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SECTION 5.00

SCIENTIFIC DIVER CERTIFICATION

5.10 CERTIFICATION TYPES

5.10.1 Scientific Diver Certification - this is a permit to dive, usable only while it is current and for the purpose intended.

5.10.2 Temporary Diver Permit - this permit constitutes a waiver of the requirements of Sec. 5.00 and is issued only following a demonstration of the required proficiency in diving. It is valid only for a limited time, as determined by the Diving Safety Officer. This permit is not to be construed as a mechanism to circumvent existing standards set forth in this manual.

Requirements of this section may be waived by the Diving Safety Officer if the person in question has demonstrated proficiency in diving and can contribute measurably to a planned dive. A statement of the temporary diver's qualifications shall be submitted to the Diving Safety Officer as a part of the dive plan. Temporary permits shall be restricted to the planned diving operation and shall comply with all other policies, regulations, and standards of this manual, including medical requirements.

5.20 GENERAL POLICY

The AAUS requires that no person shall engage in scientific diving unless that person is authorized by UA pursuant to the provisions of this manual. The following are considered minimal standards for a scientific diver certification.

5.30 REQUIREMENTS FOR SCIENTIFIC DIVER CERTIFICATION

Submission of documents and participation in aptitude examinations does not automatically result in certification. The applicant must convince the Diving Safety Officer and members of the DCB that he/she is sufficiently skilled and proficient to be certified. This skill will be acknowledged by the signature of the Diving Safety Officer. Any applicant who does not possess the necessary judgment, under diving conditions, for the safety of the diver and his/her partner, may be denied UA scientific diving privileges. Minimum documentation and examinations required are as follows:

5.31 Prerequisites

5.31.1 Application – Application for certification shall be made to the Diving Safety Officer on the form prescribed by UA DCB.

5.31.2 Medical approval – Each applicant for diver certification shall submit a statement from a licensed physician, based on an approved medical examination, attesting to the applicant’s fitness for diving (Section 6.00 and Appendices 1-4).

5.31.2 Scientific Diver-In-Training permit level – This permit signifies that a diver has completed and been certified as at least an open water diver through an internationally recognized certifying agency or scientific diving program, and has the knowledge skills and experience to that gained by successful completion of training as specified in Section 4.00.

5.32 Training

5.32 Theoretical and Practical Training

The diver must complete theoretical aspects and practical training for a minimum cumulative time of 100 hours. Theoretical aspects should include principles and activities appropriate to the intended area of scientific study.

5.32.1 Required Topics

5.32.1.1 Diving Emergency Care Training: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR); Standard or Basic First Aid; Recognition of DCS and AGE; Accident Management; Field Neurological Exam; Oxygen Administration

5.32.1.2 Dive Rescue

5.32.1.3 Dive Physics

5.32.1.4 Dive Physiology

5.32.1.5 Dive Environments

5.32.1.6 Decompression Theory and its Application

5.32.1.7 AAUS Scientific Diving Regulations and History: Scientific Dive Planning; Coordination with other Agencies; Appropriate Governmental Regulations

5.32.1.8 Scientific Method

5.32.1.9 Data Gathering Techniques: Quadrating; Transecting; Mapping; Coring; Photography; Tagging; Collecting; Animal Handling; Archaeology; Common Biota including organism id, behavior, and ecology; Site Selection, Location and Re-location; Specialized Equipment for Data Gathering

5.32.1.10 HazMat Training: HP Cylinders; Chemical Hygiene, Laboratory Safety (Use of Chemicals

5.32.2 Suggested Topics

5.32.2.1 Specific Dive Modes (methods of gas delivery): Open Circuit; Hookah; Surface Supplied Diving

5.32.2.2 Small Boat Operation

5.32.2.3 Rebreathers: Closed; Semi-closed

5.32.2.4 Specialized Breathing Gas: Nitrox; Mixed Gas

5.32.2.5 Specialized Environments and Conditions: Blue Water Diving; Ice and Polar Diving (Cold Water Diving); Zero Visibility Diving; Polluted Water Diving; Saturation Diving; Decompression Diving; Overhead Environments; Aquarium Diving; Night Diving; Kelp Diving; Strong Current Diving (Live-boating); Potential Entanglement

5.32.3 Practical training must include a checkout dive, with evaluation of the skills listed in Section 4.23 (Open Water Evaluation), with the DSO or qualified delegate followed by at least 11 ocean or open water dives in a variety of dive sites and diving conditions, for a cumulative bottom time of 6 hours. Dives following the checkout dive must be supervised by a certified Scientific Diver with experience in the type of diving planned, with the knowledge and permission of the DSO.

5.40 DEPTH CERTIFICATIONS

5.41 Depth Certifications and Progression to Next Depth Level

A certified diver diving under the auspices of UA may progress to the next depth level after successfully completing the required dives for the next level. Under these circumstances the diver may exceed their depth limit. Dives shall be planned and executed under close supervision of a diver certified to this depth, with the knowledge and permission of the DSO.

5.41.1 Certification to 30 Foot Depth - Initial permit level, approved upon the successful completion of training listed in Sections 4.00 and 5.30.

5.41.2 Certification to 60 Foot Depth - A diver holding a 30 foot certificate may be certified to a depth of 60 feet after successfully completing, under supervision, 12 logged training dives to depths between 31 and 60 feet, for a minimum total time of 4 hours.

5.41.3 Certification to 100 Foot Depth - A diver holding a 60 foot certificate may be certified to depths of 100 feet after successfully completing 4 dives to depths between 61 and 100 feet. The diver shall also demonstrate proficiency in the use of the appropriate Decompression Tables.

5.41.4 Certification to 130 Foot Depth - A diver holding a 100 foot certificate may be certified to a depth of 130 feet after successfully completing, 4 dives to depths between 100 and130 feet. The diver shall also demonstrate proficiency in the use of the appropriate Dive Tables.

5.41.5 Certification to 150 Foot Depth - A diver holding a 130 foot certificate may be certified to a depth of 150 feet after successfully completing, 4 dives to depths between 130 and 150 feet. The diver must also demonstrate knowledge of the special problems of deep diving, and of special safety requirements.

5.41.6 Certification to 190 Foot Depth - A diver holding a 150 foot certificate may be certified to a depth of 190 feet after successfully completing, 4 dives to depths between 150 and 190 feet. The diver must also demonstrate knowledge of the special problems of deep diving, and of special safety requirements.

Diving on air is not permitted beyond a depth of 190 feet.

5.50 CONTINUATION OF CERTIFICATE

5.51 Minimum Activity to Maintain Certification

During any 12-month period, each certified scientific diver must log a minimum of 12 dives. At least one dive must be logged near the maximum depth of the diver's certification during each 6-month period. Divers certified to 150 feet or deeper may satisfy these requirements with dives to 130 feet or over. Failure to meet these requirements may be cause for revocation or restriction of certification. Divers who fail to make a minimum of 12 dives during any 12-month period must conduct a check-out dive by an appropriate skilled and proficient examiner designated by the DSO or DCB. Special exceptions may be granted by the DCB as noted in Sec. 1.28, Waiver of Requirements.

5.52 Re-qualification of Depth Certificate

Once the initial certification requirements of Sec. 5.30 are met, divers whose depth certification has lapsed due to lack of activity may be re-qualified by procedures adopted by UA’s DCB. Divers who fail to make at least one dive near the maximum depth of their certification during each 6-month period shall be recertified at the previous or reduced depth level.

5.53 Medical Examination

All certified scientific divers shall pass a medical examination at the intervals specified in Section 6.12. After each major illness or injury, as described in Sec. 6.12, a certified scientific diver shall receive clearance to return to diving from a physician before resuming diving activities.

5.60 REVOCATION OF CERTIFICATION

A diving certificate may be revoked or restricted for cause by the Diving Safety Officer or the DCB. Violations of regulations set forth in this manual, or other governmental subdivisions not in conflict with this manual, may be considered cause. The Diving Safety Officer shall inform the diver in writing of the reason(s) for revocation. The diver will be given the opportunity to present his/her case in writing for reconsideration and/or re-certification. All such written statements and requests, as identified in this section, are formal documents which will become part of the diver's file.

5.70 RECERTIFICATION

If a diver's certificate expires or is revoked, he/she may be re-certified after complying with such conditions as the Diving Safety Officer or the DCB may impose. The diver shall be given an opportunity to present his/her case to the DCB before conditions for re-certification are stipulated.