HSA’s scientific dive team provides natural resource services for various archaeological and ecological projects. Our diverse team is comprised of marine scientists, ecologists, geologists, coastal engineers, and archaeologists. HSA’s scientific divers have been involved in dives for a wide range of projects, including long-term ecological monitoring, coral reef and seagrass studies, marina sitings and mitigation, underwater archaeological assessments, habitat restoration, assessment of ship grounding impacts, expert witness testimony, and submarine fiber-optic telecommunication and power cables installation support, and environmental compliance.
HSA’s scientific divers are trained pursuant to the protocol set forth by the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS), fulfilling the scientific diving criteria (exemption from commercial diving standards) required by OSHA. Training of the scientific divers occurs on a regular basis, with team members participating in various classroom and field training activities and dives. Topics include animal and plant identification and ecology, site monitoring, underwater photography and videography, data gathering techniques, experimental methods, collecting, installation of scientific apparatus, scientific dive planning, and small boat operations. In addition to the standard SCUBA, HSA divers are trained and certified in mixed-gas and surface-supplied air diving. All HSA divers are trained in dive safety, first aid, CPR, O2 administration, and diver rescue.
Services provided:
- Aquifer and spring mapping
- Archaeological surveys
- Artificial reef module design and deployment
- Benthic habitat mapping and monitoring
- Coral reef and seagrass impact and injury assessments
- Coral transplantation feasibility studies
- Emergency triage and restoration
- Essential fish habitat surveys
- Expert witness testimony
- Permit support
- Pure and applied seagrass and coral reef research