First Scientific diving course finished in Zadar

From 2nd - 14th June 2014, a scientific diving course took place in Zadar. The course was organized in cooperation between Illyrian Coastal Exploration Program, Transylvania University, and ICUA for 11 students from USA, UK, Estonia, Germany, and Cyprus. Besides the employees of ICUA who coordinated dives and diving locations on a daily basis, diving training for students was conducted by experienced certified divers Derek Smith and Jim Hayward from the USA and Simon Talbot from Australia. Theoretical lectures were held by President of ESDP Martin Sayer and several experts from Transylvania University, University of California at Berkley, California Academy of Sciences, and RPM Nautical Foundation. In additional to the everyday lectures during the two-week intensive course, students were taught different methods applicable to scientific diving such as habitat quantification, underwater organism population assessment, as well as different underwater archaeological methods and techniques. During this course students gained a variety of dive certifications including DAN First Aid for Professional Divers, Nitrox Diver and Scientific Diver according to AAUS (American Academy for Underwater Sciences) and ESDP (European Scientific Diving Panel) standards.