Standards Development

Scope

This 3 part standard specifies the requirements for the training of scientific divers at 3 levels. The standard shall be limited in its scope so as to be applicable to all disciplines of science.

Scientific Diver - Is capable of diving for scientific purposes under the supervision of an Advanced Scientific Diver and under the overall oversight of a Scientific Project Leader.

Advanced Scientific Diver - An individual with specific technical or academic skills capable of diving for scientific purposes.

Scientific Diving Project Leader - Is capable of overseeing the conduct of a scientific diving project.

Each standard will specify Competencies, Prerequisites for training, Introductory information, Required theoretical knowledge, Required practical skills, Practical training parameters and Evaluation criteria for training systems aimed at training Scientific Divers, Advanced Scientific Divers and Scientific Diving Project Leaders. It is envisaged that each part of this three part standard will be a stand-alone deliverable (similar to ISO 24801 parts one, two and three). 

Purpose

1. With an increasing number of scientific projects focusing on the marine environment and blue economy, scientific diving is becoming increasingly important. This 3 part standard is aimed primarily at scientists and academics training to become scientific divers (at three levels of competency) and will set minimum requirements for the training of scientific divers at the three levels reflected in the names of the three parts. It will be beneficial, both to organizations involved in training scientific divers and the scientific diving community as a whole.

2. For many years there have been multiple efforts to harmonise scientific diver qualifications throughout the world and especially throughout european countries. Currently there is no single global standard and frequently no mutual recognition of training and qualifications between organisations or countries. One group which has recently received significant funding from the European Union to harmonise scientific diving in Europe, has committed to support ISO TC228 / WG1 in creating an ISO Standard (with CEN implementation via the Vienna Agreement). In a web-meeting held prior to the submission of this NWIP representatives of the major scientific diver stake-holders from around the world, unanimously agreed to go ahead with this project. So there is definitely strong political and stake-holder support for WG1 to produce a multi-part standard for scientific diver training.

3. A large proportion of the scientific projects that scientific divers are (and will be) involved in, are aimed at studying, and ultimately protecting, the environment. An ISO Standard that will make it easier for scientists to have their scientific diver qualifications recognised all over the world, is highly desirable.