Certification Requirements

 

Persons interested in becoming scientific divers for Georgia Institute of Technology must meet the following criteria:

 

*      Be a GT student, faculty/staff member or a visiting scientist from another organization working under GT auspices.

 

*      Hold, at a minimum, Basic SCUBA Certification from a National or International SCUBA Certifying Agency.

 

*      Have a need to conduct research dives under GT auspices. All applicants not participating in a GT curriculum course must provide a written request from their sponsoring professor or department.

 

If the above criteria have been met then the following credentials are required of all University System of Georgia divers. For specifics see the " Standards for Scientific Diving Certification and Operation of Scientific Diving Program" manual.

 

  1. Certification as an open water diver – issued by a nationally recognized certification agency.
  2. Diving Exam (written and skills)1
  3. Diving Resume (Diver Summary)
  4. Diving medical exam (Medical Forms)
  5. Current CPR training
  6. Current First Aid training
  7. Current training in Emergency Oxygen administration (DAN)
  8. Signed waiver (Diving Waiver)
  9. Current medical insurance
  10. Proof of annual regulator service
  11. DAN Insurance - highly recommended

 

1For previously uncertified divers entering the program. 

 

Once the GT Unit DSO has all the required documentation you will then be required to successfully complete the swim test & skills exam (check out dive).

 

Check Out Dives

 

Check out dives for the scientific diver certification will be held, if required, once per semester at Georgia Tech.  All other certification requirements for the diver must be satisfied before a check out dive can be conducted.

 

Upon successful completion of the check out dive the University System Dive Safety Officer will give the final approval on your certification. You will then be notified by the Unit DSO when your certification card arrives.

 

 

Scientific Diver Status

 

 

To maintain AAUS scientific diver status the following credentials must be current at all times. Listed below are the expiration periods for individual credentials.

 

                  

 

Required Credentials

Renewal Schedule

Certification as an open water diver (from a nationally recognized certification agency)

Not Required

Diving Medical Exam

Every 5 years or

every 3 years > 40 years old

CPR

Annually or per certification

First Aid

Annually or per certification

DAN Oxygen

Every 2 Years

Medical Insurance

Annually

Proof of Regulator Service

Annually

 

 

 In addition each diver must

 

*      Log one dive every six months

 

*      Log at least 12 dives a year

 

*      Log all dives and submit (by email) a copy to the Unit DSO each month that diving occurs. USG Monthly Divelog

 

If a diver fails to meet the required number of dives by the end of the year then a check out dive will be required for the diver to retain their certification for the following year, providing all other requirements have been satisfied.

 

 

For more information please contact :

 

Alex Chequer

Unit Dive Safety Officer

Georgia Institute of Technology

School of Biology

310 Ferst Drive

Atlanta GA 30332

achequer@gatech.edu