The rocky island Helgoland provides a unique habitat in the Southern North Sea (German Bight). Dive sites around Helgoland are typically characterized by hard bottom or sandy areas and the famous kelp forests. At all sites, an exceptional high diversity of underwater fauna and flora is present and allow extraordinary dives and underwater experimental work.  Most dive spots are between 5 an 30 m water depth and are easy accessable through out the year depending on the weather conditions.

Dives are conducted  by one of the three dive boats of the CSD (a cabin bearing research vessel „Diker“ (10 m), a RHIB (DSB 6.5 SR with 115 hp outboard engine) and a Zodiac inflatable Mark IV (5,5m, 50 hp outboard engine).

Beside the standard dive equipment including dry suits and coldwater certified regulators with full face masks, the CSD has special dive equippment like:

• A Sony VH-1000 film camera incl. Amphibico housing
• A digital NIKON D 100 incl. wide angle, macro lenses and external flash lights
• Underwater drill devices
• Semi-closed circuit rebreathera
• Cable and ultrasound connected communication systems
• Surface supplied diving gear
• Underwater scooter
• Decompression chamber

The AWI Center for Scientific Diving furthermore is equipped with several aquariums for animal and flora husbandry for guest scientists as well a well equipped workshop, several computer working station, a 3 m deep saltwater testpool for equippment and experimental set-up testing and diver trainig.