Visiting Diver

Scientists who are from other organizations and are conducting research utilizing SI facilities, are required to receive diving AUTHORIZATION from the Scientific Diving Program (SDP).  If your parent organization is:
  1. A current AAUS Organizational Member (OM), you may be authorized to dive under RECIPROCITY DIVER status.
  2. NOT a current AAUS OM but has a Scientific Diving Program which meets AAUS minimum standards, you may request to establish direct RECIPROCITY DIVER with the SDP.
  3. NOT a current AAUS OM and Scientific Diving Program does NOT meets AAUS Standards, you may request to establish NON-RECIPROCITY DIVER status with the SDP, if:
    • you meet the SDP minimum requirements,
    • your parent organization will sign the SDP-101 Risk Waiver Release form to acknowledge responsibility for your dives, and
    • if under the jurisdiction of OSHA, your parent organization further certifies that its scientific diving program contains the following elements: (A) a diving safety manual; and (B) a diving control (safety) board, with a majority of its members being active scientific divers.
  4. NOT a current AAUS OM and your dives are critical directly for the success of an SI research project, you may request to be authorized to dive under TEMPORARY DIVER status.  

Diver Authorization

1. Do you qualify to dive with SDP?  See SDP MINIMUM DIVING STANDARDS

2. Do you have an SI Sponsor?  All Visiting Scientists must have an SI Sponsor. 

3. Are you officially registered as a Visiting Scientist?  This is required before your dive application can be processed.

Minimum requirementsSDP MINIMUM DIVING STANDARDS

Dive HelmetRECIPROCITY DIVER REQUIREMENTS 

Dive HelmetNON-RECIPROCITY DIVER REQUIREMENTS

Dive HelmetTEMPORARY REQUIREMENTS