2006 Annual Meeting and Arctic Forum | Abstracts

Scientific Diving Under Ice: A 40-Year Bipolar Research Tool

Michael A. Lang¹, Adam G. Marsh², Martin D. Sayer^3
1Office of the Under Secretary for Science, Smithsonian Institution, PO Box 37012 - MRC 415, Washington, DC, 20013-7012, USA, Phone 202-786-2815, Fax 202-357-4048, langm@si.edu
²College of Marine Studies, University of Delaware, Lewes, DE, 19958, USA, amarsh@udel.edu
³Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory, Scottish Association for Marine Science, Dunbeg, Oban, Argyll, -, PA371QA, UK, martin.sayer@sams.ac.uk

The 40-year history of scientific diving under ice validates its effectiveness as a research tool in increasing our knowledge of polar science. The conduct of underwater research in extreme environments requires special consideration of scientific diving equipment design and maintenance, diver training and operational procedures, and human physiological factors. National scientific diving programs of the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, and Germany share a common risk management approach in this regard and will likely increase their research diving activities and network in support of the International Polar Year.

In 2003 and 2005, under-ice training courses for diving scientists were conducted in Ny-Alesund, Svalbard, which will continue in March 2007. Formalized scientific diving drysuit training in the U.S. is conducted through the Smithsonian Institution and Scripps Institution of Oceanography and is available in the U.K. through the National Facility for Scientific Diving. The U.S. Antarctic Program (National Science Foundation) and the British Antarctic Survey (Natural Environment Research Council) scientific diving exposures in support of underwater research enjoy a remarkable safety record and scientific productivity. A greater understanding and mitigation of the physiological impacts of cold-water diving and advances in diving equipment technologies have evolved to support underwater polar scientific research. Overall, diving in extreme polar environments is challenging, and underwater research beneath the ice is only possible with a significant allocation of logistical support and resources to ensure personnel safety. Scientific diving has been an essential research tool in the production of some of the milestone polar publications of the past 40 years.