Dutch Scientific Diving

About

Scientific diving

Within several leading Dutch research institutes and universities, scientific diving is an important aspect of the marine biological and biodiversity research. The Dutch National Scientific Diving Committee was initiated in the summer of 2021 by representatives from the main Universities and Research Institutes involved in scientific diving in the Netherlands.

Intelligent monitoring system

“Scientific diving supports professional research and education as well as the protection, conservation and monitoring of the natural and cultural environment. It is a highly-productive, cost-effective research tool. Scientific diving is quite different from recreational or commercial diving. It provides the technical capability to be an "intelligent monitoring system", greatly extending the possibilities of ship supported/based monitoring techniques. Scientific diving exists in a health and safety framework that involves certified scientific divers, diving officers, scientific project leaders, heads of laboratories, administrators and legislators.” - European Marine Board

The Dutch National Scientific Diving Committee aims to

1. Implement safe scientific diving practices & protocols based on European recognized certification,
2. Offer scientific diving training and education following ESD standards,
3. Advance underwater scientific excellence,
4. Promote international cooperation.

The Dutch National Scientific Diving Committee is also the contact point for Dutch Scientific Diving in the Netherlands, where people can turn to for information and advice.

The Dutch National Scientific Diving Committee members have the ambition to bring Dutch Scientific Diving to European standards via the European recognized certification and diving protocol, or to comparable international standards. This will also guarantee safety for collaborating scientists from connected countries and students who want to do a diving research project. Since the summer of 2021 the Dutch National Scientific Diving Committee is represented in the European Scientific Diving Panel as a candidate member.

Organisation

The Dutch National Scientific Diving Committee consists of a Steering Group (DNSDC-SG) and an Expert Group (DNSDC-EG).

The DNSDC-SG is formed by directors representing the scientific institutes. The DNSDC-SG is in contact with Dutch ministries to discuss the need for official recognition and regulation of scientific diving in the Netherlands.

The DNSDC-EG consists of scientific diving and ARBO experts and is responsible for the design of the first national Dutch Scientific Diving protocol based on European scientific diving qualification standards.

Participants

Dutch National Scientific Diving Committee

The Dutch National Scientific Diving Committee was initiated in the summer of 2021 by representatives from the main Universities and Research Institutes involved in scientific diving in the Netherlands.

The Dutch National Scientific Diving Committee Steering Group is formed by management representatives of the supporting scientific institutes. The DNSDC-SG is in contact with Dutch ministries to discuss the need for official recognition and regulation of scientific diving in the Netherlands.

The Dutch National Scientific Diving Committee Expert Group consists of scientific diving and ARBO experts and is responsible for the design of the first national Dutch scientific diving protocol based on European scientific diving qualification standards.

Dutch National Scientific Diving Committee - Steering group

Annemarie van Wezel
ChairInstitute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem DynamicsUniversity of Amsterdam

Rosa van der Ven
SecretaryDepartment of Animal Sciences (WUR-ASG)Wageningen University & Research

Tinka Murk
Department of Animal Sciences (WUR-ASG)Wageningen University & Research

Maaike van de Kamp-Romijn
Scientific director of Research & EducationNaturalis Biodiversity Center

Rampal Etienne
Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES)University of Groningen

Han Doleman
Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NWO-NIOZ)

Dutch National Scientific Diving Committee - Expert group

Rosa van der Ven
ChairDepartment of Animal Sciences (WUR-ASG)Wageningen University & Research

Sancia van der Meij
Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES)University of Groningen

Mark Vermeij
CARMABI Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem DynamicsUniversity of Amsterdam

Andreas Haas
Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ)

Jasper de Goeij
Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem DynamicsUniversity of Amsterdam

Willem Renema
Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem DynamicsUniversity of AmsterdamNaturalis Biodiversity Center

Ben Müller
Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem DynamicsUniversity of Amsterdam

Erik Wurz
Department of Animal Sciences (WUR-ASG)Wageningen University & Research

Coordination and organization of Dutch National Scientific Diving Committee

Tinka Murk
Department of Animal Sciences (WUR-ASG)Wageningen University & Research

Rosa van der Ven
Department of Animal Sciences (WUR-ASG)Wageningen University & Research

Dutch representatives European Scientific Diving Panel (ESDP)

Tinka Murk
Department of Animal Sciences (WUR-ASG)Wageningen University & Research

Rosa van der Ven
Department of Animal Sciences (WUR-ASG)Wageningen University & Research

Dive Safety Officers

Andreas Haas
Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ)

Sancia van der Meij
Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES)University of Groningen

Merijn Schuurmans
Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem DynamicsUniversity of Amsterdam

Erik Wurz
Department of Animal Sciences (WUR-ASG)Wageningen University & Research