British Antarctic Survey
BAS reference: BAS 26/04
Contract type: Antarctic Employment Pool - Fixed-Term Appointment - 20 Months comprised of 3 months UK pre-deployment training (Aug – Oct 2026) and 17 months Antarctic deployment (Nov 2026 – Mar 2028) 
Location: Antarctica
Salary band: AEP B1A £31,183 per annum (pro rata)
Closing date: 8th March 2026, 23:55
Interview Date: w/c 13th April 2026, start date in July. Candidates will need to be available for practical assessment in the UK in late April or early May.

As part of your application, please complete this diving information form – Boating and Diving Form - Field Diving Officer – Fill in form . Failure to complete may result in the application not being considered.

Purpose

The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is seeking to appoint an exceptional Field Dive Officer (FDO) to support scientific SCUBA diving operations at Rothera Research Station on the Antarctic Peninsula. The FDO is a key member of the Rothera marine team (FDO, Boating Officer, Marine Biologist, Ocean Scientist and Marine Operator) supporting scientists to achieve research objectives. Candidates must be comfortable living and working in a remote yet densely populated station with long days spent on dive operations in the local area.  

This role is ideally suited to experienced research divers, providing a fantastic opportunity to support ground-breaking science. Typical projects involve marine wildlife surveys, deployment and recovery of data-loggers, collection of sediment samples and surveys of seabed iceberg scour. Scientific diving operations continue year-round, predominantly deployed from small boats (RIBs) and occasionally (when conditions allow) through sea ice.  

Contributing to communal station duties on a rota basis forms a key part of the role. This includes cleaning, cooking and night-watch rounds (training will be provided). Other opportunities during deployment may involve riding snowmobiles during winter trips, participating in station emergency response teams, flying on small aircraft to field locations or taking advantage of various recreational activities.  

Reporting to the Deputy Station Operations Manager (DSOM), the FDO is responsible for the supervision and organisation of all diving activities at and out of the station. All requests for diving are made through the FDO, who must be present on site whenever a dive takes place. 

Duties

• Ensure diving activities are undertaken in a safe and efficient manner and that all diving operations follow the relevant BAS Standing Operating Procedures (SOPs).  

• Maintain all diving equipment and support the maintenance of dive store fixed plant.

• Keep equipment and fixed plant maintenance records.  

• Maintain accurate dive records including completion of the Dive Log database, signing of all diver logbooks and maintain the Diver Record form for each diver.  

• Produce monthly reports and an annual report for select managers and the Institute Diving Officer (IDO). 

• Be responsible for all on-site training / familiarisation related to diving activities, including hyperbaric chamber operations.  

• Be responsible for assessing the competency of divers and dive supervisors, with authority to withdraw permission to dive/supervise should the FDO judge a person not fit to dive.  

• Liaise with relevant stakeholders and produce timely dive schedules in line with the science diving requirements. Scheduling of dives includes coordinating with other support facilities and resources, such as boats or other transport, field or sea ice support staff and communications personnel. Ensure the schedule is produced in good time and circulated to relevant parties on site.  

• Be fully compliant with the BAS Health & Safety Policy and promptly report any accidents, incidents or near misses.  

• Assist the marine team to fulfil its incident response cover duties, such as marine search and rescue (SAR) and aircraft Rescue and Fire-Fighting Services (RFFS).  

• Act as hyperbaric chamber supervisor for any cases of hyperbaric injury.  

• Assist the DSOM/IDO, as required, in developing working practices and written procedures for the BAS diving operation.  

• Perform communal station duties including cooking, cleaning and night watch rounds (on a rota basis) as required by the Station Leader.  

• To manage and deliver safe SCUBA diving operations in support of science.

• Undertake other duties as directed by the Station Leader, Winter Station Leader or Deputy Station Operations Manager to ensure that BAS meets its objectives. 

   

Skills, Qualifications, and Experience

Essential

• HSE SCUBA (or HSE approved equivalent) 

• Highly competent and experienced SCUBA diver, with extensive cold water (less than 12°C) and drysuit experience 

• Use of full-face masks and comms 

• Dive planning and organisation 

• General dive equipment maintenance skills 

• Risk assessment 

• Hyperbaric chamber operations 

• Calculation of dive tables, air consumption, etc. 

• Good PC and computer literacy required 

• Able to lead and motivate a small team safely (in diving operations) 

• Proficient in written and spoken English Language 

• Able to liaise with scientists and support dive project planning 

• Report writing

• Able to follow policies and procedures, such as the Dive Management System, including under emergency situations

• Able to self-manage and motivate to achieve professional deliverables 

• Able to manage and maintain a dive facility, equipment and spares

• Able to make conservative judgement calls 

• Able to work and live in a remote and isolated community, including involvement in communal tasks such as cleaning and cooking

• Good team worker and considerate to others 

• Able to be managed remotely by line-manager in the UK 

• You will need to pass a medical test to demonstrate that you are medically fit to work in Antarctic conditions 

• Must have current (or be able to pass) HSE Dive Medical 

   

Desirable

• RYA Powerboat Level 2 (or above) 

• Diver First Aid 

• Chamber Operator

• Management of diving operations from small boats (RIBs) 

• Knowledge of HSE Science and Archaeology ACOP 

• Knowledge of DCIEM dive tables 

• Scientific diving 

• Compressor Operation 

• Familiar with spreadsheets and databases (for dive log) 

• Familiar with MAXIMO for inventory management and re-ordering 

• Experience of training other staff in professional competencies and running exercises 

   

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role.  UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.

As part of your application, please complete this diving information form – Boating and Diving Form - Field Diving Officer – Fill in form Failure to complete may result in the application not being considered.

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As users of the disability confident scheme, any candidate who opts into the scheme and best meets the essential criteria, will be shortlisted for interview. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

How to apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role.  UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.

British Antarctic Survey (BAS) delivers and enables world-leading interdisciplinary research in the Polar Regions. Our skilled science and support staff based in Cambridge, Antarctica and the Arctic, work together to deliver research that uses the Polar Regions to advance our understanding of Earth as a sustainable planet. Through our extensive logistic capability and know how BAS facilitates access for the British and international science community to the UK polar research operation. Numerous national and international collaborations, combined with an excellent infrastructure help sustain a world leading position for the UK in Antarctic affairs. British Antarctic Survey is a component of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). NERC is part of UK Research and Innovation www.ukri.org