Current Scientific Divers
This page is for OSU Scientific Divers who have already been accepted into the OSU Scientific Diving Program and need information on keeping their status current.
It is the responsibility of the individual scientific diver to keep their status current and to be familiar with, and adhere to, the program requirements covered in the OSU Diving Safety Manual.
OSU scientific divers are required to maintain a profile on the OSU/AAUS scientific diver website. Scientific divers will use the website to log dives and to help keep track of their dive status.
If you are a current OSU Scientific Diver and are looking to dive under OSU auspices, please reach out to the Diving Safety Officer (DSO) for assistance in getting your Dive Plan written and approved.
Keeping Your Scientific Diver Status Current While at OSU
It is each individual diver's responsibility to be aware of their diver file elements and keep their status up to date. Inactive or lapsed divers are precluded from making scientific dives until their status is current. Re-activation of lapsed divers takes time and may require in-water evaluation by the DSO. OSU Scientific diver status requires:
- Current Medical Evaluation and Medical History forms showing no unresolved contraindications for diving
- Current certifications in First Aid, CPR, AED, and Emergency Oxygen Provider
- Dive activity: 12 dives within the last 12 months with at least one dive to depth certification within the last 6 months
- Annual proof of scuba equipment service and maintenance
- Proof of current diving accident insurance (Divers Alert Network (DAN) or equivalent)
More info below on the components required to keep your diver file up to date and active:
An OSU/AAUS Medical Evaluation of Fitness for Scuba Diving and OSU/AAUS Medical History are required within the previous 5 years if under age 40, previous 3 years if over the age of 40, and every 2 years if over the age of 60. Following any major injury or illness, medical clearance to return to diving must be obtained from a physician and the diver re-activated by the DSO. Please refer to the OSU dive medical evaluation form instructions and contact the OSU DSO if you have any questions concerning your fitness to dive.
These are separate certifications that must be kept current by the diver and depending on the training agency, typically renew every two years. The SDP occasionally offers these courses, or they may be obtained through an outside provider (only courses with a practical component are considered acceptable). Contact the SDP for course availability or to determine course compatibility.
To be authorized to dive the diver must have made 12 qualifying dives within the previous 12 months of their desired dive date, including at least one dive to their depth limit certification within the last 6 months. All research dives are to be logged into the AAUS/OSU Online Dive Log platform, and there are provisions for logging all individual dives in this system. Contact the SDP for access to the web platform or with questions regarding dive classification.
For divers wishing to use their own gear, proof of gear inspection and service by an authorized technician must be on file with the SDP. Equipment service authorization is valid for one year from the service date. Regulators (1st & 2nd stage), alternate air sources, hoses, gauges, computers, and BCs are to be inspected and tested at 12-month intervals and overhauled if required. SCUBA cylinders must be hydrostatically tested in accordance with DOT standards (5 year interval), and a visual inspection must be performed annually. And per accepted best practices and AAUS standards, life-support equipment should also be regularly examined by the diver.
The SDP policies require that all OSU scientific divers demonstrate proof of accident insurance coverage for diving-specific emergency needs such as remote evacuation and hyperbaric treatment (Diver’s Alert Network (DAN) insurance or equivalent).
Per AAUS standards divers must be authorized to dive to the depths specified in the dive plan whether for research or training/proficiency. For information on current depth authorizations or on how to increase depth authorizations contact the SDP and refer to Section 4.40 of the OSU Diving Safety Manual.
AAUS Diver Status After OSU
Scientific divers who graduate or leave OSU should ensure they have copies of all paperwork associated with their diver file including medical records and training certifications. Divers who are leaving OSU can request an AAUS Verification of Training (VOT) from the DSO which can be presented to future organizations that require proof of AAUS scientific diver training. Departing divers wishing to maintain their active AAUS status with OSU may be eligible to continue as Official Volunteers with the OSU SDP. Contact the DSO for more information.