Diving Science & Safety Program

Scientific diving at the University of Florida is defined by OSHA (29 CFR 1910.401(a)(2)(iv) and subpart T, app.B) and AAUS (section 1.12 & 1.13)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.

This diving is under the direction and control of a diving program containing at least the following:

A. Diving safety Manual which includes at a minimum : Procedures covering all diving operations specific to the program; procedures for emergency care, including recompression and evacuation; and criteria for diver training and certification.

B. Diving control (safety) board, with the majority of its members being active 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 form unsafe practices:

and, assure adherence to the buddy system (a diver is accompanied and is in continuous contact with another diver in the water for SCUBA diving.

1. The Diving Control Board consist of a majority of Active Scientific Divers and has autonomous and absolute authority over the scientific diving program's operations.

2. The purpose of the project using scientific diving is the advancement of science; therefore, information and data resulting from the project are non-proprietary.

3. 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.

4. 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.

A "Diver" is defined as: An employee working in water using underwater apparatus which supplies compressed breathing gas at the ambient pressure.

The University of Florida Diving Science and Safety Program will also provide oversight to research using "breath hold diving". This refers to a researcher who, using mask, fins, and snorkel, submerges for the purpose of data gathering or observation of the under water environment.

Rationale:

The University has during the time period of 1992-1996 had four incidents among recreational divers which required medical support and one of which resulted in the death of the diver. Breath hold diving presents a risk of anoxia, hypercapnia, and unconsciousness which may result in drowning. Such an incident may or may not be due to the individual exceeding physical limits. It may also be incurred due to physiological problems not generally recognized. For this reason, general guidelines for such research have been established.