drbill:
I'm curious. Do you think the benefits of AAUS membership are worth it? I've given thought to joining myself.
Dr. Bill
That's a
Very Good Question, Dr Bill.
The short answer, for me anyway, is yes.
In reality, you have to weigh the benefits of AAUS with the amount of effort necessary to qualify
for Scientific Diver status. In my case, my "certification" comes via an organizational membership
(via
Manta Pacific Research Foundation). I'm on the Diving Safety Board for that organization.
Being over 40 meant that I needed a very comprehensive physical examination, which represented
an invesment in both money and time (and not a little bit of arguing with various health care providers
about
why I wanted all of these tests).
MPRF's collaberation with a researcher at the
University of Hawaii requires AAUS membership in order
to dive on research projects / vessels affiliated with UH. Rather than trying to figure out how to
become a scientific diver under UH's organizational membership (I'm neither student [
shudder] nor
faculty there), MPRF set about setting up their own program.
There was a
lot of effort that went into that - preparation of a diving safety manual, documenting
procedures, setting up a diving safety board. AAUS provides some templates as well as "signing off"
on the finished products. Once you have an AAUS-accepted program you're exempted from OSHA
commercial diving regulations. This is perhaps the most tangible benefit to AAUS membership. But
equally important is the ability for research divers to gain reciprocity with other research organizations
who meet the same core standards.
Feel free to pm me if you'd like more information -
