When working underwater, scientists are able to use their expertise to address their questions directly on site. E.G:

Further information:

• Module handbook
• Information on research diver training at the ICBM

Scientific underwater operations by German research and teaching institutions must be carried out in accordance with the regulations of the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV). DGUV Rule 101-023 "Research Diving", which sets high safety standards and is derived from DGUV Regulation 40 "Diver Work" (requirements for professional diving), is central to this.

According to DGUV regulation 101-023, a diving group must be deployed. This consists of a person in charge (dive leader), a signaller, a safety diver and a rescue diver. If there are no difficult conditions, the two positions of dive leader and signaller can be filled by one person. While the safety diver usually dives alone, the signaller maintains contact via a signalling line or sometimes also via underwater communication in order to control and monitor the dive.
The person deployed as a safety diver must be ready on the surface in almost full diving equipment in order to quickly reach the person diving in an emergency and support them. The mission leader must plan the missions and ensure that they are carried out safely and effectively, thus assuming a high degree of responsibility.

The "buddy principle" procedure used in recreational diving, in which two divers are underwater at the same time and are supposed to secure each other, is neither effective nor admissible in the professional field. Similarly, a recreational diving licence is not sufficient for scientific diving work.

The DGUV rule "Research Diving" explicitly requires that only trained and DGUV-certified research divers may be used in operations. People who hold a US (AAUS) or Canadian (CAUS) scientific diving certificate can obtain the German certificate via a so-called crossover.

Further information:

Commission for Scientific Diving (KFT)

DGUV rule research diving

Gtüm

DAN