BB840: Scientific Diver Course (10 ECTS)

STADS: 04014501

Level
Master's level course

Teaching period
The course is offered in the spring semester.

Teacher responsible
Email: klundgreen@biology.sdu.dk

Additional teachers
ka@sdu.dk

Timetable
Show entire timetable
Show personal time table for this course.

Prerequisites:
None

Academic preconditions:
Students taking the course are expected to:

• Have knowledge of basic physics, physiology and problem solving, planning field experiments, data collection, appropriate analysis og data, report writing.

Necessary health prerequisites: Diving medical examination, fitness test (1000 m surface swim without fins in under 30 minutes, 2.5 km run in under 15 minutes, 25 m underwater swim without fins, 1 minute breath holding under water).

The following diagnoses/problems/diseases are not compatible with diving (especially commercially): Lung Diseases, cardiovascular diseases (syncope, valvular, arrhythmia, heart block, cardiomyopathy, intra cardiac shunts, blood pressure >160/90 mm), neurological diseases (epilepsy, organic brain damage/disease, fainting attacks), ear-nose-throat (permanent or recurring disturbance of equilibrium sense, chronic sinusitis, severe hearing impairment), diabetes, BMI> 30, some more special endocrine disorders, chronic kidney and urinary tract diseases, chronic diseases in the gastro-intestinal tract, psychiatric: In general, an applicant must not have or have had a psychiatric disorder, neurosis, behavioral disorder (eg. Asperger's or ADHD), psychotic condition, be bipolar, personality disorders, etc., some mild and stable successfully treated depression and less anxiety cases may be approved if stable (> 2-5 years + a recent statement/study by psychiatrist).

General terms and conditions
The course must be paid one week before the date on which the course starts. Courses are charged at the price quoted at the time of booking, notwithstanding any change in the course price between the time of booking and the running of the course.

Cancellation, refund, and insurance policy:
If a course is cancelled by a student up to two weeks before the start date, an administration fee of 20% of the full course fee will be charged.
In case of a cancellation after the start of the course all payments will be forfeit although the Department of Biology will do its utmost to reposition the student on another course and transfer the payment.

No refunds will be made for cancellations within two week of the course start date unless exceptional circumstances prevail. Exceptional circumstances are:

• Medical circumstances documented in a doctor’s statement.
• Severe personal circumstances

The following will result in dismissal from the course without compensation:

• Willful damage to school property;    
• Arrival at class under the influence of alcohol;
• Possession of prohibited substances;
• Repeatedly fail to act on verbal instructions of staff;
• Failure to pay all fees, deposits and invoices when they fall due;
• Failure to cooperate with the safety procedures on land and underwater;
• Unexcused absence (more than three times)

Appeals against dismissal must be lodged in written form within two weeks to the head of the Department of Biology.

 

The University insurance covers students during the diving course and all University diving projects.

Course introduction
The marine biological diving course is a research support course with the aim of training students to the level of Danish commercial SCUBA diver in accordance with the ”Danske regler for dykning”, issued by the Danish Maritime Authority (Søfartsstyrelsen).

On the course the student will be trained in safe diving and practice rescue drills and be introduced to underwater monitoring of benthic ecosystems and to experimental design of underwater research. The student will be trained in using safe commercial SCUBA diving as a research tool to study and explore the underwater environment through visual observations, sample collection, and installation of underwater measuring equipment which will form the basis for expanding the potential of research possibilities. In addition, it opens up career options within research, outreach/communication, consulting and environmental monitoring.

Successful course participants are issued with the Danish Commercial SCUBA Diving License. This license allows divers to carry out light commercial work using SCUBA equipment in depths of up to 30 m. It is issued by the Danish Maritime Authority, which also oversees the exams. The candidates will master required skills for professional SCUBA diving as well as planning and accomplishment of scientific underwater research campaigns.

In relation to the competence profile of the degree it is the explicit focus of the course to: Give the competence to:

• Manage work and development situations, independently start up and go through with professional teamwork and take responsibility for one´s own professional development and specialisation.

Give skills to:

• Dive confidently and manage underwater scientific work.
• Work as part of a team and the high importance of team work in diving operations.
• Use methods and techniques in underwater research (sampling of flora, fauna, sediments, deployment of electronic equipment, quantification of flora and fauna, habitat survey, transects)
• Explain and understand theory of diving (physiology, physics, safety, legislation)
• Evaluate underwater hazards and conduct risk assessments.
• Carry out diving first aid and rescue operations.
• Know how basic parts of the diving equipment works and maintenance.
• Do practical diving in open water down to 30 meters using SCUBA equipment.
• Perform different kind of basic tasks under water (search and rescue, scaffolding, rigging, use of lifting bags, use of hand tools, navigation)
• Do underwater communication.

Give knowledge and understanding of:

• Danish diving legislation.
• Planning and execution of underwater projects.
• Collection of data under water.
• Diving equipment use and maintenance.
• Diving physiology and physics.
• First aid.

Expected learning outcome
The learning objective of the course is that the student demonstrates the ability to:

• Be able to choose the most sensible method for planning and execution of underwater scientific experiments.
• Be able to put the many sub-elements of the teaching of theory and training into a larger picture.
• Obtain good practical skills and mechanical understanding.
• Use and comply with the regulations of the Danish diving legislation.
• Explain relevant theories, regulations and methods.
• Be responsible.
• Show initiative.
• Show a positive attitude for solving tasks and during teamwork.
• Stay in good physical and mental shape.
• Participate actively in the teaching and training.

Subject overview


Literature
There isn't any litterature for the course at the moment.

Website
This course uses e-learn (blackboard).

Prerequisites for participating in the exam

1. Attendance of theoretical part (min. 80 %) and of practical diving exercises (100 %). Approval of report based on individual project in underwater research methodology. Prerequisites apply to both examination a and b. Pass/fail, internal evaluation by the teacher.

Assessment and marking:

1. Written exam (3 hours). Evaluated by the Danish 7-mark scale. Internal evaluation (5 ECTS). (04014502) Allowed exam aids: Calculator.
2. Combined practical and oral exam. Evaluated by the Danish 7-mark scale, internal evaluation (5 ECTS). (04014512) Allowed exam aids: All equipment needed for the given task.
   A closer description of the exam rules will be posted under 'Course Information' on Blackboard.

Expected working hours
The teaching method is based on three phase model.
Intro phase: 10 hours
Skills training phase: 90 hours, hereof:
 - Tutorials: 20 hours
 - Laboratory exercises: 8 hours
 - Excursion: 62 hours

Educational activities

• Diving excercises, including emergency drills and actively searching for equipment under water.

Educational form
The teaching is divided between engaging lectures, where the students are participating actively through small excercises, and practidcal training. During the practical training the connections to the lectures are often highlighted. In addition the class gives many opportunities for discussions during the teachers, both during theoretical and practical parts of the class.

Language
This course is taught in Danish or English, depending on the lecturer. However, if international students participate, the teaching language will always be English.

Remarks
Pris:
- Students: 14,000 DKK

Course enrollment
See deadline of enrolment.

Tuition fees for single courses
See fees for single courses.