INTRODUCTION TO SCIENTIFIC DIVING
The primary reason for having a structured scientific diving program is to allow educational and scientific diving to be conducted safely and effectively outside the restrictive standards created by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) for commercial divers. From 1977 until 1982, research divers from across the country, including a group called the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS) petitioned to exempt scientific divers from the "commercial diver" category. The scientific diving programs in effect at the time had impressive safety records and had been essentially self-regulated, with their own operational standards and guidelines.
In 1982, OSHA exempted scientific diving from commercial diving regulations (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart T) under certain conditions which are outlined below. The final guidelines for the exemption became effective in 1985 (Federal Register, Vol. 50, No.6, p.1046). The American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS) is recognized by OSHA as the scientific diving standard setting organization.
Scientific Diving Definition:
Scientific diving is defined (29 CFR 1910.402) as diving performed solely as a necessary part of a scientific, research, or educational activity by employees whose sole purpose for diving is to perform scientific research tasks.
Scientific Diving Exemption:
OSHA has granted an exemption for scientific diving from commercial diving regulations under the following guidelines:
- The Diving Control Board consists of a majority of active scientific divers and has autonomous and absolute authority over the scientific diving program's operation.
- The purpose of the project using scientific diving is the advancement of science; therefore, information and data resulting from the project are non-proprietary.
- The tasks of a scientific diver are those of an observer and data gatherer. Construction and trouble-shooting tasks traditionally associated with commercial diving are not included within scientific diving.
- Scientific divers, based on the nature of their activities, must use scientific expertise in studying the underwater environment and therefore, are scientists or scientists-in-training.
In addition, the scientific diving program shall contain at least the following elements:
- A Diving Safety Manual which includes at a minimum: Procedures covering all diving operations specific to the program; including procedures for emergency care, recompression and evacuation; and the criteria for diver training and certification.
- A
Diving Control Board, with the majority of its members being active
scientific divers, which shall at a minimum have the authority to: approve
and monitor diving projects, review and revise the diving safety manual,
assure compliance with the manual, certify the depths to which a diver
has been trained, take disciplinary action for unsafe practices, and
assure adherence to the buddy system (a diver is accompanied by and
is in continuous contact with another diver in the water) for scuba
diving.
Scientific Diving at Stanford:
Stanford University, an organizational member of the AAUS, implemented a formal Scientific Diving Program in 1985, under the direction of a Diving Control Board and a Diving Safety Officer. The AAUS Standards for Scientific Diving (2001) have been used as minimal guidelines for the development of Stanford University's scientific diving standards. The standards for diving safety, training, experience, and certification outlined in Stanford's Diving Safety Manual are designed to ensure that all diving under the auspices of Stanford University is conducted in a manner that will maximize protection of divers from accidental injury and/or illness while furthering research and safety, and to allow a working reciprocity between Stanford University and other institutions with scientific diving programs whose standards meet or exceed those of the AAUS.
Stanford has a varied group of researchers in the marine sciences who regularly use scuba as a means for data collection. Research includes topics in chemistry of marine natural products, physiology, phycology, biomechanics, and subtidal ecology. During the spring and summer of each year, students from Stanford and other institutions come to Hopkins for an in-residence learning experience in the field of marine biology. The summer curriculum includes subtidal ecology courses where students learn scuba sampling techniques and gather data for class projects. Recreational diving is not conducted under Stanford's auspices, but certified scuba divers may enjoy Monterey-area diving while studying at Hopkins, as long as their dives are off-campus, unrelated to Stanford research or coursework, and involve no Stanford equipment. Divers wishing to enter Stanford's program in order to conduct research or coursework must meet a number of requirements, which are described in the PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS (Prerequisites for diving in Stanford's program, requirements for scientific diver certification, and links to necessary forms. ).