AWI - Center for Scientific Diving at Helgoland (AWI-CSD)
With over 1200 scientific dives per year, the AWI Center for Scientific Diving (AWI-CSD) at Biologische Anstalt Helgoland (BAH) is the central platform for all scientific dive missions of the AWI. Besides Helgoland, the center has dependances at the AWI sites Bremerhaven, Sylt and the polar research stations AWIPEV (Arctic) and Dallman (Antarctic). With actually 10 researchers, certified as "German Dive Mission Leader", the AWI has highly trained research divers for dive missions in all marine and polar regions.
Mission of the AWI Center for Scientific Diving at Helgoland
The AWI CSD is located on Helgoland Island in Building B "Heinke Halle" and is operated year round. Our general mission is:
- To conduct, promote and support diver related underwater science within the framework of the AWI research topics (PACES and PUF-Programs).
- To provide diver support at our polar station AWIPEV and Dallman lab.
- To sample marine organisms for our visiting guest researchers and visiting courses at BAH.
- To sample marine organisms for the BAH biota shipping service and the BAH Aquarium.
Available dive logistic.
At the CSD on Helgoland proper, a total of ten scientific divers can be equipped with standard dive equipment including full-face masks and dry suits. Additional dive equipments for about five scientific divers each are available at our satelite groups at AWI in Bremerhaven and at the German Wadden Sea Station on the island of Sylt.
For specific tasks, cable connected and wireless communication systems, (semi-)closed circuit rebreather units and surface supplied diving gear is available. For underwater documentation, a Sony VH-1000 film camera with Amphibico housing, a digital Nikon D 100 with wide angle lens and macro unit as well as two NikonosV including flash lights are available.
For inshore dive missions off Helgoland, a cabin bearing research vessel for up to eight divers (Diker) is available as well as a 5.5 m long inflatable (ZODIAC Mark IV).
For longer lasting offshore dive expeditions to the North Sea, the Atlantic or to polar regions, the AWI/BAH research vessels FS Uthörn, FS Heinke and (for polar regions) the FS Polarstern are used as diver operating platform. Because these dive missions are often scientifically complex and technically as well as physically demanding, scientists assigned as divers for these missions get normally specifically trained for their mission at the CSD prior to the dive expedition.
