2027 Unit information is now available. View 2027 unit information
Hobart
In addition to the usual tuition fees, this unit attracts a levy of $2250 to cover running costs.
Enrolment in this unit will be limited by a quota (maximum 20 students) and subject to a minimum enrolment of 8 students.
This unit is run as a 3-week intensive over the spring semester. The theory and exams will be run mid-November to early December (all students), with field units run across December (Cohort 1) and January (Cohort 2).
Prospective students note that due to a timetabling clash it is impossible to enrol in both KSM302 and KSM306 in the same year.
This unit doubles as a VET course and attendance in-person is required for every day of the course. Therefore there are no remote options for completion of this unit.
Contact the unit coordinator for confirmation of dates.
Both diving and academic pre-requisites apply.
Academic pre-requisites:
- One of KMA253 (Data Handling and Statistics 2) OR JFA207 (Data Analysis and Presentation); or equivalent plus
- A unit relating to ecology, biology or oceanography at a 2nd year level.
Diving pre-requisites:
- Open water diver certification
- Current occupational diving medical (dated within 12 months from the end date of this course).
- 40 dives and 30 hrs minimum diving logged
- Current HLTAID011 (or higher) Provide First Aid certification or equivalent (dated 3 years from the end date of this course)
- Current HLTAID015 Provide Advanced Resuscitation (CPR and O2 resuscitation) (dated 1 year from the end date of this course)
- Rescue diver certification
- Nitrox diver certification
Contact the Unit Coordinator well in advance to discuss whether you meet prerequisites for enrolment.
Introduction
This unit provides theoretical and practical training in scientific diving, focusing on both safe diving procedures in the conduct of science underwater and a range of scientific techniques used commonly by scientific divers. Emphasis will be given to the planning and management of scientific diving to maximise both dive safety and scientific return per unit dive time. Students will gain experience with and appreciation of a wide range of scientific techniques used underwater, and learn skills and procedures to conduct safe and efficient scientific diving at a professional level.
Students who complete the course satisfactorily will gain formal professional certification as an unrestricted scientific diver through ADAS. This qualification is recognised nationally and by several overseas countries. Obtaining appropriate skills and experience to allow safe underwater research to occur is vital for students wishing to undertake such operations during their scientific careers. The unit is designed to meet the requirements outlined in the Australian Standard for Training Scientific Diving (AS2815.6), and emphasises practical experience, and dealing with problems commonly encountered during scientific diving operations.
Summary
| Unit name | Scientific Diving |
| Unit code | KSM306 |
| Credit points | 12.5 |
| College/School | Sciences and Engineering Institute for Marine & Antarctic Studies |
| Discipline | Ecology and Biodiversity |
| Coordinator | Professor Rick Stuart-Smith |
| Available as an elective? | Yes |
| Delivered By | University of Tasmania |
| Level | Advanced |
Sustainable Development Goals
The Unit Coordinator has identified that this unit aligns with the following UN Sustainable Development Goals. We welcome your thoughts and feedback on the alignment of the unit with these goals.
Availability
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Trimester |
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- Key:
- On-campus
Off-Campus- International students
- Domestic students
Note
Please check that your computer meets the minimum System Requirements if you are attending via Distance/Off-Campus.
Units are offered in attending mode unless otherwise indicated (that is attendance is required at the campus identified). A unit identified as offered by distance, that is there is no requirement for attendance, is identified with a nominal enrolment campus. A unit offered to both attending students and by distance from the same campus is identified as having both modes of study.
Key Dates
| Study Period | Start date | Census date | WW date | End date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trimester | 1/11/2026 | 23/11/2026 | 23/12/2026 | 13/2/2027 |
* The Final WW Date is the final date from which you can withdraw from the unit without academic penalty, however you will still incur a financial liability (refer to How do I withdraw from a unit? for more information).
Unit census dates currently displaying for 2026 are indicative and subject to change. Finalised census dates for 2026 will be available from the 1st October 2025. Note census date cutoff is 11.59pm AEST (AEDT during October to March).
Learning Outcomes
- Use scientific principles to design and implement data collection using scientific diving.
- Plan scientific diving activities in accordance with the Australian scientific diving standards and Australian work health & safety legislation.
- Operate diving equipment in-water using a range of diving skills.
- Lead a diving operation safely using Australian scientific diving standards and Australian work health & safety legislation.
Fee Information
| Field of Education | Commencing Student Contribution 1,3 | Grandfathered Student Contribution 1,3 | Approved Pathway Course Student Contribution 2,3 | Domestic Full Fee 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 031799 | $1,192.00 | $1,192.00 | not applicable | $3,401.00 |
- Available as a Commonwealth Supported Place
- HECS-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility3
- FEE-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility4
1 Please refer to more information on student contribution amounts.
2 Please refer to more information on eligibility and Approved Pathway courses.
3 Please refer to more information on eligibility for HECS-HELP.
4 Please refer to more information on eligibility for FEE-HELP.
If you have any questions in relation to the fees, please contact UniConnect or more information is available on StudyAssist.
Please note: international students should refer to What is an indicative Fee? to get an indicative course cost.
Requisites
Prerequisites
One of KMA253 (Data Handling and Statistics 2) or JFA207 (Data Analysis and Presentation) or equivalent, PLUS a unit relating to ecology, biology or oceanography at a 2nd year level. DIVING pre-requisites also apply (Refer to CUH Notes or Unit Coordinator to ensure you meet enrolment requirements).Teaching
| Teaching Pattern | 3 week intensive course. Theory, exams and initial pool sessions will run across the first 2 weeks. The group will then be split into 2 cohorts. Beach and boat fieldwork for Cohort 1 will run in December (7 teaching days), beach and boat fieldwork for Cohort 2 will run in January (7 teaching days). |
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| Assessment | ADAS Units of Competency|Swim Assessment|Planning Scientific Diving test (10%)|The science behind diving (20%)|Practical Assessment (30%)|ADAS tests (Equipment, Physics & Physiology, Legislation, Dive Illnesses, Decompression tables) (40%) |
| Timetable | View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable |
Textbooks
| Required |
All students are expected to commence the course with a high level understanding of the dive theory, having reviewed all relevant documents prior to the course. These can be found on MyLO. It is also expected that students will have completed the online practice ADAS exams. See Attachment 11 in the Required Reading folder on MyLO to access the ADAS Portal for doing this. PLEASE note that much of the material in the MyLO folder (e.g. Australian Standards / decompression tables etc.) is subject to copyright, and has been supplied for educational usage only, for this course. PLEASE do not distribute this information to others. Required readings within MyLO prior to the course are:
Students should also have viewed all the material relating to UTAS Dive Procedures prior to the course, including:
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The University reserves the right to amend or remove courses and unit availabilities, as appropriate.