James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2004

Offerings
View how MB5005 is offered in 2004

(Also shows pre-requisites and inadmissible combinations if applicable)

MB5005:03

Scientific Diving and Diving Physiology

Townsville

HECS Band 2

56 hours lectures, 24 hours field work. July/August block mode.

Available ONLY to students enrolled in GCertSc, GDipSc, GDipResMeth, MAppSc and MSc. Students must pass a swim test, dive medical (AS2299 Standard), PADI Open Water Diver (or equivalent), show proof of number of dives completed.

A two-week intensive subject on diving physiology of marine mammals and practical training in the skills required for certification as a scientific diver. Topics discussed will include diving physics, diving physiology (eg seals, penguins, whales), use of dive tables, boat handling, underwater navigation and dive-related first aid. Practical skills developed will include rescue skills, safe deep and multi-level diving procedures, boat handling, radio procedures, knot tying, compressor operation and maintenance and SCUBA equipment maintenance. Students successfully completing the subject will be certified as scientific divers with endorsements depending on past experience.

Learning Objectives:

understand physiological mechanisms and specialisations used by marine mammals to accomplish deep and prolonged diving;

understand how SCUBA diving impacts human physiological processes and how to avert the types of health problems that can arise;

understand how to plan deep and multi-level dive profiles for designing safe research diving programs;

gain practical skills in rescue operations, first aid;

gain practical skills in boat handling, radio procedures, compressor operation and maintenance, SCUBA equipment maintenance, knot tying;

gain certification as a scientific diver.

Assessment by quizzes (20%); seminar (20%); practical pool and open water diving tests (30%); essays (30%).