About the Scientific Diving Program

Scientific Diving Program at OSU

The OSU Scientific Diving Program (SDP) is housed in the OSU Office of Marine Operations in the Division of Research and Innovation.

The mission of the SDP is to facilitate and support safe and successful scientific diving research and training activities conducted under OSU auspices. OSU is an Organizational Member of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS), and OSU scientific diving is conducted in accordance with the latest edition of the AAUS Standards for Scientific Diving. The SDP is governed by the OSU Diving Control Board (DCB), with program management and day-to-day operations overseen by the OSU Diving Safety Officer (DSO).

OSU SDP divers average 600-700 scientific dives annually. OSU faculty and student researchers conduct scientific diving operations around the world, including the Caribbean, Indo-Pacific, Antarctica, and the marine and fresh water of the Pacific Northwest. SDP divers work with many regional collaborators including the Oregon Coast Aquarium, Reef Check, REEF, Oregon Kelp Alliance, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, NOAA, U.S. Forest Service, and the Environmental Protection Agency. OSU is a Divers Alert Network (DAN) Industry Partner.

What does the SDP do?

The SDP works in three main areas to carry out its mission: Compliance, Training, and Project Support

• Compliance: all scientific dives (research, training, proficiency) conducted under OSU auspices are made in accordance with dive plans that are reviewed and approved by the OSU DCB in advance of dive operations. The dive planning process generally follows this workflow, and the SDP actively works with the Principal Investigators and Lead Divers to ensure adherence to all applicable standards, policies, and regulations, from dive plan conception to project completion.
• Training: all OSU scientific divers must be authorized as AAUS Scientific Divers or Scientific Divers-In-Training. The SDP conducts an annual AAUS scientific diver training course through the Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences Department (FW430/530 Intro to Scientific Diving). The SDP also conducts a variety of support courses including Basic Life Support, Emergency Oxygen Administration, Nitrox Diver, Drysuit Diver, and Fill Station Operator. The SDP can also facilitate project-specific training identified during the dive planning process. Examples include formal ecological survey methods, lift bag and specialized tool use, and technical diving techniques.
• Project Support: The SDP has the capacity to provide direct field support to projects through the DSO or other approved scientific divers. The SDP can also assist with experimental design and collaborate with researchers who may wish to incorporate underwater elements into their studies but lack scientific diving capacity.

How can I get involved?

OSU scientific divers volunteer and collaborate with a wide variety of projects and groups. If you would like to get involved, or if you have any questions, then please reach out to the Diving Safety Office to discuss your needs.