The aim of this course is to provide the basic knowledge and the skills to those divers and researchers willing to participate in the preparation and the carrying out of underwater survey campaigns.

Specific objectives of the course are:

• the development of knowledge and skills for the use of maps and diagrams in underwater researches;
• the introduction in the procedures of planning and organizing an underwater survey campaign;
• the familiarization with the particular skills, procedures and techniques applicable to an underwater survey project;
• the understanding and the recognition of potential problems and risks associated with underwater surveying and
• the capacity building for coordinating and cooperating with the crew members of an underwater survey project.

• Scientists with special interest either underwater or around water bodies (ecologists, geologists, biologists, historians, archaeologists, shipbuilders, engineers et al.)
• Divers with an interest to specialize in scientific diving, in order to widen their diving skills and promote their activities.

This course is specifically addressed to divers, who would like to develop their knowledge and skills in scientific diving and learn how to apply scientific diving methodologies in projects aiming at the surveying of natural and cultural features.

Training Requirements

Participants have to be Advanced Open Water Divers (PADI certification or equivalent), before the beginning of the course and prove experience of at least ten logged dives during the last year or one Peak Performance Buoyancy Adventure Dive and one Search and Recovery Adventure Dive.

Each participant should have personal diving equipment consisting of:

• Fins, mask, snorkel
• Buoyancy Compensator Device (low pressure inflation mechanism)
• Regulator with alternate air source
• Pressure gauge
• Depth gauge
• Quick release weight system
• Diving suit (appropriate for local diving conditions)
• Surface sound signalling device (whistle)
• Diving computer or RDP tables
• Time watch
• Compass
• Diving knife
• Diving reel
• Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) or Delayed Surface Buoy (DSMB)

In case some of the participants do not own items from the aforementioned (mandatory) personal diving equipment, they will be able to rent the necessary equipment from the Dive Center that will be supporting the course.

Participant selection

Participants will be selected based on the relevance of their scientific background with course objectives, aiming to a multidisciplinary approach and the involvement of a variety of scientific fields.

Relevance will be assessed through a motivation letter and a short CV that will be submitted by the candidates. In the event that there are more than one candidates with similar qualification the choice will be made based on the date and time of the application (whichever application was submitted first).

As soon as the applications are processed, candidates will be notified that they were selected and will be asked to verify their availability. In case someone is not going to follow the course, the candidate next in line will take the position.

The minimum number of participants will be 12, while the maximum will be 18. If there are more than 18 candidates or there is an expression of interest after the completion of the course, the course will be repeated at a time and place that will be then announced.

Time and place

There are two options:

• The course will be held in AUTH Summer Camp Facilities in Kalandra, Chalkidiki from August 24th (24/08) to September 1st (01/09) in the form of a short summer school.
• The course will be carried out in Thessaloniki from October 7th (07/10) to October 25th (25/10) in the form of a seminar (with the necessary excursions to Chalkidiki for the open water sessions).

The duration of the project is eighty-one (81) teaching hours and the participants will be accredited four (4) ECTS units.

The course consists of three main sections. The first one relates to the knowledge development, the second one to the development of diving skills (dry and confined water sessions) and the third one to the application of developed knowledge and skills at open water conditions. After the completion of each section follows an assessment procedure.

Evaluation

Evaluation of participants will be carried out in the following way:

• By the end of the first section follows an overall written assessment (examination).
• The assessment of participants during the second section will be conducted in confined water (as a “mini-dive”), by adopting a scenario for an underwater survey and in order to evaluate their mastery in developed skills.
• During the last section assessment of participants will be completed after the submission of a fieldwork report of the performed underwater survey and the review of a technical paper for the presentation of their results.

Successful competition of the course results in a Lifelong Learning diploma from AUTH, along with a PADI Underwater Survey Diver (Distinctive Specialty) certification.

For more information, please contact: paki@auth.gr, +302310996108.