Diving

If you are diving, you must follow the guidelines of your faculty.

Always dive in pairs, not alone.

The full details for diving at the University are covered in the Diving Code of Practice. To find out where to find this, contact the Institute of Marine Science's Business and Operations Manager.

To become registered as a diver for research projects:

For students, volunteers and visiting researchers registering as Restricted scientific divers. (See page 47/48 appendix A in the Code of Practice for definition).

• Dive qualification, Padi Rescue diver or equivalent
• A completed UoA dive registration form
• A current dive medical from a dive doctor 
• A current first aid training certificate
• A current 02 training certificate
• A check out dive with the dive officer
• Proof of diving experience (logged dives)
• A full kit of functional and serviced scuba diving equipment for temperate water diving. 12 to 22 degrees celsius.

For work staff, divers who wish to be paid, and visiting divers wishing to register as Scientific Divers. (See page 47/48 appendix A for definition).

• Dive training to the 2815.6 standard as outlined in 2299.2 Appendix A
• A Certificate of Competence(CoC) from Worksafe NZ
• A completed UoA dive registration form
• A current dive medical from a dive doctor 
• A current first aid training certificate
• A current 02 training certificate
• A check out dive with the dive officer. (This may not be needed if proof or experience is considered adequate)
• Proof of diving experience (logged dives)
• A full kit of functional and serviced scuba diving equipment for temperate water diving 12 to 22 degrees celcius.

If you are a student, your diving is not classified as occupational, provided you do not generate any taxable revenue as a result of these activities.

You need to be registered as a scientific diver with the University of Auckland. To do so, you should contact the Dive Safety Officer (contact details below) to begin the process.

Research projects involving diving

New students for whom diving is part of their research requirement must complete dive registration and then work with their supervisor to develop an overall dive proposal.

This must outline what their project is, and what they plan to do. This is submitted to the dive officer a month in advance of planned diving.

This plan will be signed off and used as a template for daily diving activity throughout the project.

Brady Doak is our Dive Safety Officer and any dive proposals will need to be submitted to him for approval well ahead of time to allow for revision and approval.

Email Brady, the Dive Safety Officer: b.doak@auckland.ac.nz.

• Dive coordinator. Person in charge of the day's diving activities.  The coordinator prepares the dive plan and ensures it has been approved by the dive officer. The dive coordinator can also act as a dive leader, diver, standby diver or dive attendant. The coordinator is to be an experienced diver who is first aid trained and familiar with the intended diving operations and relevant emergency procedures.
• Dive leader. The diver in charge of an individual dive (this can be the dive coordinator or someone else appointed by the dive coordinator).
• Standby diver. A standby diver shall be present whenever a single diver is in the water (tethered mode, see below). A standby diver is not required when more than one diver is in the water (as buddy divers must maintain visual contact and technically act as each
  other’s standby).

Note: A dive coordinator, dive leader and standby diver must be a registered 'scientific diver' or 'visiting scientific diver' at the University (i.e. not a 'restricted scientific diver').

• Dive attendant. A person who stays on the boat to coordinate diving activities. Must be first aid trained and familiar with diving operations and emergency procedures.

Because boating often goes hand-in-hand with diving, it's important to know and follow our boating safety requirements.