Delivering scientific diver training for underwater archaeology: international best practice
in education and a micro-credential case study
Dublin Core
Title
Delivering scientific diver training for underwater archaeology: international best practice
in education and a micro-credential case study
in education and a micro-credential case study
Description
Delivering education in underwater archaeology is challenging for a variety of reasons, including the requirements to
prepare archaeology students to become professional scientific divers. In practice, the discipline blends traditional
academic and commercial archaeology with maritime sectors and diving industries. This paper discusses the principles
of conducting safe underwater archaeology by trained divers and presents a case study of applied specialist training
for diving maritime archaeology students at Flinders University, South Australia. We have developed an accredited
micro-credential qualification in Professional Scientific Diving that meets the standards for both Australian Standards
and the American Academy for Underwater Sciences (AAUS), enabling graduates to be classified as diving-workers
under legal regimes where qualifications and professionalization are required. Delivery of this educational component
within a maritime archaeology program is now critically important for career progression in underwater archaeology.
We discuss the challenges of teaching diving for archaeology in a modern university with complex health and safety
requirements and regulatory frameworks. We consider the barriers facing educators, students and professionals and
how to create a safe and inclusive culture of scientific diving, critical to modern maritime archaeology and marine
science in the coming decades.
prepare archaeology students to become professional scientific divers. In practice, the discipline blends traditional
academic and commercial archaeology with maritime sectors and diving industries. This paper discusses the principles
of conducting safe underwater archaeology by trained divers and presents a case study of applied specialist training
for diving maritime archaeology students at Flinders University, South Australia. We have developed an accredited
micro-credential qualification in Professional Scientific Diving that meets the standards for both Australian Standards
and the American Academy for Underwater Sciences (AAUS), enabling graduates to be classified as diving-workers
under legal regimes where qualifications and professionalization are required. Delivery of this educational component
within a maritime archaeology program is now critically important for career progression in underwater archaeology.
We discuss the challenges of teaching diving for archaeology in a modern university with complex health and safety
requirements and regulatory frameworks. We consider the barriers facing educators, students and professionals and
how to create a safe and inclusive culture of scientific diving, critical to modern maritime archaeology and marine
science in the coming decades.
Creator
Jonathan Benjamin
Hiro Yoshida
John McCarthy
Mark Polzer
Wendy van Duivenvoorde
Publisher
The Museum of Underwater Archaeology
Date
2023
Language
English
Bibliographic Citation
Benjamin, Jonathan, et al. 2023. “Delivering scientific diver training for underwater archaeology: international best practice and a micro-credential case study.” Edited by Jennifer Craig, Jay Mok, T. Kurt Knoerl, and Bill Jeffery. In Proceedings of Fifth Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage: Gwangju, The Republic of Korea, November 13-18 2023. The Museum of Underwater Archaeology. URL: https://apconf.omeka.net/exhibits/show/apconfproceedings/item/1965
Files
Citation
Jonathan Benjamin et al., “Delivering scientific diver training for underwater archaeology: international best practice
in education and a micro-credential case study,” Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage Proceedings, accessed February 10, 2026, https://apconf.omeka.net/items/show/1965.
in education and a micro-credential case study,” Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage Proceedings, accessed February 10, 2026, https://apconf.omeka.net/items/show/1965.