American Academy of Underwater Sciences

The American Academy of Underwater Sciences, organized in 1977, submitted arguments to OSHA for an ANPR on October 15, 1979 citing self regulation and consensual standards for over 20 years, and an accident incidence rate lower than the Commercial Diving Industry. After extensive negotiation and Congressional Hearings, a final ruling was issued, effective November 28, 1982, granting a scientific exemption. Scientific diving means diving performed solely as a necessary part of a scientific activity by employees whose sole purpose for diving is to perform scientific research tasks. Scientific diving does not include tasks generally associated with commercial diving. One of the primary contributions of the AAUS to the Scientific Diving Community is the promulgation of The AAUS Standards for Scientific Diving Certification and Operation of Scientific Diving Programs. A consensual guideline for scientific diving programs, this document is currently the Standard of the scientific divin...