150 bar working pressure
Explanation: Offshore surface-supplied divers carry emergency bailout cylinders typically sized between 10 and 12 litres water capacity charged to 200–300 bar. This ensures sufficient emergency breathing gas for the diver to reach the wet bell or surface from maximum excursion depth.
8Which standard specifies breathing air purity requirements (maximum limits for CO, CO2, oil mist, and water vapour) for commercial diving in UK waters?
A.BS EN 250 (Open-circuit self-contained compressed air diving apparatus)
B.BS EN 12021 (Respiratory equipment — Compressed gases for breathing apparatus)
C.IMCA M 103 (Guidelines for the Design and Operation of DP Vessels)
D.ISO 9001 (Quality Management Systems)
Explanation: BS EN 12021 specifies compressed breathing gas purity standards in the UK and Europe, establishing strict maximum limits for carbon monoxide (5 ppm), carbon dioxide (500 ppm), oil mist (0.5 mg/m³), and water vapor.
9What is the mandatory minimum dive team structure required under HSE ACOP L103 for an offshore surface-supplied diving operation conducted from a vessel?
A.Minimum 5 persons: Diving Supervisor, Working Diver, Standby Diver, Tender, and Deck/Chamber Tender
B.Minimum 3 persons: Diving Supervisor, Working Diver, and Standby Diver
C.Minimum 10 persons including 4 working divers simultaneously in the water
D.Minimum 2 persons: Diving Supervisor and Working Diver
Explanation: Under ACOP L103, offshore surface-supplied diving operations require a minimum team of 5 qualified individuals: Diving Supervisor, Working Diver, Standby Diver, Tender for Working Diver, and Tender/Chamber Operator. Site risk assessment frequently increases this number.
10Under BS EN 12021 standards for offshore diving breathing air, what is the maximum allowable concentration of carbon monoxide (CO)?
A.50 ppm
B.100 ppm
C.25 ppm
D.5 ppm (parts per million)
Explanation: BS EN 12021 mandates a maximum carbon monoxide limit of 5 ppm in compressed breathing air. Because partial pressure increases with depth, even tiny CO concentrations become toxic under hyperbaric conditions.
About the HSE Surface Supplied Top-Up Practice Questions
Verified exam format metadata for HSE Surface Supplied Top-Up Offshore Diver Qualification (UK Health and Safety Executive) is pending. The practice questions above remain available while official exam length, timing, passing score, fee, and administrator details are reviewed.