SCIENTIFIC DIVING CLASS
The Scientific Diving Classes follow the ESDP Training Standards. These standards are recognized by the Portuguese Association of Scientific Divers (APorMC). By the end of the class, you will receive a scientific diver diploma from CCMAR. Also, you may get an additional certificate from SSI or GUE.
What do you need to become a scientific diver?
In order to become a Scientific Diver, it is necessary to fulfill the following requirements:
To become a scientific diver, you already need to be an Open Water SCUBA Diver. This qualification can be obtained, for example, through an SSI, GUE or PADI program (other programs are also possible).
The Scientific Diver Level 1 is a sum of dive certifications and skills that validate the diver is capable of acting as a member of a scientific diving team. In short, it confirms that the diver possesses the minimum agreed dive training and underwater capability to lead a scientific diving team. As a result, this training promotes the free movement of scientists for the purpose of cooperation and participation in sub-aquatic research projects involving diving using SCUBA.
The Participation in the Scientific Diver Part 1 course is not necessary if you already have finished the Recreational Diver 1 (GUE Class) or the GUE Fundamentals.
This course is designed to cultivate the essential skills required for sound diving practice.
Included among its course outcomes are:
- to provide the recreational diver, who does not desire diver training beyond the recreational level, with an opportunity to advance their basic diving skill
- to train divers in the theory and practice of nitrox
- to provide divers with aspirations for more advanced diver training with the tools that will contribute to a greater likelihood of success
- to provide non-GUE trained divers with a gateway into GUE training.
- Building a solid skill base: buoyancy, trim, balance, and propulsion
- Fundamental diving skills
- Streamlining and equipment configuration
- Situational awareness
- Dive planning and gas management
- Breathing gas overview
- Must be able to swim at least 300 yds/275 m in less than 14 minutes without stopping. This test should be conducted in a swimsuit and, where necessary, appropriate thermal protection.
- Must be able to swim a distance of at least 50 ft/15 m on a breath hold while submerged.
- Demonstrate proficiency in safe diving practices, including pre-dive preparation, inwater activity, and post-dive assessment.
- Demonstrate awareness of team member location and a concern for safety, responding quickly to visual indications and dive partner needs.
- Demonstrate good buoyancy and trim, i.e., approximate reference is a maximum of 30 degrees off horizontal while remaining within 5 ft/1.5 m of a target depth.
- Demonstrate proficiency in surface marker buoy deployment while using a spool.
- Efficiently and comfortably demonstrate how to donate gas to an out-of-gas diver in multiple gas-sharing scenarios.
- Efficiently and comfortably demonstrate how to donate gas to an out-of-gas diver followed by an ascent to the surface utilizing minimum decompression.
- Demonstrate a safe and responsible demeanor throughout all training.
- Demonstrate proficiency in underwater communication.
- Demonstrate a comfortable demeanor while swimming without a mask in touch contact, followed by a switch to the backup mask.
- Demonstrate aptitude in the following open water skills: mask clearing, mask removal and replacement, regulator removal and exchange, long hose deployment.
- Demonstrate safe ascent and descent procedures.
- Demonstrate proficiency in executing a valve drill.
- Demonstrate three propulsion techniques, including comprehension of the components necessary for a successful backward kick.
The Scientific Diver course Part 2 is designed to create divers who are capable of acting as a member of a scientific diving team using proper equipment and techniques. Upon course completion, students will also possess a basic knowledge and understanding of legalities and responsibilities relevant to scientific diving.
- competence with search methods and survey methods, both surface and sub-surface
- ability to accurately locate and mark both objects and sites
- basic use of lift bags and airlifts to be used in controlled lifts, excavations, and sampling
- basic rigging and line work, including the construction and deployment of transects and search grids
- underwater navigation methods using suitable techniques
- recording techniques
- acting as surface tender for a roped diver
- using appropriate sampling techniques for the scientific discipline being pursued
- Introduction: course overview (objectives, limits, expectations).
- History of scientific diving
- Citizen science
- Project Baseline
- The scientific method
- Ethics in science
- Must be able to swim a distance of at least 50 ft/15 m on a breath hold while submerged.
- Demonstrate proficiency in safe diving practices, including pre-dive preparation, inwater activity, and post-dive assessment.
- Demonstrate awareness of team member location and a concern for safety, responding quickly to visual indications and dive partner needs.
- Demonstrate good buoyancy and trim, i.e., approximate reference is a maximum of 30 degrees off horizontal while remaining within 5 ft/1.5 m of a target depth.
- Demonstrate a safe and responsible demeanor throughout all training.
- Demonstrate proficiency in underwater communication.
- Demonstrate safe ascent and descent procedures.
- Demonstrate three propulsion techniques. Students must demonstrate comprehension of the components necessary for a successful backward kick.
- Demonstrate a pendulum search while acting as surface tender for roped diver.
- Demonstrate proficiency in marking and measuring organisms, artifacts, and other objects.
- Demonstrate proficiency in the use of tools, including airlifts and lift bags.
- Demonstrate proficiency in multiple mapping methods, including a sketch using a circular or radial search, assembly of a sampling grid, and offsets/ triangulations.
- Demonstrate proficiency in estimating abundance/coverage through visual census (while swimming or stationary), the photoquadrat method, estimated percent coverage (either with square or with transect), and video transects (either swimming or stationary)
- Demonstrate proficiency in establishing transects with a tape measure or with a reel/spool
This class can be taken for example at SSI. The contents of the course and the respective requirements for participation in this course can be found on the respective website of the program.
The final requirement to become a Scientific Diver is to have completed a total of 25 Scientific Dives and 75 total dives.
Contacts:
ccmardiving@ualg.pt
+351 919 636 269
EMBRC is funded by:
