Our Scientific Diving Program
The Calabash Caye Field Station (CCFS) operates under the guidelines of its new Scientific Diving Program as outlined by the American Association of Underwater Sciences (AAUS). The program only permits scientific diving at CCFS and prohibits recreational diving.
Scientific diving is defined as diving performed solely as a necessary part of a scientific, research, or educational activity by employees of a University whose sole purpose for diving is to perform scientific research tasks. Construction and trouble-shooting tasks traditionally associated with commercial diving are not included within scientific diving.
The purpose of the Scientific Diving Standards is to ensure that all scientific diving at the University of Belize (UB), its Environmental Research Institute (ERI) and the CCFS is conducted in a manner that maximizes protection of divers from accidental injury and/or illness and to set forth standards for training and certification that will allow a working reciprocity between organizational members. Hence, the ultimate goal of the Scientific Diving Program is safety of divers, their buddies, the project, the project’s members, the University and visiting scientific divers. The standards followed are based on accepted safe diving practices and failure in compliance may result in exclusion of medical benefits. The standards set for the establishment of the UB/ERI scientific Diving Program can be reviewed in the Manual "Scientific Diving Program and Standards for Scientific Diving" adapted from the AAUS Standards for Scientific Diving 2011.
Any AAUS Organization can apply for permission to dive under the auspices of UB/ERI by submitting to the UB/ERI Dive Safety Officer (DSO) a Letter of Reciprocity (LOR) containing information such as dive level certification, last medical examination, depth certification and dive restrictions. The LOR must be signed by the Dive Safety Officer (DSO) or Dive Chairperson of the home Dive Control Board. Universities conducting scientific diving at CCFS must also submit a Dive Plan to the DSO which outlines the diver’s purpose, diving roster and safety measures in place. This plan must be submitted in writing no later than 10 days prior to arrival or planned commencement of diving operations to allow sufficient time for review and adjustment if necessary. For those traveling to CCFS from outside the country, it is recommended that dive plans be submitted for approval prior to the purchase of flight tickets for those who will be involved.
Organizations that conduct scientific diving but are not member institutions of AAUS will still be able to dive at CCFS, however there will be additional levels of paperwork and screening prior to approval of dive plans. In some instances, check-out dives may be needed. All persons who are representing organizations who are NOT AAUS member institutions, will be requested to provide proof of DAN basic insurance.
Scientific diving is defined as diving performed solely as a necessary part of a scientific, research, or educational activity by employees of a University whose sole purpose for diving is to perform scientific research tasks. Construction and trouble-shooting tasks traditionally associated with commercial diving are not included within scientific diving.
The purpose of the Scientific Diving Standards is to ensure that all scientific diving at the University of Belize (UB), its Environmental Research Institute (ERI) and the CCFS is conducted in a manner that maximizes protection of divers from accidental injury and/or illness and to set forth standards for training and certification that will allow a working reciprocity between organizational members. Hence, the ultimate goal of the Scientific Diving Program is safety of divers, their buddies, the project, the project’s members, the University and visiting scientific divers. The standards followed are based on accepted safe diving practices and failure in compliance may result in exclusion of medical benefits. The standards set for the establishment of the UB/ERI scientific Diving Program can be reviewed in the Manual "Scientific Diving Program and Standards for Scientific Diving" adapted from the AAUS Standards for Scientific Diving 2011.
Any AAUS Organization can apply for permission to dive under the auspices of UB/ERI by submitting to the UB/ERI Dive Safety Officer (DSO) a Letter of Reciprocity (LOR) containing information such as dive level certification, last medical examination, depth certification and dive restrictions. The LOR must be signed by the Dive Safety Officer (DSO) or Dive Chairperson of the home Dive Control Board. Universities conducting scientific diving at CCFS must also submit a Dive Plan to the DSO which outlines the diver’s purpose, diving roster and safety measures in place. This plan must be submitted in writing no later than 10 days prior to arrival or planned commencement of diving operations to allow sufficient time for review and adjustment if necessary. For those traveling to CCFS from outside the country, it is recommended that dive plans be submitted for approval prior to the purchase of flight tickets for those who will be involved.
Organizations that conduct scientific diving but are not member institutions of AAUS will still be able to dive at CCFS, however there will be additional levels of paperwork and screening prior to approval of dive plans. In some instances, check-out dives may be needed. All persons who are representing organizations who are NOT AAUS member institutions, will be requested to provide proof of DAN basic insurance.
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Volunteer Programs Include:
The UB ERI promotes and conducts research to provide a sound scientific basis for the management of the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve (TAMR) under the following areas:
Sustainable Fisheries & Aquaculture (for both TAMR and Sea cucumber aquaculture) Coral Reefs Climate Change Coastal Ecosystems Invasive Species Ocean Research Endangered Marine Species All diving at CCFS is conducted through an AAUS Certified Scientific Diving Program. CCFS also offers summer Internship positions to students from tertiary level institutions to participate in these research and monitoring programs, and to gain invaluable field experience. |
In addition to research there are various long-term monitoring programs conducted at the CCFS, including:
Coral reef, mangrove, seagrass ecosystem monitoring Coral bleaching monitoring Coral Spawning Monitoring of herbivores Lionfish monitoring Seagrass Net Monitoring Fish Spawning Aggregations (SPAGs) Fisheries monitoring |