Mission
The purpose of the Old Dominion University
Academic Diving Program (ODU ADP) is to ensure that all scientific diving
conducted by ODU faculty, staff, and students is conducted in a manner
that will maximize their protection from accidental injury and/or illness,
and to set forth standards for training and certification that will
allow a working reciprocity between Old Dominion University and other
American Academy of Underwater Scientists (AAUS) member organizations.
The Occupational Health and Safety Organization (OSHA) classifies scientific
diving as “a necessary part of a scientific, research, or educational
activity by employees whose sole purpose for diving is to perform scientific
research tasks. Scientific diving does not include tasks associated
with commercial diving such as: rigging heavy objects underwater, inspection
of pipelines, construction, demolition, cutting or welding, or the use
of explosives. According to OSHA’s Code of Federal Regulations
(29CFR 1910.401 (2) (iv), OSHA has determined that an organization participating
in scientific diving may be exempt from the regulations that govern
commercial diving activities provided certain criteria are met. In 1982,
OSHA exempted scientific diving from commercial diving regulations (29CFR1910,
Subpart T). The final guidelines for the exemption became effective
in 1985 (Federal Register, Vol. 50, No.6, p.1046). The criteria set
by OSHA and are enforced through the AAUS, a professional organization
of diving scientists recognized by OSHA as the national organization
charged with regulating and certifying local chapters for scientific
diving. The Old Dominion University Academic Dive Program operates under
the auspices and in compliance with AAUS standards. Additional regulations
that extend the minimum standards established by AAUS may be adopted
by Old Dominion University.
