Executive Summary

Chairman's Remarks

Research Diving at sea provides the scientist with a variety of unique capabilities.

• Direct observation of the behavior and interactions of individual organisms and their collection in near-surface (0 to 150 feet) open-ocean waters is possible. The organisms collected are frequently so delicate that other techniques, such as netting, are disruptive and destructive. Additionally, these organisms are frequently transparent and image poorly on even sophisticated cameras.
• Scientific diving teams are able to access, observe, quantify and collect near-surface benthic communities far from shore in a cost effective manner.
• Efficient, in-place servicing and securing of bottom and water-column data-gathering devices under open-ocean conditions can be performed.

Future implementation of these techniques is expected to increase and be extended, in state-of-the-art hyperbaric applications as well as through advances in the use of one-atmosphere in situ methods.

The marine operators and Masters of the academic fleet's vessels have expressed their desire for better role definition in assuring the safety of over-the-side, manned operations. Although scientists who dive and administrators of the research diving safety programs share the same concerns for safe diving procedures, they need assurance that implementation of safety regulations will not unduly impede scientific efficiency.

In order to address these issues, two workshops were funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The grant was administered by the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS). The first workshop was conducted by the UHMS and the second by the Graduate School of Oceanography (GSO) of the University of Rhode Island (URI). The workshops' objectives included establishing research diving related guidelines for marine operators and Masters, and reviewing existing shipboard research diving safety documentation (especially that related to distant scientific programs). The workshop participants were tasked to look to the future as in situ technologies evolve for both hyperbaric and one-atmosphere applications.

This report contains the results of the URI/GSO workshop. It is divided into three sections. The first supplies background by detailing the history of the issues, the mechanics of the workshop and perspectives of the attending constituencies; the second and third sections are composed of position papers prepared by session chairpersons which reflect the participants' consensus. The second section deals with specific, current issues while the third deals with the issues the participants see on the horizon. Summaries of the sessions' Findings and Recommendations start on the next page.

Through out the report there are "NOTES" which serve to define terms or set editorial notes off from the rest of the document.