Delivering scientific diver training for underwater archaeology: International best practice in education and a micro-credential case study

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.