Proceedings of Advanced Scientific Diving Workshop: February 23-24, 2006, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC

Abstract

FINDINGS:

For sub-saturation diving exposures: • There is a national need for scientific divers to perform research at depths beyond the 190 fsw compressed air scuba limit. • CCRs and open-circuit trimix are currently being used in the scientific community. • Properly controlled mixed gas surface-supplied diving offers a reduced-risk method to conduct such dives. • Some marine science objectives may not be met by surface-supplied diving. • Surface-supplied/supported CCRs and SCRs warrant further consideration. • Scientific diving beyond 190 fsw will require increased funding allocations. • There are increased DCS risks associated with deep mixed gas dives. • Mixed gas diving requires adequate thermal protection.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

• A phased program using existing assets should be initiated, starting with training exposure of scientists to standard air surface-supplied diving. • Appropriate operational and emergency response methods, including consideration of on-site chamber availability, need to be incorporated to mitigate the increased DCS risks. • Existing military and commercial decompression procedures are acceptable; consideration should be given to the development of new decompression procedures to better fit the scientific diving mission. • Mixed gas diver selection, training and proficiency requirements are necessarily more stringent than for air diving