Search

Diving safety

SFU personnel and students who participate in SCUBA diving or snorkeling activities as part of their research, occupation or instruction must be registered in the SFU Scientific Diving Program. Before undertaking diving activities under university auspices, they must have received authorization to dive/snorkel from the University Diving Safety Officer.

Research projects

There are a few more things beyond obtaining your authorized Scientific Diver status that must be in place before you can start your underwater research.

Annual project description and risk assessment form

Before engaging in any diving activity, make sure that you or the person you are diving with possesses a valid Annual Project Description and Risk Assessment Form for the diving operations you are going to undertake. The Annual Project Description and Risk Assessment Form must have been endorsed by the Project Director (usually a faculty member), reviewed by the Diving and EPU Safety Committee and endorsed by the Chair of the Committee within the last 12 months to be valid.

Authorized diving equipment and personnel

Make certain that the equipment you are diving with meets or exceeds the standards outlined in the SFU Diving Safety Manual.  In addition, before you dive, make sure that both you and your dive buddy(ies) have current certifications according to the criteria set in the SFU Diving Safety Manual.

Depth certification

You will be certified to a specified depth when you are first certified (usually 20 m). You may only exceed that depth in accordance with the requirements stipulated in the SFU Diving Safety Manual.

Special conditions and modes of diving

You will be certified to SCUBA dive and/or snorkel dive only under limited, daytime conditions in the immediate coastal waters of British Columbia (or wherever your check-out dive with the DSO was held). Modes and conditions of diving other than these require special equipment, training, and certification. Consult the listing of special conditions and modes of diving in the SFU Diving Safety Manual prior to engaging in diving activity to make certain that your proposed diving operation does not contravene SFU regulations.