Educational Diving Program Policy and Procedures

Purpose

SCUBA can be a useful educational tool and BIOS’s Education Department is promoting training in SCUBA for students aged 12 and older.

• The process of learning to dive teaches many skills and concepts that reinforce classroom physics and biology lessons
• The mature, safety-conscious attitude instilled through SCUBA training serves to teach students responsibility
• SCUBA certification is a valuable asset and qualification to list on a resume
• The ability to dive allows students to explore underwater habitats and thereby better understand field course work
• Students can use SCUBA to collect simple data and generate interesting project reports

Designation of “Educational Diving”

To avoid any confusion about policy for education vs. research diving, the following definition is provided:

“Educational Diving” at BIOS:

• Refers to initial training and continuing education in SCUBA through PADI or another universally recognized diving authority
• Requires the direct supervision of a dive master or dive instructor as stipulated by PADI (or equivalent agency) and in compliance with the mandated minimum student to instructor ratios
• May involve basic data collection only when part of a designated course

Jurisdiction

“Educational Diving” at BIOS is conducted at the discretion of the dive safety officer (DSO).

• The DSO has overall authority over educational diving at BIOS, and will ensure that all educational diving is supervised by BIOS staff members who are qualified SCUBA instructors and / or dive masters
• Qualified BIOS SCUBA instructors and / or dive masters are in charge of running any training courses, will directly supervise student divers, and are responsible for ensuring all standards for training are met, as required by PADI or an alternate dive training agency

Certification

Students participating in educational diving at BIOS will be encouraged to work towards a higher certification level.

• Diving will be conducted with the purpose of training rather than data collection
• Qualified BIOS staff may certify students who meet required training objectives in accordance with PADI (or equivalent) standards. As per PADI standards, the certifying instructor will be responsible for maintaining records of each student’s training

Documentation Required

Students enrolling in an Educational Diving Program at BIOS must provide all paperwork required for the course as stipulated by PADI (or equivalent agency).

• Documentation will include a medical statement and a liability release, as well as other disclaimers / forms required by PADI for the particular training course
• Additional documentation such as AAUS research diving paperwork is not required
• The BIOS staff member running the Educational Diving course is responsible for ensuring all paperwork has been submitted and completed / signed appropriately before commencing training

BIOS Requirements, Costs and Practical Concerns

• Costs for the Educational Diving Program at BIOS are as per the BIOS Fee Schedule. These include staff lectures (for dive theory training), dive master supervision (hourly or half day rate for confined and open water training) and tank rental. There will be an additional cost – a registration fee - that includes registration and certification expenses as per the fee schedule
• Education students who have not dived for several months may be required by their instructor and / or the DSO to participate in a check-out dive before beginning training
• Any scientific research or course project work to be conducted using SCUBA, will be carried out as an integral part of a specific dive training course. Dives conducted while carrying out such project work will be supervised as mandated by PADI (or equivalent). Student training and safety are priority for such dives
• Such training dives that involve specialized tasks or data collection are conducted at the discretion of the DSO, who may veto a dive if student safety is not assured based on the nature of the work. Factors to be considered may include the required depth of the dive and / or any use of equipment requiring skills beyond a student’s training and experience level