Scientific diving

• Recommended by a Belgian University or a Belgian research laboratory or equivalent
• For BSD, be at least diver level two with any diving training agency (CMAS 2* diver or equivalent like PADI Rescue all based on ISO24801-2)
• For BSD show proof (logbook scan copies) of 50 dives when registering to the course including 15 dives conducted between 15 and 24m with 5 dives conducted deeper than 25m
• Show proof (scan copy) of a current first aid certificate for basic life support AND oxygen first aid administration.
• Having a medical certificate for occupational diving (RD compliant) not older than a year at the date of the end of the course.
• Proof of insurance covering the applicant for the professional scientific diving activity.
• It is recommended that the applicant have all his own diving gear, excluding tank and weight but including a BCD type wing of minimum 250N of buoyancy and including a minimum of three metallic D-Rings always accessible during the dive.
• When accepted for the training, the applicant must show on the 15 August of the year they apply for training a minimum of 14 dives executed during that year and preferably in Belgian waters (including Zelande) or Mediterranean sea.

for all BSD and ABSD:

• proof of at least 60 dives in the past 5 years of which 30 scientific dives
  A refresh course will need to be taken if no dive activity have been done in the past 18 months.
• CPR certification (first aid and O2 administration) not older than 2 years at the moment of renewal and delivered by an organisation which takes into account the rules of ERC (European Resuscitation Council).

additional for ABSD:

• proof of at least 5 dive activities at ABSD level in the past 5 years and at least 1 in the past year
  ABSD divers not able to comply with this rule will be renewed at BSD level.
• the ABSD course will be organised on demand, the concerned institution will have to support all costs for this training and can contact the BWGSD for details and organisation.

All needed documents (copy of logbook(s), CPR certification, proof of ABSD) together with a cover letter explaining how you fulfil the requirements for the renewal based on the documents you provide. For the dives, list the 60 dives, including the dive number in the logbooks.
For the scientific dives, we only accept copy of the official BELSPO logbook fully filled according to the document.
Reminder: A scientific dive is dive organised by a recognised scientific institution and including a scientific task. The scientific institution signs the concerned dive.

All documents need to be sent on time to scientific_diving@belspo.be  

Participation in the continuous training is an opportunity to present you with new techniques, to keep up to date with existing techniques and to operate scientific dives that some of you miss. You are strongly encouraged to participate at least one by year. When organised, those scientific dives are advertised throughout the BSD email list, and your mission order stipulating your participation in a training scientific dive is required for participation .

The ABSD assessment and the North Sea training/assessment is organised at the demand of the scientific institution members of the BWGSD.