Diving as a Scientist: Training, Recognition, Occupation - The “Science Diver” Project

Conducting scientific work underwater is a challenging endeavor. From collecting samples to protecting underwater cultural heritage sites scientific divers need to address issues concerning scientific methodology, diving safety, professional acknowledgement, training, legal implications etc. All of these matters are handled in different ways depending on factors like region, organizations involved, legal framework, diving philosophy etc. producing a diverse framework on scientific diving as a distinct type of underwater work. The ScienceDIVER project’s main objective is to study and analyze this fragmented landscape, in order to provide insight and suggestions towards a commonly accepted framework that will promote scientific diving as a means of forwarding knowledge both within the scientific community and its interaction with the public.

Keeping Track of Scientific Dives in Countries with Incipient Diving Programmes: The Scidive Record Forms

Pre-dive checks and dive logs are fundamental documentation for any diving operation and must be incorporated as mandatory ‘good operating practices’ in scientific diving (SD) projects. Data included in dive logs may vary in detail, however, there is basic information to provide based on global standards. Differently to several developed countries in Europe, North America and Australasia, there are countries with incipient, sometimes non-regulated, SD programmes. In this article the importance of documentation in SD is highlighted and record forms are provided as templates, including versions both in English and Spanish. The Diving Supervisor (DS) is the designated person to fill the ‘Daily SciDive Log’ and ‘SCUBA & surface-supplied LogSheet’ (Table 1, 2 and 3, respectively), whilst every diver is responsible for filing their own ‘SciDiver’s Digital LogBook’ (Table 4). General and specific considerations for all tables are described throughout the text. This effort was done to facilitate systematic data management and start developing the bases towards solid national/regional standards on scientific diving operations, particularly for those countries with incipient (scientific) diving programmes.

Scientific diving in natural sciences

Scientific diving is increasingly being used for numerous studies. Moreover, this form of diving allows for the conduction of interdisciplinary research. The current nomenclature of this type of dive is defined as scuba diving to collect information to support science by using diving techniques. Underwater research is particularly important in the natural sciences where it allows for the non-invasive observations of fauna and flora of aquatic ecosystems in their natural environment. At the same time, the use of diving for scientific purposes avoids mistakes made in random sampling, which is related to the use of classical sampling methods. As a result, such diving is crucial in systematic, ecological and behavioural analysis. Nevertheless, dive techniques, however versatile, require optimisation, separate study and systematisation, depending on the type of research conducted. This article is an attempt to present an outline of the topic, to systematise basic concepts in presenting the principles of legal regulations in Poland and abroad..