- Docente: Stefano Goffredo
- Credits: 6
- SSD: BIO/05
- Language: Italian
- Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
- Campus: Bologna
- Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Biodiversity and Evolution (cod. 8419)
Learning outcomes
This course teaches the basic techniques for scientific underwater surveys. In the pool, underwater navigation exercises (natural elements, compass and underwater sextant) and survey simulations (e.g. use of meter ropes, quadrats) are performed. The lecture topics include planning of air and NITROX (artificial oxygen enriched breathing mixtures) dives, sampling methods, and statistical analysis of data. Theoretical and practical knowledge also cover the prevention of accidents and rescue (Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation and rescue diving techniques). The course ends with fieldwork SCUBA dives in the sea for the realization of transects and the collection of biometric and population density data of benthic organisms. Collected data will be statistically elaborated by the students and the results will be presented as a scientific-article-styled report.
Course contents
UNDER THE AUSPICES OF AMERICAN ACADEMY OF UNDERWATER SCIENCES (AAUS)
In collaboration with:
- Municipality
of Bologna – Sports, Youth and Tourism Sector (reference
person Dr Paolo Ricci)
- FreeShark
- Marine
& Freshwater Science Group Association
Prerequisites for participation:
- Possession of a diving license issued by any internationally
recognized diving agency (CMAS or WRSTC)
- Possession of a medical certificate of good health in current
(issued within a year before the end of the course)
- Possession of personal diving equipment (5 mm
wetsuit, boots, fins, weight belt, weights, mask,
snorkel).
Equipment supplied:
- Equipment provided to each student in personal use: SCUBA NITROX
(BCD, regulator and bottle), compass and underwater sextant, depth
gouge, material for underwater surveys / transects.
- Other equipment: dummy for practice of cardiopulmonary
resuscitation, electronic analyzer of breathing gas.
The time for practice diving in the pool is the Monday morning,
from 8.00 to 10.00. After diving is always included a lecture of
about 1-1.5 hours. In some cases, there are seminars at afternoon /
evening time.
Guidelines: AAUS, CEN, and ERC. Students
are assisted at all times by a diving instructor certified AAUS and rescue personnel
Certificate: at the end of the curse, a scientific diver
certificate will be issued.
2011 pics:
swimming pool;
field work
2010 pics:
swimming pool;
field work
2009 pics:
swimming pool;
field work
2008 pics:
swimming pool;
field work
2007 pics:
swimming pool;
field work
Info: stefano.goffredo@ marinesciencegroup.org
CALENDAR YEAR 2011
March 12, Monday, 18:00 to 20:00 hours, computer room of
Zoology, Via Selmi 3: PRELIMINARY MEETING FOR PRESENTATION AND
LOGISTICS ORGANIZATION; THEORY LESSON - SCIENTIFIC DIVING AND
AMERICAN ACADEMY OF UNDERWATER SCIENCES
March 19, MONDAY, 8:00 AM, POOL: Diving, BASIC SKILLS UPDATE;
THEORY LESSON - SCIENTIFIC DIVING AND UNDERWATER SURVEY;
VISIT TO diving equipment FACTORY.
March 26, Monday, 8:00 AM, POOL: DIVING, DIVING COMPASS, UNDERWATER
NAVIGATION; KNOTS; 13.30, POOL HALL, SEMINAR "THE INVOLVEMENT OF
CITIZENS IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING (www.steproject.org)
April 2, Monday, 8:00 AM, POOL: DIVING, transects (USE OF METRIC
ROPE, QUADRATS). Theory lessons: DIVING TABLES (AIR AND NITROX):
THE ADVANTAGES OF OXYGEN enrichment. TIME 20.00-22.00,
computer room of Zoology, Via Selmi 3, -"Long, ripetitive, and
square dives: related problems", Lecturer Dr Umberto Priolo,
lung and hyperbaric medicine specialist.
April 16, Monday, 8:00 AM, POOL: PRACTICAL NITROX DIVES. UNDERWATER SEXTANT. 12.00 cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
April 17, Tuesday, 7.00 PM, DEPARTURE FROM
THE DEPARTMENT: VISIT
TO THE HYPERBARIC CENTER IN RAVENNA (FACULTATIVE).
Program: 1) seminary on “Dive Computers and new
algorithms”, Dr Pasquale Longobardi, director of the
hyperbaric center; 2) students will then experience a hyperbaric
chamber compression, 40 m depth, 39 minutes dive
time with optical and acoustic tests of nitrogen
narcosis.
April 23, Monday, 8:00 AM, POOL: RESCUE. WRITTEN TEST
May 7, Monday, at 20.00, computer room of Zoology, Via Selmi 3:
SEMINAR ON "DECOMPRESSION DIVES- PHYSIOLOGY AND TECHNIQUES. (FULVIA LAMI, PRESIDENT OF SCUBA NITROX
SAFETY INTERNATIONAL).
May 14, MONDAY, 8:00 AM, POOL: UPDATE OF SCIENTIFIC DIVING
TECNIQUES AND USING OF DIVER'S SAFETY BUOY TUBE. 18.00-20.00,
computer room of Zoology, Via Selmi 3, SEMINAR - "FLORA AND FAUNA
OF THE MEDITERRANEAN AND THE PUBBLIC DISSEMINATION" (Gianni Neto, Naturalist
Photographer)
May 21, Monday, 7.00 am, DEPARTURE TO LIVORNO. SEA FIELD WORK
Given the technical nature of the course, absences to lessons are
not allowed.
Texts / Bibliography
NOAA Handbooks,
AAUS Manuals
Method of Assessment: evaluation of diving skills, diving field
work performance, written examination, interview on results and
statistical analyses of field collected data
Other info: http://www.marinesciencegroup.org; www.sdseducational.org
Teaching methods
HIGHLY PRACTICAL COURSE: practice underwater scuba skills, according to international standards for scientific diving (www.AAUS.org)
Links to further information
http://www.marinesciencegroup.org
Office hours
See the website of Stefano Goffredo