Simon,
I apologize for not being very clear about things and thus should clarify myself. What I am saying is that the HSE is not the only certification accepted by the HSE and there are equivalents, and those are clearly listed in Schedule 1 and 2. You read that too. I did not mean PADI or IANTD for those except for Fergus' case, where it's clear in my initial one liner response. Then you responded with:
They may be equivalent in training, in some ways those qualifications may have more in depth in training, but like I said legally under the Diving at Work Regulations you cannot work diving in the UK or for a UK based company anywhere in the world without the HSE qualification, or equivalent level Commercial diving qualification - Recreational/Tech Scuba qualifications just don't count. As you can see from the amount of people lining up saying "pick me, pick me" there's more than a few of us out there with it though!
Then I responded with an incoherent:
Thus Fergus' position in the aquarium is covered, as is any camera operator/AC which is a media diver in the ocean so long as it stays within those guidelines. I happen to know that shooting from any anchored boat within 12 nm from shore (as a general guideline) is considered media diving, as interpreted by certain UK companies when shooting in non-UK locations. Check with the HSE if you don't believe their website.
..which caused further confusion. I think our wires were crossed when I wrote that incoherent paragraph because it means more that media diver could qualify for open water with the same qualifications as in benign/aquarium, when it obviously is not. I was actually trying to respond to your statement:
For open water work Camera Operators and Safety Divers absolutely need the HSE qualification Drew and there really is no gray area or uncertainty about this. I don't know where that quote is from, or how old it is, but it is inaccurate and has been for as long as I've been aware of the Regs. If it were true then I doubt anyone on here would have done their HSE course!
I read that as you saying anyone who wants to work in the UK or a UK company has to be HSE certified. Many foreigners (myself included) have worked in the UK and for UK companies using the equivalents certification as qualifier.
Basically with your last reply, you cleared up your end and I thought I'd clear up mine so there's no confusion.
It is interesting to note that the US standards, ACDE and ADCI, are NOT listed as equivalents. Not even IMCA is listed. Looking at the equivalent qualification list, it looks like it is an EU/Commonwealth bias.
) that he needed the HSE qualification. 
