BB840: Scientific Diver Course

Price:
- Students: 14,000 DKK
- Externals (non-students): 28,000 DKK
Included: Training materials, logbook, transfer to dive sites, and excursion and accommodation in Hemmoor, Germany.
Not included: Medical examination (1,500 DKK), X-ray of thorax (350 DKK), dry suit (8400 DKK+VAT), under suit and gloves.
 
Maximum number of participants: 9
Participants must send an application of motivation for entering the course which will be used in the selction process in case there are more than 9 applicants for the course.

The course has limited entry. The following 4 criterias are taken into consideration when seats are assigned.

    Students with the most ECTS from their master
    Students who are accepted conditionally on the master
    Students who follows master courses concurrent with their bachelor programme
    Bachelor students

If the score is even lots are drawn.

The academic enviroments at The faculty of science manages the prioritisation and at waiting list is established and will then be made aware from the faculty. The waiting list will not be transferred to the following year.

In order to keep the assigned seat you need to attend the first course day or notify the teacher, otherwise the seat is given to the next student from the waiting list.

04014501(former UVA) is identical with this course description. 

Students taking the course are expected to:

• Have knowledge of
  basic physics, physiology and problem solving, planning field
  experiments, data collection, appropriate analysis og data, report
  writing.

Necessary health prerequisites:
Diving medical examination, fitness test (1000 m surface swim without
fins in under 30 minutes, 2.5 km run in under 15 minutes, 25 m
underwater swim without fins, 1 minute breath holding under water).

The
following diagnoses/problems/diseases are not compatible with diving
(especially commercially): Lung Diseases, cardiovascular diseases
(syncope, valvular, arrhythmia, heart block, cardiomyopathy, intra
cardiac shunts, blood pressure >160/90 mm), neurological diseases
(epilepsy, organic brain damage/disease, fainting attacks),
ear-nose-throat (permanent or recurring disturbance of equilibrium
sense, chronic sinusitis, severe hearing impairment), diabetes, BMI>
30, some more special endocrine disorders, chronic kidney and urinary
tract diseases, chronic diseases in the gastro-intestinal tract,
psychiatric: In general, an applicant must not have or have had a
psychiatric disorder, neurosis, behavioral disorder (eg. Asperger's or
ADHD), psychotic condition, be bipolar, personality disorders, etc.,
some mild and stable successfully treated depression and less anxiety
cases may be approved if stable (> 2-5 years + a recent
statement/study by psychiatrist).

General terms and conditions
The
course must be paid one week before the date on which the course
starts. Courses are charged at the price quoted at the time of booking,
notwithstanding any change in the course price between the time of
booking and the running of the course.

Cancellation, refund, and insurance policy:
If
a course is cancelled by a student up to two weeks before the start
date, an administration fee of 20% of the full course fee will be
charged.
In case of a cancellation after the start of the course all
payments will be forfeit although the Department of Biology will do its
utmost to reposition the student on another course and transfer the
payment.

No refunds will be made for cancellations within two week
of the course start date unless exceptional circumstances prevail.
Exceptional circumstances are:

• Medical circumstances documented in a doctor’s statement.
• Severe personal circumstances

The following will result in dismissal from the course without compensation:

• Willful damage to school property;    
• Arrival at class under the influence of alcohol;
• Possession of prohibited substances;
• Repeatedly fail to act on verbal instructions of staff;
• Failure to pay all fees, deposits and invoices when they fall due;
• Failure to cooperate with the safety procedures on land and underwater;
• Unexcused absence (more than three times)

Appeals against dismissal must be lodged in written form within two weeks to the head of the Department of Biology.

The University insurance covers students during the diving course and all University diving projects.

In relation to the competence profile of the degree it is the explicit focus of the course to: Give the competence to:

• Manage
  work and development situations, independently start up and go through
  with professional teamwork and take responsibility for one´s own
  professional development and specialisation.

Give skills to:

• Dive confidently and manage underwater scientific work.
• Work as part of a team and the high importance of team work in diving operations.
• Use
  methods and techniques in underwater research (sampling of flora,
  fauna, sediments, deployment of electronic equipment, quantification of
  flora and fauna, habitat survey, transects)
• Explain and understand theory of diving (physiology, physics, safety, legislation)
• Evaluate underwater hazards and conduct risk assessments.
• Carry out diving first aid and rescue operations.
• Know how basic parts of the diving equipment works and maintenance.
• Do practical diving in open water down to 30 meters using SCUBA equipment.
• Perform
  different kind of basic tasks under water (search and rescue,
  scaffolding, rigging, use of lifting bags, use of hand tools,
  navigation)
• Do underwater communication.

Give knowledge and understanding of:

• Danish diving legislation.
• Planning and execution of underwater projects.
• Collection of data under water.
• Diving equipment use and maintenance.
• Diving physiology and physics.
• First aid.

The learning objective of the course is that the student demonstrates the ability to:

• Be able to choose the most sensible method for planning and execution of underwater scientific experiments.
• Be able to put the many sub-elements of the teaching of theory and training into a larger picture.
• Obtain good practical skills and mechanical understanding.
• Use and comply with the regulations of the Danish diving legislation.
• Explain relevant theories, regulations and methods.
• Be responsible.
• Show initiative.
• Show a positive attitude for solving tasks and during teamwork.
• Stay in good physical and mental shape.
• Participate actively in the teaching and training.

The teaching is divided between engaging lectures, where the students are participating actively through small excercises, and practidcal training. During the practical training the connections to the lectures are often highlighted. In addition the class gives many opportunities for discussions during the teachers, both during theoretical and practical parts of the class.

• Diving excercises, including emergency drills and actively searching for equipment under water.