Occupational Diving Risk Management (ODRM) represents the culmination of more than fifty years of experience in military and occupational diving, diving safety, incident investigation, regulatory development, and occupational health and safety.

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My interest in occupational diving safety did not begin in a classroom or a boardroom. It began underwater.

Throughout my career I have worked in a wide range of diving environments, from military diving and commercial diving to offshore operations, hyperbaric medicine, research, incident investigation, and international underwater projects.

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These experiences provided opportunities to work alongside exceptional divers, supervisors, engineers, physicians, researchers, regulators, and safety professionals across Canada and internationally.

They also exposed me to the realities of one of the world's most demanding occupations.

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Over the years I witnessed incidents that should never have happened, participated in investigations following serious accidents, and lost friends and colleagues working in the underwater workplace. Those experiences shaped the way I think about occupational diving and continue to influence my work today.

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One question has remained with me throughout my career:

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Why does occupational diving continue to experience serious incidents and fatalities at a rate that appears disproportionate to the size of the profession?

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Searching for that answer became a lifelong interest.

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During my career I have been privileged to contribute to diving safety in many different roles, including military diving operations, commercial diving supervision, hyperbaric operations, regulatory development, incident investigation, safety management, and occupational risk assessment. Each role reinforced the importance of understanding hazards before accepting risk.

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One lesson became increasingly clear.

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Occupational diving cannot simply be viewed as another form of recreational or military diving. Each discipline has different objectives, different responsibilities, and different approaches to managing risk. Understanding those differences is essential if we are to continue improving safety in the underwater workplace.

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That belief ultimately led to the creation of Occupational Diving Risk Management (ODRM).

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ODRM was established as an independent educational initiative dedicated to promoting informed discussion, practical risk management, and continuous learning within the occupational diving community. Its purpose is not to criticize individuals, organizations, or existing standards, but to encourage thoughtful discussion, share lessons learned, and support those committed to improving occupational diving safety.

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I do not claim to have all the answers.

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These observations are based on my own experiences, the many people who have influenced my career, and the lessons learned from decades of working in and around the underwater workplace.

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My hope is that ODRM will continue to grow as a respected resource where regulators, health and safety professionals, project owners, diving contractors, supervisors, and divers can exchange ideas, learn from experience, and work together toward a common goal:

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Making occupational diving safer for everyone who earns their living underwater.

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Experience at a Glance

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• Over 50 years in military and occupational diving.

• Former Canadian Armed Forces Combat Diver and Royal Canadian Navy Clearance Diver.

• Commercial diving supervisor and offshore mixed-gas bell diver.

• Former Chief Diver, Fleet Diving Unit Atlantic.

• Hyperbaric Chamber Supervisor and Operator.

• Contributor to diving procedures and regulatory development.

• Occupational health and safety professional.

• International experience supporting underwater engineering and unexploded ordnance (UXO) projects.

• Founder of Occupational Diving Risk Management (ODRM

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 As ODRM grows, the "About Steve Donovan" page won't just be an introduction—it will become the story of why the organization exists. I think that's far more powerful than a traditional biography because people will understand that ODRM is rooted in a lifetime of experience and a genuine desire to improve occupational diving safety.