CAUS was established in response to the need for diving standards that take into consideration the range of conditions usually encountered by research divers, as opposed to those found in commercial diving. Recognized by Canadian regulating bodies and by the Canadian Standard Association, CAUS has established the Canadian Standard for Scientific Diving. These standards are used by universities and other not-for-profit institutions as a means of ensuring diver safety while maintaining compliance with national safety regulations.

In December 1995, the CAN/CSA-Z275.2-92, Occupational Safety Code for Diving Operations, was modified to allow scientific diving under the standards defined by the CAUS.  These standards recognize standards have been put into place with the goal to ensure the following:

• To enhance health and safety in scientific diving operations;
• To facilitate the use of diving in scientific study and research; and
• To encourage national and international reciprocity.

Scientific diving is performed to collect specimens or data for scientific use in a research or educational capacity. Collection of scientific data is accomplished through physical gathering of organisms, observation, measurement, experimentation, instrumentation and photography.

Scientific diving does not include dives conducted for maintenance or repair of pressure structures, hull inspection or ship repairs, construction, demolition, collection of organisms for consumption or commercial use.