R392-303-6. General Safety Requirements

  (1) Geothermal pools shall meet the requirements of R392-302-11, except a soaking tub shall neither be required to have a "NO DIVING" sign, a "NO HEAD-FIRST ENTRY" sign, nor a no diving icon.

  (2) Head-first entry is not permitted at a geothermal bathing place except where the operator has demonstrated to the local health officer that the water depth and underwater obstructions at the entire geothermal bathing place pose no greater risk than at a diving-permitted section of a swimming pool as allowed in R392-302-11. Diving with a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) is allowed at geothermal bathing places. Where head-first entry is not permitted, the operator shall place a sign that states "NO HEAD-FIRST ENTRY" in accordance with R392-303-22, 23 and 24.

  (3) Geothermal pools and geothermal bathing places shall meet R392-302-14 (fencing), R392-302-22 (safety requirements and lifesaving equipment), R392-302-23 (lighting, ventilation and electrical requirements), and R392-302-30 (supervision of bathers) with the following exceptions:

  (a) The local health officer may grant exceptions to the height requirements in R392-302-14 for fences or barriers in consideration of natural features for geothermal bathing places;

  (b) A geothermal bathing place under 5 feet, 1.52 meters, deep is exempt from R392-302-22 except for subsection (3);

  (c) A soaking tub is exempt from the underwater lighting requirements of R392-302-32 when used at night but shall have at least 5 horizontal foot candles of light per square foot, 929 square centimeters, over the surface of the tub from overhead luminaries;

  (d) Soaking pools and soaking tubs are exempt from the requirements of R392-302-30 (4) through (6), but the lifeguard may not allow any person to use a soaking pool or soaking tub unless there is another person in attendance capable of alerting the lifeguard if the lifeguard's help is needed and the lifeguard must always be on the premises and no more than a minute away if needed at any time; and

  (e) Geothermal bathing places used only for SCUBA diving or snorkeling are exempt from the requirements of R392-302-30 (4) through (6), but the lifeguard may not allow any person to SCUBA dive or snorkel in the bathing place unless there is another person in attendance capable of alerting the lifeguard if the lifeguard's help is needed, the lifeguard must always be on the premises and no more than a minute away if needed at any time, and the owner of geothermal bathing places shall require patrons to sign a form that informs the patron that constant lifeguard surveillance will not be provided and that the patron must be accompanied by another diver at all times.