The Centre for Scientific Diving (AWI-CSD) is the central platform for all scientific diving related activities at the AWI. It is member of the German Association for Scientific Diving (KFT) and the European Panel for Scientific Diving (ESDP).
The CSD is located on Helgoland island where excellent research and training facilities are available in combination with the Biologische Anstalt Helgoland. As major research infrastructure, the CSD operates the AWI underwater experimental area MarGate off Helgoland as well as two cabled underwater observatories at Helgoland and Spitzbergen. Besides, the AWI-CSD operates permanent dependances in Bremerhaven and Sylt as well as temporary dive bases at the polar research station AWIPEV (Arctic - Spitsbergen) and Neumayer III (Antarctica).
The AWI CSD is one of the main scientific diving facilities in Europe and conducts professional underwater research in all oceans of the world. It is furthermore certified by the German Statutory Accident Insurance to conduct all levels of training courses for scientific diving in Germany.
The main goals of the AWI Center for Scientific Diving are:
- To conduct, promote and support diver related underwater science within the framework of the AWI research topics
- To provide diver support at our polar station AWIPEV
- To sample marine organisms for our visiting guest researchers and visiting courses at BAH
- To sample marine organisms for the BAH biota shipping service
- To conduct the courses "geprüfter Forschungstaucher / European Scientific Diver", "Dive mission leader" and "Safety and Health in Scientific Diving"
Biota orders
The CSD offers the research community to order biota sampled by diving.