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Risk Management & Communication - Diving Safety
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Diving Safety information on this web site is provided to faculty, staff, students and volunteers who conduct scientific dives under the auspices of the University of Maryland. If you are unsure whether or not University regulations apply to your diving situation, please contact the Diving Safety Officer by email or at (301) 405-3982.

The Diving Safety Officer works closely with faculty to assist them in complying with federal, state and University regulations and guidelines that apply to research involving compressed gas (SCUBA) diving.

Diving Safety Diving Safety
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Manuals, Guidelines, Policies (Additional documents are located under the other Risk Management & Communication topics.)
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Forms
Download Forms - forms can be downloaded in Adobe PDF or MS Word format
Scientific Diver ApplicationDisplay PDF
Release and Waiver and Informed Consent AgreementDisplay PDFDisplay Word Form
Medical FormsDisplay PDF
Dive LogDisplay PDF 
Vessel Operations Float PlanOnline
Dive PlanOnline
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Information
Diver performing work underwater The Diving Safety Program at the University of Maryland, College Park (UM) was established in 1999 to support and oversee scientific diving activities conducted under the auspices of the University. The program strives to provide comprehensive safety and training standards and guidelines for scientific divers. Through these standards and guidelines, scientists can achieve their research goals while minimizing the risk of diving-related injury and illness. The standards also provide for working reciprocity between the UM and other institutions involved in scientific diving.

The Diving Safety Program at UM was created, in part, as a response to OSHA regulations for commercial diving. In 1982, OSHA exempted scientific diving from commercial diving regulations (29 CFR 1910, Subpart T) under certain conditions. In addition to following the guidelines of the OSHA exemption, the Diving Safety Program at UM follows scientific diving standards as set forth by the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS). AAUS is recognized by OSHA as the standard setting organization for scientific diving (Federal Register, Vol. 50, No.60, p.1046).

The Diving Safety Program operates under the guidance of the Diving Control Board and is represented in its day-to-day operations by the Diving Safety Officer. All diving conducted under the auspices of the UM is subject to the standards established by the Diving Control Board as described in the UM Diving Safety Manual.

There is a surprising diversity of scientific diving activities conducted through the College Park campus. They include underwater archaeological digs on the coast of Israel, marine biology and ecology research in Massachusetts, Florida and the Caribbean, and aerospace and mechanical engineering research right here on campus at the Neutral Buoyancy Research Facility. Other scientific diving operations are conducted at other University of Maryland campuses through separate diving programs. However, these campuses, like many other research institutions, have a working reciprocity with UM.

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University of Maryland, College Park Auspices Defined
UM auspices include any diving operation which UM is involved because of:
  1. The relationship with the individuals concerned Those individuals include UM faculty, staff, graduate or undergraduate employees, and unpaid volunteers
  2. Locations selected
  3. Ownership of diving equipment used
  4. Project sponsorship
     Sponsorship includes funding from outside sources through the UM Foundation
If you are involved in any diving activity that falls under any of these criteria, you must be registered with and authorized by the Diving Safety Program. Unauthorized diving is not permitted.
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Getting Registered With the Diving Safety Program
Diver performing work underwater If you have not yet registered with the Diving Safety Program, you will need to contact the Diving Safety Officer at the Department of Environmental Safety. Registration forms include a Scientific Diver Application, Medical Evaluation Forms, and Informed Consent Waiver. Other requirements such as emergency care training (First Aid, CPR, Oxygen administration) can be obtained on campus or through other local training entities. A complete list of requirements for scientific divers is available on this page or by contacting the Diving Safety Officer.
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Training Schedule - courses offered on campus and at local training facilities
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Exams - These exams must be completed by UM Scientific Divers
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Related Sites
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