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:

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

Click here to download the application form

Click here to download the evidence record