A European Scientific Diver is a diver capable of acting as a member of a scientific diving team. He/she may attain this level by either a course or by in-field training and experience under suitable supervision or by a combination of these two methods.
The ESD must:
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Show proof of basic theoretical knowledge and a basic understanding of:
– Diving physics and physiology, the causes and effects of diving-related illnesses and disorders and their management.
– The specific problems associated with diving to and beyond 20m, calculations of air requirements, correct use of decompression tables.
– Equipment, including personal dive computers and guidelines as to their safe use.
– Emergency procedures and diving casualty management.
– Principles of dive planning.
– Legal aspects and responsibilities relevant to scientific diving in Europe and elsewhere. -
Be fully competent with/in:
– Diving first aid, including cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and oxygen administration to diving casualties.
– SCUBA rescue techniques and management of casualties.
– The use and user maintenance of appropriate SCUBA diving equipment. -
Be fully competent with:
– Search methods.
– Survey methods, both surface and sub-surface, capable of accurately locating and marking objects and sites.
– The basic use of airbags and airlifts for controlled lifts, excavations and sampling.
– Basic rigging and rope work, including the construction and deployment of transacts and search grids.
– Underwater navigation methods using suitable techniques.
– Recording techniques.
– Acting as a surface tender for a roped diver.
– Sampling techniques appropriate to the scientific discipline being pursued. -
Show proof of having undertaken 70 open water dives, to include a minimum of:
– 20 dives with a scientific task of work supervised by a recognized research institution, such as listed above.
– 15 dives deeper than 15m of which of 5 dives deeper than 25m
– 12 dives in the last 12 months, including at least 6 with a scientific task of work.
All evidence must be recorded in nationally acceptable logs, countersigned by suitably qualified persons. None of the above precludes the possible requirement for a practical or theoretical demonstration of any or all of the points shown.