Maintaining Certification

 

UCSB/AAUS ACTIVE STATUS REQUIREMENTS

  • Dive Physical
    • FREQUENCY: A diving physical is required within the preceding 5 years (3 years if over the age of 40, 2 years if over the age of 60) from the diving medical evaluation. Physical Form (pdf)
    • FOLLOWING ANY MAJOR INJURY OR ILLNESS: Clearance to return to diving must be obtained from a physician following any major injury or illness, or any condition requiring hospital care. If the injury or illness is pressure related, then the clearance to return to diving must come from a physician trained in diving medicine.
  • Dive Logs: All research dives are to be logged into your online dive log monthly. During any 12-month period, each certified scientific diver shall log a minimum of 12 dives.
  • Depth Certification: At least one dive to the depth of certification shall be made during each six-month period. Information about how to increase your current depth certification can be found on the Depth Certification page.
  • CPR & Oxygen Administration: Training certificates are to be kept current. Length of certification depends on the training centers standards. The UCSB's Diving Safety CPR/O2 refresher course should be updated annually.
  • Equipment: All equipment shall be regularly examined by the person using them
    • Regulators (1st & 2nd Stage), alternative air devices, hoses and gauges are to be inspected and tested (Bench/Service Check) at 12 month intervals and overhauled if required.
      • An equipment inspection form and/or receipt detailing work done shall be completed by the repair technician and submitted to the Diving Safety Office annually.
    • Scuba Cylinders:
      • Must be hydrostatically tested in accordance with DOT standards
      • Internal and external inspection are required every 12 months
      • Valves shall be functionally tested annually
    • SCUBA Service Centers
      • Anacapa Dive Center: Services Scubapro along with other regulator brands. Just mention that you are a UCSB Research Diver and you should not be charged for the Bench/Service check.
      • Aquatics: Services most brands, but not Scubapro
      • Blue Water Hunter: A complete dive store that specializes in spearfishing, freediving and custom wetsuits.
      • Sealanding: Services Scubapro along with US Divers, Aqualung and Oceanic Regulators and BC's. Just mention that you are a UCSB Research Diver to get a discount. Contact Dan at Sealanding for more info.
      • AquaLab Industries: Services all Brands. Offers special rate for University Projects (PO Required) and they pick up/return the regulators and cylinders from/to the university. Contact the Diving Safety Office for more details.
    • Diving Safety Office Gear
      • SCUBA regulators are available at the Diving Safety Office for research groups to use when their gear is being serviced. A maintainence fee may apply if the borrowed gear requires servicing after use.
      • Pressure Pot Access: Research divers can use our "Pressure Pot" to check depth gauges and computers at no cost.

STATUS LEVEL

ACTIVE: Diver has current medical examination with no contraindications for diving, has current certification in First Aid and CPR, and has met the 12 dives per year standard.
SUSTAINING: Diver has one or more deficiencies, i.e., medical examination has expired, CPR / O2 provider is not current, equipment not currently inspected or has not maintained the 12 divers per year activity level.
INACTIVE: Diver has let medical examination expire and/or has not maintained minimum dive frequency of 12 dives per year for over a year. It is assumed that an INACTIVE diver is no longer involved in research that includes diving. Reconsideration for ACTIVE dive status requires contacting the Diving Safety Office, updating your records and may require refresher training and/or a skills/academic evaluation.
RESTRICTED: Special limitations are imposed on diving activities in which the diver may participate, e.g., restrictions due to the diver’s medical status or questionable skills.

UCSB DIVER CLASSIFICATION LEVELS

SCIENTIFIC DIVER: Diver meets 100 hour training criteria w/12 logged training dives. A checkout dive may be required if not previously completed at the time of classification as a Trainee or via reciprocity from another research diving program.
TRAINEE: A newly trained scientific diver that has not completed the 12 required scientific divers. Individuals qualified at the Trainee level must dive with an active UCSB scientific diver at all times.
VISITING DIVER: Diver certified through reciprocity from another scientific diving program and must dive with an active UCSB scientific diver.