Scientific Diving Program

We are almost ready for some exciting announcements regarding scientific diving.  Stay tuned!   In the meantime, Rockfish Divers offers the Scientific Diving Distinctive Specialty Program.   There are three separate, but sequential specialty courses offered under this program: Scientific Diver In Training, Scientific Diver Level I and Scientific Diver Level II, which are outlined below. As a Canadian Association for Underwater Science member, our scientific dive program adheres to the CAUS Standard for Scientific Diving and the requirements outlined by WorkSafeBC. Completion of these specialties does not provide certification as a Scientific Diver in Canada, but provides the training requirements that must be completed before being considered as part of our scientific dive team.


Stay tuned for upcoming announcements!

Scientific Diver In Training
The Scientific Diver In Training Course examines the skills of divers interested in conducting research underwater.  This course assesses the skills of divers to ensure they are ready to introduce scientific diving techniques safely and acts as a yearly refresher (a requirement for scientific dive programs in Canada) for those wanting to continue their scientific diving.   Any specific diving techniques and procedures required to complete anticipated research is beyond the scope of this certification. This distinctive specialty is designed to be a prerequisite to the Scientific Diver Level 1 Specialty Course.

Cost: 

• $229.00 + GST, including all training materials and certification card.
  
• $150.00 + GST is the yearly refresher cost.
• Students are responsible for providing their own equipment. Rental equipment is an addition cost, which we ill provide at discounted rates for scientific diving students.  Contact us for details on equipment rental.

Dates:
This course is offered on demand - please email [email protected] for upcoming program dates.

Diver Prerequisites
At the start of this course, the student diver must:

• Be 18 years old;
  
• Hold a Rescue certification with a minimum of 25 logged dives.  *
  
• Have completed CPR and first aid training within the previous 2 years. *
• Have completed Oxygen Provider training within the previous 2 years. *

            * Check the Rockfish Schedule to see when the prerequisite courses are being offered.

Completion Requirements / Dives

• Complete knowledge development and pass exam with a minimum score of 75%;
• Complete skill performance requirements in confined water;
  
• Complete waterskills assessment in confined water;
• Complete rescue assessment in open water;
• Complete skill performance requirements during dive in open water.
  

Registration:

• Register by completing and submitting the table above;
• Pay online or in store;
• Rockfish Divers staff will provide the schedule, course outline, training materials and logistics.
  

Scientific Diver Level I
The Scientific Diver Level 1 Specialty Course will familiarize divers with common dive techniques used by research divers to a maximum depth of 20 m. The knowledge and dives acquired within this specialty do not exhaust the countless research methods available, but allows divers to practice basic techniques commonly used in underwater research.   The training from this program can be used to supplement additional techniques for specific research as approved by Rockfish Divers.   This distinctive specialty is designed to be a pre-requisite to the Scientific Diver Level 2 Distinctive Specialty.

Cost:

• $549.00 + GST * 
• $750.00 + GST - combo price when divers register for Scientific Diver In Training and Scientific Diver Level I together.
• Students are responsible for providing their own equipment. Rental equipment is an addition cost, which we ill provide at discounted rates for scientific diving students.   Contact us for details on equipment rental.

Dates:
This course is offered on demand - please email [email protected] for upcoming program dates.

Diver Prerequisites
At the start of this course, the student diver must:

• Be 18 years old;
  
• Hold a Rescue certification with a minimum of 25 logged dives.  *
  
• Have completed CPR and first aid training within the previous 2 years. *
• Have completed Oxygen Provider training within the previous 2 years. *

            * Check the Rockfish Schedule to see when the prerequisite courses are being offered.

• Have completed the Scientific Diver In Training Specialty.

Completion Requirements / Dives
In order to successfully complete the Scientific Diver Level 1 Certification, the student diver must:

• Attend classroom sessions and presentations on course material including scientific diving techniques;
• Complete an exam with a score of 75%;
  
• Complete a mapping dive;
• Complete a population survey dive;
  
• Complete a photography or videography dive;
  
• Complete a search and recovery dive;
  
• Complete a species collection dive (catch and release);
  
• Complete 25 scientific dives or 50 logged dives;
  
• Set-up and manage 4 scientific dives supervised by a certified scientific diver;
  
• Log 15 hours of scientific dive time or log 30 hours of bottom time.
  

Registration:

• Register by completing and submitting the table above;
• Pay online or in store;
• Rockfish Divers staff will provide the schedule, course outline, training materials and logistics.

Scientific Diver Level II (pending approval)
Coming Soon!

Photo Credit: Kathryn Marks