The class of Scientific and Archaeological Diving is defined as diving inland in Great Britain and inshore within United Kingdom territorial sea adjacent to Great Britain (generally 12 nautical miles from the low water line) which is covered by the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (Application outside Great Britain) Order 2001(2), in support of:

  • Archaeology, Including:
    • Investigation of sites of historic interest
    • Investigation of the analysis of physical remains
    • The recovery from such sites of articles for preservation and further analysis
    • Education instruction
  • Scientific research or scientific educational instruction

But does not include diving:

  • Where closed bell or saturation diving techniques are used
  • From vessels maintaining station by the use of dynamic positioning

For which a qualification for the class of Offshore Diving is required.

The HSE approves the following qualifications for the class of Scientific and Archaeological Diving:

European:

  1. European Scientific Diver (ESD)
  2. Advanced European Scientific Diver (AESD)

Recreational:

  1. CMAS 3 Star Diver
  2. CMAS 3 Star Diver equivalent in a recreational agency/organisation whose qualifications are approved by HSE for the class of Recreational Diving


  THE EUROPEAN SCIENTIFIC DIVER:

    A European Scientific Diver is a diver capable of acting as a member of a scientific diving team. He/she may attain this level by either a course or by in-field training and experience under suitable supervision or by a combination of these two methods.

    Diving physics and physiology, the causes and effects of diving-related illnesses and disorders and their management.

    1. Diving physics & physiology; the causes & effects of diving-related disorders & their management.
    2. The specific problems associated with diving to and beyond 20m, calculations of air requirements, correct use of appropriate decompression tables.
    3. Equipment; including personal dive computers and guidelines as to their safe use
    4. Emergency procedures and diving casualty management.
    5. Principles of dive planning.
    6. Legal aspects and responsibilities relevant to scientific diving in Europe and elsewhere.

    Be fully competent with:

    1. Diving first aid, including CPR & Oxygen administration to diving casualties.
    2. SCUBA rescue techniques and management of casualties.
    3. The use and user maintenance of appropriate SCUBA diving equipment.

    Be fully competent with:

    1. Search methods.
    2. Survey methods, both surface and sub-surface, capable of accurately locating & marking objects and sites.
    3. The basic use of airbags and airlifts for controlled lifts, excavations and sampling.
    4. Basic rigging and rope work, including the construction and deployment of transacts and search grids.
    5. Underwater navigation methods using suitable techniques.
    6. Recording techniques.
    7. Acting as surface tender for a roped diver.
    8. Sampling techniques appropriate to the scientific discipline being pursued.

    Show proof of having undertaken 70 open water dives, to include a minimum of:

    • 20 dives with a scientific task of work
    • 10 dives between 15m and 24m
    • 5 dives greater than 25m
    • 12 dives in the last 12 months, including at least 6 with a scientific task of work



     THE ADVANCED EUROPEAN SCIENTIFIC DIVER: 

    An Advanced European Scientific Diver is a diver capable of organising a scientific diving team. He/she may    attain this level by either a course or by in-field training and experience under suitable supervision or by acombination of these two methods.

    The AESD must:

    Show proof of theoretical knowledge and a comprehensive understanding of:

    1. The specific problems associated with diving to and beyond 30m, calculations of air requirements, correct use of appropriate decompression tables.
    2. Equipment; including personal dive computers and guidelines as to their safe use
    3. Emergency procedures and diving casualty management, including casualty evacuation.
    4. Principles and practice of dive planning and the selection and assessment of archaeological and scientific dive team members.
    5. Legal aspects and responsibilities relevant to scientific diving in Europe and elsewhere.
    6. Dive Project Planning.
    Be fully competent with:
    1. Diving first aid, including CPR & Oxygen administration to diving casualties.
    2. SCUBA rescue techniques and management of casualties.
    3. The use & user maintenance of appropriate SCUBA diving equipment, including Dry Suits & Full Face Masks.
    4. Basic Small Boat Handling and Electronic Navigation.
    5. Supervision of Diving Operations.
    Be fully competent with:
    1. Search methods such as those utilising free-swimming SCUBA divers and towed divers, together with remote sensing survey methods for a range of surface and sub-surface diving operations.
    2. Survey methods, both surface and sub-surface, capable of accurately locating and marking objects and sites.
    3. The basic use of airbags and airlifts for controlled lifts, excavations and sampling.
    4. Basic rigging and rope work, including the construction and deployment of transacts and search grids.
    5. Underwater navigation methods using suitable techniques.
      • Recording techniques.
    6. Roped/Tethered diver techniques and various types of underwater communication systems such as those utilising visual, aural, physical and electronic methods.
    7. Sampling techniques appropriate to the scientific discipline being pursued.

    Show proof of having undertaken 100 open water dives, to include a minimum of:

    • 50 dives with a scientific task of work, such as listed above
    • 10 dives between 20m and 29m
    • 10 dives between 29m and the National Limit
    • 12 dives in the last 12 months including at least 6 with a scientific task of work
    • 20 dives in adverse conditions such as currents, cold water or swift water
    • 20 dives as an in-water dive leader

    All evidence must be recorded in nationally acceptable logs, countersigned by suitably qualified persons. 

    None of the above precludes the possible requirement for a 
    practical or theoretical demonstration of any or all of the points shown.


    The ESD must:

    Show proof of basic theoretical knowledge and a basic understanding of: