We are pleased to welcome you to the CMAS International Scientific Diver Course, an intensive, field-based training program taking place in Peniche and the Berlengas Marine Protected Area, Portugal, from 29 April to 10 May 2026.

Hosted by the Marine and Environmental Research Centre (MARE) of the Polytechnic University of Leiria and delivered in collaboration with CMAS Portugal, this course is designed for postgraduate students, researchers, and professionals seeking internationally recognized training in scientific diving. The program is conducted in accordance with CMAS standards and ISO 8804-1:2024.

Participants will engage in a unique combination of theoretical instruction, practical skill development, and real scientific fieldwork, culminating in a 24/7 scientific training expedition within the Berlengas Marine Protected Area, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. This exceptional setting offers a rare opportunity to develop scientific diving competencies while working in one of Portugal’s most ecologically significant marine environments.

Throughout the course, participants will work closely with experienced scientific diving instructors, researchers, medical doctors, and specialists in diving equipment and hyperbaric medicine, gaining hands-on experience in underwater survey methods, data collection, risk management, and team-based scientific operations.