2019 AAUS/CAUS Diving for Science Symposium

The 2019 AAUS Diving for Science Symposium will be held in conjunction with CAUS and co-hosted by Vancouver Aquarium (an Ocean Wise Initiative) and Simon Fraser University,  October 7-11, 2019.

We welcome diving scientists, students, diving safety officers and anyone with an interest in diving science to participate in this event. The week will be filled with technical workshops ranging from Bauer compressor technician certification, PSI and DAN courses,  diving workshops covering tethered diving and coastal BC fish identification, and instructional workshops dealing with diving safety management by the Canadian Coast Guard, situational awareness, narcosis, and much more! Following the workshop opportunities  as well as social and networking events, we will wrap up the week with the national DSO meeting, science symposium, poster session, and annual awards banquet. Additionally, we are offering a post-meeting field trip to the amazing Port Hardy!  Space is very limited so register soon to take advantage of this opportunity.

**NOTE:  All listed prices are in US Dollars unless otherwise noted. 

If you are a member of AAUS, please login before proceeding to register.  If you are not a member of AAUS, you must Create an Account to register for this meeting.  This DOES NOT give you a  membership in AAUS, simply provides a temporary account for registration.  If you wish to join as an AAUS member, please visit www.aaus.org/Join.  CAUS members who are not also AAUS members should contact CAUS for specific registration instructions if they wish to register as a CAUS member.

If participants wish to bring a guest to the Bubble Breaker, Banquet or Field Trip, they should register themselves first and then complete a separate Guest registration to purchase a Companion Ticket for those events.  

We have had a great response to many of our workshops and some are already FULL!  If you would like to be placed on a wait-list for any full workshop, please contact the AAUS office.  

When
10/7/2019 9:00 AM - 10/11/2019 10:00 PM
Where
Vancouver, BC CANADA

Program

   

Monday, 07 October 2019

Description
Reduced Situational Awareness has been shown to be the reason for the majority of poor decisions in high-risk activities. This half day session will give the attendees an appreciation of the theory behind effective SA NOTE:  This workshop has had a format change.  Please see information below from the instructor!    I know that you all wanted to get something that you could take back to your units to improve your scientific divers’ SA and so I have spoken with Vallorie and I will prepare a half-day workshop (afternoon) which she will facilitate and you will get to keep the materials for and take back to your units. As a final benefit to you all, I will also send a copy of my book ‘Under Pressure’ for each of you as there is plenty of material in there which you can use for your scientific diving supervision and team development. I hope that the half-day session and webinar provides you with some of the tools you need to help improve both the performance and the safety of the divers in your care. If you have any questions, please ask and I will see what I can do. Regards --  Gareth Lock Owner, Trainer and Coach - The Human Diver Facilitating 'counter-errorism in diving'
Time
1:30 PM - 5:00 PM
1:30 PM

Tuesday, 08 October 2019

Description
The purpose of each Bauer/JORDAIR high-pressure training course is to provide a basic understanding of the workings and the service techniques of a Bauer/JORDAIR compressor system. The level one training course covers the theory, operation and basic maintenance of our high pressure breathing air compressor systems. This One-Day program covers the most up to date regulations of the CAN-Z180.1-00CSA
Time
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
8:30 AM

Come learn to ID coastal BC fish in Howe Sound, BC. Two cold water boat dives.  Digital course package to be distributed in advance. Instructors:  Jeremy Heywood and Amanda Weltman
Time
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
8:30 AM

This 2-3 hour course offers information and inspection training specific to cleaning oxygen service cylinders.  The course has been designed by true experts and engineers in the gas industry on the subject of oxygen.  Students will be provided a Certificate of Completion. Instructor:  Mauritius Bell
Time
8:30 AM - 11:30 PM
8:30 AM

Many scientific diving entities face logistical challenges in their data collection including high currents, low visibility, and high entanglement areas. We will discuss standard practices for use of tethered scuba for scientific applications to enhance both efficiency and safety of the scientific diver. We will examine relevant regulatory requirements and applicable standards of the federal dive community (e.g., NOAA, EPA) relative to the application to scientific diving.  Lectures will provide scientific divers an overview of the use of tethered SCUBA to advance scientific data collection for specific projects.  Divers will learn how the tether can facilitate search patterns for equipment, as well provide a means to map areas being surveyed.  Tenders will learn how the tether can allow better diver monitoring, easier retrieval in the event of emergencies, and a better way of deploying a standby diver in an emergency with free swimming SCUBA divers.  Details of full face mask usage will be discussed and practiced, as well as emergency gas supply sizing and usage.  Line pull signals in the event of communication failure will be reviewed, as well as emergency procedures the diver can use if the need arises to part from the tether.  Dive planning aspects will also highlight how tethered SCUBA can minimize nitrogen load and bounce diving for many types of scientific projects. Field practical will be conducted with divers utilizing the tether tension and body positioning to move across the lake/river bottom to take samples at various locations.  Surface to diver direction will be practiced and maneuvers conducted while referencing the diver’s position relative to the tether line. Instructor: Sean Sheldrake
Time
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
8:30 AM

This 2-3 hour course provides a broad overview of valve types, valve repair and valve care and maintenance. It is approved by the valve manufacturers.  Students will be provided a Certificate of Completion. Instructor:  Mauritius Bell
Time
1:00 PM - 4:30 PM
1:00 PM

Provide participants with a chamber dive to 160 fsw to experience narcosis in a controlled environment. Followed by a lecture on reducing the risks of DCS and a chance to tour the hyperbaric facility and ask questions. Instructors: Sherri Ferguson and Meagan Able
Time
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
6:00 PM

Wednesday, 09 October 2019

Description
Participants will learn/refresh dive safety management skills and techniques with Canadian  Coast Guard Diving Safety Officer, Cameron Knight, at the Sea Island CCG Base.  Be prepared to be challenged.  Transportation provided. In-water but no SCUBA.
Time
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
8:00 AM

This program is designed to provide an orientation for new Diving Safety Officers and for existing DSO's who would like more information and an update on particulars of running a Diving Safety Program at their respective institutions or organizations.  Essential training for anyone considering accepting or assuming the role of Diving Safety Officer and planning on operating an AAUS Diving Safety Program.  Also open to non AAUS organizations who would like more information about AAUS.  This orientation is now required for any DSO new to an AAUS organizational member (must be completed within one year of hire).
Time
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
9:00 AM

EPA dive units across the country dive in polluted waters, but some also seek to avoid these conditions when diving depending on their investigation objectives.  This course will focus on both the elements of successfully planning a contaminated water dive, but also how this situation can be avoided in many cases with proper planning.  When to pre-emptively use protective equipment will be discussed and institutional practices for participating students will be discussed as far as pros and cons.  Detailed discussion will go over elements of training, medical monitoring, immunizations, equipment, and operational requirements.  GIS tool for contaminated water dive planning (and avoiding polluted waters where possible).  Elements of a gis tool developed for EPA dive operations in the NW and mid-Atlantic areas of the United States will be discussed that institutions can build for their own geographic area using primarily EPA, NOAA, and state resource agency open source elements that will be outlined. A course resource manual will be included with all presentation materials as well EPA articles on contaminated water diving for reference.  Example decontamination videos will also be available for students later use in customizing their own practical events for their dive units. Instructor:  Sean Sheldrake
Time
9:00 AM - 11:30 AM
9:00 AM

This 8 hour certification course teaches the regulations and fundamentals of conducting visual inspections of solid wall and composite SCUBA and SCBA cylinders.  The full day course is suited for those new to visual inspection well as those who have been inspecting without formal training through its wide range of inspection subjects including damage limits, neck cracking, and laws affecting inspectors.  Additionally, this course meets the OSHA and DOT requirements for employee HAZMAT training and attendants completing the course are qualified to conduct HAZMAT training for cylinder handlers .  It is recognized by USDOT, Compressed Gas Association, and cylinder manufacturers as the most comprehensive, up to date training available today on this subject. Previously certified inspectors may attend this full course under the VCIR for re-qualification (see below).  The course is open to anyone 16 years or older and no previous cylinder inspection experience is required.  Participants receive certificate as Visual Cylinder Inspectors upon course completion.
Time
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
9:00 AM

Provide participants with a chamber dive to 160 fsw to experience narcosis in a controlled environment. Followed by a lecture on reducing the risks of DCS and a chance to tour the hyperbaric facility and ask questions. Instructors: Sherri Ferguson and Meagan Able
Time
1:00 PM - 4:30 PM
1:00 PM

Reduced Situational Awareness has been shown to be the reason for the majority of poor decisions in high-risk activities. This half day session will give the attendees an appreciation of the theory behind effective SA NOTE:  This workshop has had a format change.  Please see information below from the instructor!    I know that you all wanted to get something that you could take back to your units to improve your scientific divers’ SA and so I have spoken with Vallorie and I will prepare a half-day workshop (afternoon) which she will facilitate and you will get to keep the materials for and take back to your units. As a final benefit to you all, I will also send a copy of my book ‘Under Pressure’ for each of you as there is plenty of material in there which you can use for your scientific diving supervision and team development. I hope that the half-day session and webinar provides you with some of the tools you need to help improve both the performance and the safety of the divers in your care. If you have any questions, please ask and I will see what I can do. Regards --  Gareth Lock Owner, Trainer and Coach - The Human Diver Facilitating 'counter-errorism in diving'
Time
1:30 PM - 5:00 PM
1:30 PM

VCIU - Visual Cylinder Inspector Update Seminar - This 1-2 hour update is designed to provide a current PSI-PCI trained inspector information on recent changes to cylinders and inspection standards as well as keeping you abreast of current happenings. Additionally, this update meets the OSHA and DOT 3 year retraining requirements for cylinder HAZMAT handling. Participants receive a Certificate of Attendance upon completion. Instructor: Mauritius Bell
Time
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
6:00 PM

Thursday, 10 October 2019

Description
Annual Business and DSO meeting for AAUS.
Time
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
9:00 AM

CAUS annual general meeting in the morning and combining with the AAUS DSO meeting for the afternoon session.
Time
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
9:00 AM

Annual fundraising event for the AAUS Foundation Scholarship program where we will auction and raffle off a variety of donated items and trips. Poster Session to be held concurrently.  Held at Vancouver Aquarium
Time
7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
7:00 PM

Annual fundraising event for the AAUS Foundation Scholarship program where we will auction and raffle off a variety of donated items and trips. Poster Session to be held concurrently.  Held at Vancouver Aquarium.
Time
7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
7:00 PM

Friday, 11 October 2019

Description
Join us as we hear about cutting edge research as well as training techniques in scientific diving.  You must be a full or student registrant to attend the science symposium.
Time
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
9:00 AM

Join us as we honor this year's award winners and hear from our keynote speaker in a beautiful venue!  This event is included for all full symposium attendees (no additional registration required).  Student and DSO meeting Only registrants must purchase a Companion Ticket.
Time
6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
6:00 PM

Join us as we honor this year's award winners and hear from our keynote speaker in a beautiful venue!  This Companion Ticket is for Student, DSO meeting only registrants or guests of Full registrants who would like to attend this event.
Time
6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
6:00 PM

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