How can marine habitats be mapped, rock formations studied or technical equipment tested underwater? From 29 August to 12 September 2026, the Croatian Adriatic coast will once again become an interdisciplinary research laboratory for participants from the TU Bergakademie Freiberg.
This year, the Scientific Diving Centre’s annual field trip will once again take place in Sveta Marina on the east coast of the Istrian peninsula. It forms the concluding practical component of the scientific diving training programme at TUBAF and combines underwater work with scientific planning, data analysis and documentation.
The programme is not limited to students on a specific degree course or from a single faculty. Students from various disciplines can take part, contribute their respective expertise and integrate the training as a module into their studies.
From the research question to the scientific report
During the two-week field trip, participants work on their own scientific research questions. They plan the necessary dives, select suitable research methods and carry out measurements, mapping or sampling underwater.
The data collected is then analysed and documented in a scientific report. The field trip thus covers the entire research process – from formulating a research question through to practical investigation, and on to the interpretation and presentation of the results.
Working underwater poses particular challenges. Equipment, sample containers and documentation materials must be carefully prepared before each dive. At the same time, a clear division of tasks, reliable communication and close cooperation within the diving teams are essential.
Interdisciplinary research in the Adriatic Sea
The topics covered on the field trip reflect the academic diversity of the TU Bergakademie Freiberg. The programme includes, amongst other things:
- geological investigations of the karst area,
- mapping and analysis of marine habitats,
- aquatic ecological studies and environmental monitoring,
- water chemistry analyses,
- the development and testing of technical equipment for underwater use, as well as
- the creation of three-dimensional models using photogrammetry.
As the Scientific Diving Centre has been visiting the region regularly for many years, current observations can be compared with earlier measurements and recordings. This creates a valuable database for recording changes in the habitats and environmental conditions under investigation over longer periods of time.
Depending on the task at hand, a variety of measuring instruments, camera and lighting systems, and sampling methods are used. In the process, students learn to adapt scientific methods to the specific conditions found underwater.
Internationally recognised qualification
The Scientific Diver and Advanced Scientific Diver training courses at the Scientific Diving Centre have been ISO-certified for two years. The certificate awarded is valid internationally and, according to the Scientific Diving Centre, is currently offered in this form exclusively at the TU Bergakademie Freiberg.
The course thus combines scientific work with an internationally recognised additional qualification. Participants not only gain practical diving experience, but also learn to carry out research tasks safely, in a structured manner and as part of a team under specific conditions.
Experience shows that around six to ten students and external participants take part in the excursion each year. For them, the Adriatic coast will once again become a research environment in September, where geosciences, environmental research, technology and medicine converge beneath the water’s surface.
