The goal of the Finnish Divers’ Federation''s Citizen Science Diver course is to teach the basics of the scientific approach as well as the methodology of sub-aquatic scientific work. The course prepares divers to act as members of scientific diving teams using proper equipment and techniques, and to understand legal aspects and responsibilities relevant to scientific diving. The training includes communication, documentation, mapping, and surveying under water as well as the handling of basic scientific tools.

The course covers 15 hours of f2f-theory, dyykki e-learning, and 8 open water dives with varying task loads. 

Participants in the FDF Citizen Science Diver course must be at least 15 years old. There is no upper age limit. The candidate must have:

• A valid membership of a FDF member club or a personal membership of the FDF or is registered with the FDF through a corporate member of the FDF.
• CMAS Two Star Diver, or an equivalent training certificate issued by another internationally
  recognized diving training organization.
• Advanced skills: good position control and multi-tasking ability.
• Medical diving fitness, as determined by either a medical self-assessment form or a medical certificate “fit-for-diving”.
• Written permission from the guardian if the student is a minor.

FDF recommends before participation in the course to consider advanced skills or technical skills training.

The participation requires the use of own gear.

The course will be conducted in Espoo, Kirkkonummi, and Siuntio. This is a pilot, meaning that the course has not been tested before and this is the actual test. Therefore there will be a discount of 70% on the fee. The normal course fee is 350€, hence this course comes for 100€. 

The course contains:

Human Factor workshop.

The heart of the human factors workshop is an in-depth analysis of a dive accident described in the documentary “If Only” by Gareth Lock.

The documentary around Brian Bugge’s death focuses on several aspects concerning human factors, human error, non-technical skills, psychological safety and creating a Just Culture. These are themes and concepts which have been developed over many years in aviation because of the severe consequences of things going wrong -concepts which have not been formally accepted in diver training programmes or operations.

The workshop is following the field guide provided by The Human Diver, author Gareth Lock.

Open water research dives.

The eight dives are done on four days grouped on two weekends. The dives are prepared by detailed briefings and dry land exercises. 

Dive 1: Basic skills review and application.

The students will use a lift bag to lower a datum with a weight to the bottom following a shot line. The students will then move the datum to a place nearby and use a radial line for documenting detail points in several directions, e.g. 0°, 45°, 90°, 180°, and 270°. The detail points will be labelled and photographed.

The students will demonstrate buoyancy and position control while replacing the mask and sharing gas. They also demonstrate their ability of moving in the water close to the ground with a minimum of silting. 

Dive 2: Transect, visual and video survey.

Students deploy a transect from a defined starting point in a predefined compass direction. They conduct a video transect with camera as well as a visual survey with wet notes for recording. Students take turns in handling the tape and collecting data with the two methods. The data from the video recording will be analysed on screen after the dive.

Dive 3: Population density using the (photo) quadrat. 

Students deploy a transect from a defined starting point in a predefined compass direction. They place quadrats at defined distances along the transect and collect data by visual assessment with wet notes for recording or with a camera. Students take turns in handling the tape and collecting data with the two methods. The data from the photographic images will be analysed on screen after the dive.

Dive 4: Collecting data using a baseline and offset measurements.

Students deploy a baseline across a site from a defined starting point in a predefined direction. They conduct a survey collecting data/samples from predefined locations along the line and at given offset. Alternatively, a wreckage is sketched using a baseline and measured offsets. The airlift will be used either for sampling or excavation. 

Dive 5: Building a grid of nine squares.

Students build a 3x3m grid of nine squares using lines on spools. The students count detail points and assess the parameter of the grid (orientation and depth) recording the result on wet notes. 

The grid is documented by photography or videography allowing to assess the data as photo quadrat and possibly creating a 3D model using Metashape software.

Dive 6: Tethered diver and search.

The students will learn how to work with a tethered diver. The session includes attaching a line to the diver, line protocol enabling signalling, communication via the line by signalling. The students will practice sector search and parallel search.

Dive 7: Use of underwater navigation system and data logger.

The students will use an UNS for underwater orientation. One or several data logger are deployed or found and accessed underwater (the logger is either activated or data are retrieved).

Dive 8: Do your own project.

The students will collaborate in defining a small project involving one research dive. The project and dive are planned, executed, and processed. 

Debriefing and outlook. 

The students will engage with the instructor in a feedback session. The session is intended to be conducted in an open and psychologically safe atmosphere to enhance learning. It will be structured according to the DEBrIEF model developed by Garet