Research diving

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In research diving , divers perform scientific tasks underwater .

background

All scientifically motivated underwater activities by relevant German institutions may only be carried out by certified research divers. This requirement comes from the rule of the statutory accident insurance (BGR / GUV-R 2112) "Use of research divers", published in June 2011 (successor to ZH 1/540 "Guidelines for the use of research divers"). The rule was developed by the civil engineering specialist committee (the main association of commercial professional associations) and the examination committee for research divers with the assistance of the research diving committee.

The BGR / GUV-R 2112 specifies the standard procedure according to which entrepreneurs must have scientific underwater work carried out. The term entrepreneur is defined in the original text of BGR / GUV-R 2112 as follows: “Entrepreneurs are members of the accident insurance institutions . Entrepreneurs are also institute directors or heads of research facilities who commission research divers with scientific work under water. "

The rule is primarily intended to create maximum safety and thus avoid accidents. In the case of a more serious accident, however, it is used by the investigating public prosecutor's office as an assessment basis for clarifying the question of guilt or, in civil law proceedings, for clarifying liability claims. A head of a scientific institution who has diving assignments carried out that do not meet the requirements of BGR / GUV-R 2112 runs the risk of serious disadvantages and losses (detention and / or high losses) in the subsequent legal proceedings ( criminal law and civil law ) in the event of an accident Fines).

A regulated procedure for research divers only came into being in 1970, after two divers had a fatal accident off Heligoland in 1969 and other serious diving accidents occurred in the scientific environment. Since the activity could not be assigned to either classic professional diving or recreational diving, a separate diving procedure with a specific training course was introduced. The “Main Association of Commercial Employers' Liability Insurance Associations” published the “Guidelines for the Use of Research Divers”.

tasks

Biological observations
Research diver with writing board

The tasks of a research diver include the application of scientific working methods at various levels of diving or, in a broader sense, the use of diving to achieve scientific goals. For example, targeted sampling, the deployment of scientific equipment or mapping under water.

The areas covered include a. Biology , geology , hydrogeology , geoecology , archeology , human biology and diving medicine , in short, the " bio and geosciences ", environmental sciences and engineering . The use in radio and television stations as well as in business administration and marketing represent further (peripheral) areas. The engineering sciences also serve to record and visualize the various parameters.

In addition to safe diving and the ability to provide effective first aid, precise knowledge of the possibilities and special features of underwater research is required, which can be assessed by the operators themselves if possible. The basics of diving, the intensive safety exercises and the scientific tools are taught to the participants in training companies recognized by the employers' liability insurance association.

See also: underwater archeology

Differences from other types of diving

In research diving , the main difference to recreational diving is that the entrepreneur appoints a professionally qualified, experienced dive leader in writing, who in turn puts together a suitable diving group. The diving operations manager has to plan, monitor and document the diving operation meticulously and initiate suitable measures in the event of malfunctions. The central element of his planning is the risk assessment , which is actually a business obligation under the Occupational Safety and Health Act . The entrepreneur can, however, delegate his responsibility to a qualified person. In the risk assessment, all potential dangers for everyone involved must be named and suitable countermeasures developed. The results of the risk assessment must be communicated to all those involved in the form of training. The rescue chain plays an essential role in this - starting with the rescue of the casualty in a safe environment - through to the accessibility of the diving site by rescue workers (e.g. reporting and transport routes). The BGR / GUV-R 2112 demands: "A professionally qualified diving leader is an experienced research diver who should prove at least 100 dives with a minimum diving time of 60 hours under operational conditions and who has been recognized by a training company for research divers". The Research Diving Commission certifies this qualification.

Another difference to recreational diving is that the dive is largely controlled by a surface crew; the research diver usually works alone underwater and can therefore concentrate fully on his task. The diving supervisor determines depth and diving time according to the table of BGR / GUV-R 2112 (corresponds to the table for professional divers) and uses an air volume calculation to ensure that the diver does not get into shortness of breath. A signal man above water has contact with the research diver by means of a signal line and, in difficult diving conditions, via an additional voice connection. If several divers are under water at the same time (3 are max. Allowed), they must be connected to each other with lines (hand or buddy line). A so-called blub can be used for operations that require greater mobility (e.g. large-scale mapping). It is a cylindrical, strikingly colored float, at the end of which the diver's signal line is attached. When pulling on the leash, the blub straightens up, so you can communicate with the signalman. A safety diver, who is almost completely equipped for emergencies, takes over the protection.

Standard equipment includes a dry suit and full face mask .

Research divers are not permitted to conduct commercial diving work. Such activities are carried out by professional divers (certified diver).

Some key points of the BGR / GUV-R 2112

Maximum diving depth: 50m

Minimum diving group size: 3 people - dive leader / signalman, mission diver, backup diver

Breathing gas: air; However, mixed gases (mainly Nitrox ) can also be used or exchanged with pure oxygen. In doing so, the trade association information for work and health at work must be observed. BG information “Diver operations with mixed gas” (BGI 897, from June 2004).

If diving within the no- stop time , an autonomous light diving device ( compressed air diving device ) can be used.

However, as soon as holding times (decompression stops) are necessary according to the diving table, a hose must be dived.

The next diving pressure chamber must be in max. 3 hours can be achieved.

For every diving mission (irrespective of depth and duration), an oxygen breathing facility must be available for the supply of accident divers, which enables them to breathe pure oxygen for at least 3 hours.

education

The training is divided into a preliminary and a final training. In Germany there are currently seven companies for research divers that are recognized by the employers' liability insurance association and offer complete training: University of Rostock, University of Kiel, Biological Institute Helgoland ( Alfred Wegener Institute Bremerhaven), University of Oldenburg, Technical University of Munich, University of Konstanz and TERAQUA GdBR. The University of Hamburg only offers pre-training. The basic requirement for admission to research diving training is proof of the necessity of scientific work under water, for example in the field of oceanography or marine biology , as well as a diving suitability test carried out in accordance with professional association standards according to principle G31 (diving work).

The duration of the training is at least 240 hours shorter than that of the certified diver, but contains similar content. However, imparting practical skills naturally has a different focus and, in addition to intensive safety training, is more in the direction of search, surveying and recovery. The use of different sampling devices and documentation techniques is also taught in the training.

Germany has been applying European standards since January 1, 2006 (in accordance with the resolutions of the Workshop of the European Scientific Diving Committee, October 24, 2000, Banyuls-sur-mer, France).

The German training as a research diver meets the requirements of the European Scientific Diver (ESD). In addition to extensive theoretical training, this includes at least 70 open water dives, 20 of which are scientific, 10 in depths of 15–24 m, 5 in depths> 25 m.

The Advanced European Scientific Diver (AESD) qualification also includes experience in planning and managing scientific dives. Some demands on the diving experience: at least 100 open water dives, 10 of them between 20 and 29 m, 10> 29 m (up to the respective national limit), 20 under difficult conditions as well as 20 proven dive operations management. These qualifications are certified by the German Research Diving Commission.

Building on the training as a research diver, specialization, for example as an archaeological research diver, is possible.

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ BGR / GUV-R 2112 - Rule - Use of research divers. DGUV, June 2011, pp. 17, 63–71 , accessed on June 28, 2016 .
  2. ↑ BGR / GUV-R 2112 - Rule - Use of research divers. DGUV, June 2011, p. 8 , accessed on June 28, 2016 .
  3. ↑ Training companies , Commission Research Diving Germany, accessed on September 17, 2012