Three standards for the training of scientific divers

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Scientific diving plays a crucial role in marine and underwater research. The development of scientific diving standards ensures that divers possess the necessary skills and knowledge to conduct research safely and effectively in underwater environments. 

Many of the experts have been working on diving standards since the turn of the millennium. At first, work was carried out at the European level, in WG3 of CEN TC 329 ‘Tourism Services’🡭. After ISO TC 228 ‘Tourism and related services’🡭 was founded in 2007, work continued at the international level.

The recent years have been the most productive, culminating in the publication of no less than eight standards:

— five standards (EN ISO 24804, 5, 6, 7 and 8) on requirements for the training of rebreather divers and instructors and

— three standards laying out the requirements for the training of scientific divers (EVS-EN ISO 8804-1:2024), advanced scientific divers (EVS-EN ISO 8804-2:2024) and scientific diving project leaders (EVS-EN ISO 8804-3:2024).

As always, a standard is a compromise between the opinions of participating experts. The more varied the backgrounds of the experts are, the greater the differences are, and the more challenging it is to come up with standards which have the broadest possible support. While the standards have a similar structure to other training standards, it was clear from the outset that the standards would have to accommodate different skill sets needed by different sciences.

The standards contain common requirements that scientific divers should be able to meet, regardless of whether they are biologists, geologists or archaeologists.

All standards are available in our e-shop.