Commercial diver training in the Netherlands for UK and Irish divers
The route to the Dutch B50 qualification — named on the UK HSE list of approved diving qualifications — trained on the waterfront in Enkhuizen, one hour from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.
26+
training programmes
700+
graduates per year
92%
pass rate
1 hr
from Amsterdam Schiphol
Recognised on the HSE Approved List
The UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) publishes a "List of Approved Diving Qualifications", dated 01 January 2026, that sets out which qualifications satisfy regulation 12(1)(a) of the Diving at Work Regulations 1997: a diver may only dive on a project if they hold an approved qualification. Three Dutch registrations are named on that list.
| Schedule | Qualification | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule 1 – Offshore diving | NDC Registratie Instelling B50 | SCUBA, Surface Supplied & Surface Supplied (Top-Up) |
| Schedule 1 – additional (with Top-Up) | NDC Registratie Instelling B50R | SCUBA & Surface Supplied — usable for Surface Supplied, Surface-Orientated Diving Techniques to a maximum depth of 50 metres, only if the diver also holds the HSE surface supplied (top-up) qualification |
| Schedule 2 – Inland / inshore diving | NDC Registratie Instelling B30 | SCUBA and Surface Supplied to 30 metres |
The list also still carries the earlier "Duikarbeid Categorie A", "Duikarbeid Categorie A30", "Duikarbeid Categorie B30" and "Duikarbeid Categorie B50" entries, listed with validity until 1 February 2027.
HSE approval applies to the qualification itself — assessed on government oversight and independent certification in the country of training — not to a particular school. BC-opleidingen delivers the training and practical weeks; the qualification itself is issued through the Dutch NDC-RI registration system.
In addition to an approved qualification, the Diving at Work Regulations set further requirements, such as a certificate of medical fitness to dive; check these with your employer or HSE before you start work.
What the Dutch route looks like
- 1Choose your scope: from A9 (SCUBA to 9 m) up to B50 (surface-supplied heavy work to 50 m) — we advise you on the right scope for your career goal.
- 2Pass an occupational diving medical. Hold a current HSE diving medical? Send it with your enquiry and we will tell you before you book whether it can be used.
- 3Enrol via our registration page or an Orientation Day.
- 4Study the theory online, wherever you are in the world.
- 5Train the practical weeks on our campus in Enkhuizen.
- 6Pass the independent national exam (Hobéon/NDC-RI) and receive your NDC-RI registration.
Facilities built for surface-supplied training
B50 training means real depth, real surface-supplied equipment and real supervision — all on our own site at the Markermeer, not rented by the hour somewhere else.
21-metre dive basin, adjustable to the centimetre
A movable floor that sets steplessly — centimetre-accurate — to any depth between the surface and 21 metres.
LARS and surface-supplied spreads
Launch-and-recovery systems, dive control and communications: you train inside the working environment behind the surface-supplied scopes.
Decompression chamber on site
A decompression chamber on campus, embedded in the safety organisation that supports every training dive here.
Practical for UK and Irish divers
Getting here
Enkhuizen is about one hour from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport by car or train. The campus is on the waterfront: Voorland 13, Enkhuizen.
Entry rules
Irish citizens are EU citizens and travel freely. British citizens can visit the Schengen area visa-free for short stays (up to 90 days in any 180-day period) — check the current entry rules before you travel.
Language
Course materials and instruction are available in English for international participants — contact us to confirm the language set-up for your specific programme and start date before you book.
Diving medical
You need a valid occupational diving medical. Hold a current HSE diving medical? Send it with your enquiry and we will tell you before you book whether it can be used.
Accommodation
Enkhuizen is a compact harbour town with hotels, B&Bs and holiday parks in every price range. We gladly share suggestions near the campus when you book.
Employer-paid training
Many international participants are sponsored by their employer. We invoice companies directly (PO number possible) and support group bookings — see our corporate training page.
Check your route to B50
Send us your current certificate (if any) and your career goal. We reply with a concrete assessment and the next available dates — prices and start dates are on the programme page.