SDI Research Diver £140

The purpose of this specialty course is to acquaint the open water diver with the fascinating topic of research diving. After the completion of this course, a diver will be better able to discover, explore, and appreciate the underwater environment by using research techniques and better preserve and protect the underwater environment.

Learning and combining specialties such as the SDI Shore Diver and SDI Research Diver, can improve not only your diving, but also some very rare and unique chances in discovering something new. An example being… one of our instructors Ryan Hunnisett, was interviewed by the BBC in 2018 having discovered lost anchors and cannons, that belonged to the wreck of ‘The President’, which hadn’t been seen for over 400 years!

Who this course is for:

  • The certified diver looking to learn research techniques used during diving and to learn more about the underwater world including the environment and the aquatic life

Course prerequisites:

  • SDI Open Water Scuba Diver, or equivalent

  • Minimum age 18, 15 with parental consent

What you can expect to learn:

The SDI Research Diver Course takes an in-depth look at all of the following and more:

  • Water environment, fresh and salt water

    • Ecology

    • Food chains

    • Habitat

    • Niche

    • Interactions with other forms

    • Basic oceanography

    • Coral reefs

    • Kelp

    • Bays and open coast

  • The marine animals

    • Fishes

    • Mollusks

    • Invertebrates

    • Mammals

    • Dangerous animals

  • Diving methodology

    • Collection of data

    • Detailed mapping techniques

    • Survey methodology

    • Marking and capturing

    • Research for sport

  • Conservation

Some of the required skills you will have to demonstrate include:

  • Plan dives

  • Test and check all equipment

  • Enter and descend

  • Compass usage

  • Familiarization with the area and ecology

  • Area survey/research techniques

  • Marine life identification

  • Record data

  • Log dives

What’s in it for you?

Upon successful completion of this course, graduates may engage in diving activities without direct supervision of the SDI Instructor so long as the following limits are adhered to:

  • The diving activities approximate those of training

  • The areas of activities approximate those of training

  • Environmental conditions approximate those of training

Also, the SDI Research Diver certification counts towards a single specialty rating to achieve the SDI Advanced Diver Development Program.

SDI Research Diver minimum requirements:

  • Complete all open water requirements efficiently

  • Demonstrate mature and sound judgment concerning dive planning and execution

Before Ryan Hunnisett was a Diving Instructor, he was a Marine Biologist for many years. Here he is back in 2014 returning from a survey dive in Falmouth looking for a very rare species of fish.