Scientific diving

MUMM has recently developed scientific diving activities in the Belgian waters of the North Sea. The dives are made from the oceanographic vessel, Belgica. The first scientific dives took place on the Birkenfels wreck in July 2001 with a view to preparing an inventory of the fauna.

Scientific diving is a means that enables scientists to go to the very site of their research and for example, carry out or guide data collection activities directly. This sampling technique has a great many advantages compared with the more conventional method of working blind from the hydrographic winch of the vessel.

Safety remains the key word in this type of activity, where diving is not an end in itself but an additional means made available to the researcher. Consequently, given the diving conditions encountered in the North Sea, only experienced diver scientists take part in such campaigns. The selection criteria are based on the scientific diving standards of the European Community.

The team currently set up includes diver scientists from several universities and research institutes in the country who responded to an invitation widely circulated in 1999.

 Faunal study of the Birkenfels wreck

 Pictures

 Map of studied wrecks