Welcome to the Commission for Scientific Diving in Germany


The Commission for Scientific Diving Germany (KFT) is a registered professional association of research organisations based in Germany that carry out scientific diving on the basis of the applicable national regulations and codes of practice.

Members of the professional association are, in particular, universities, non-university research institutions and companies that employ ‘certified scientific divers’, the training companies for scientific divers recognised in Germany in accordance with DGUV Rule 101-023, the examination board for scientific divers of the DGUV and the Federal Ministry of Research and Technology (BMBF).
The Commission for Research Diving Germany is responsible for the development and coordination of scientific diving in Germany. It represents the scientific and logistical interests of diver-supported aquatic research at national level and represents German interests in the field of professional scientific diving in Europe as part of the national representation on the European Scientific Diving Panels (ESDP) of the Marine Board / European Science Foundation.

Important tasks of the German Scientific Diving Commission with its various working groups include:

  • the further development of safety regulations for research diving in Germany in co-operation with the relevant government agencies.
  • the methodological development and guarantee of a high scientific standard in scientific diving.
  • the creation of training programmes for research diving in Germany.
  • advising third parties (universities or institutions without their own research divers) on the realisation of scientific projects in which research divers are to be deployed.

The KFT is therefore the central point of contact for all questions relating to professional scientific diving in Germany. The main aim of the commission is to support German scientists with regard to the safe and scientifically high-quality realisation of scientific diving projects in Germany and abroad.
The KFT is a professional association registered with the Bremerhaven District Court. Prof Dr P. Fischer (spokesperson), Stephanie Häberle (deputy), Dr M. Schmid (deputy), Dipl. Biol. F. Donat (deputy) and Dr Marcus Herrmans (deputy) have been appointed as board members.