Scientific Diving Techniques in Restricted Overhead Environments
doi:10.3723/ut.31.013 International Journal of the Society for Underwater Technology, Vol 31, No 1, pp 13–19, 2012 per Scientific diving techniques in restricted overhead environments *1,2 3 4 1 Giorgio Caramanna , Pirkko Kekäläinen , Jouni Leinikki and Mercedes Maroto-Valer Pa Technical 1Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK 2Italian Association of Scientific Divers (AIOSS), Italy 3University of Helsinki, Finland 4Alleco Ltd, Finland Abstract applications (Auster et al., 1988; Auster, 1997; Scientific diving is an extremely useful tool for supporting Norcross and Mueter, 1999; Sarradin et al., 2002; research in environments with restricted access, where Bovio et al., 2006; Bowen et al., 2007), they cannot remotely operated or autonomous underwater vehicles can- always replace the presence of a scientific diver with not be used. However, these environments tend to be close regard to the quality and reliability of collected data. to the surface and require the application of advanced diving There are also environments, such as caves, under- techniques to ensure that the research is conducted within ice areas, springs or small lakes, in which access can acceptable safety parameters. The two main techniques be restricted and difficult to enter, and where use of discussed are under-ice and cave diving; for each environ- automated systems can be either complex or impos- ment the specific hazards are reviewed and methods for sible to achieve. Some of these restricted environ- mitigating the concomitant risks are detailed. It is concluded ments have related potential hazards for diving that that scientific diving operations in these environments can have to be correctly identified and addressed in be conducted to acceptable risk levels; however, risk man- agement strategies must outline precisely when and where order to guarantee that the underwater research is diving operations are to be prohibited or terminated.
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