Scientific and commercial diver team for offshore marine research
The benefits
In short- Fully qualified in both science and offshore diving
- Versatile field capabilities
- Operational flexibility
- Scientifically grounded and client-focused
Wageningen Marine Research boasts a highly skilled scientific & commercial diver team. This team uniquely combines scientific expertise with certified offshore diving capabilities — allowing them to perform comprehensive marine surveys, data collection, and ecological assessments on structures like wind turbines, platforms, and natural/artificial reefs.
Our team leaders
Joop Coolen – marine ecologist & certified commercial diver
Joop Coolen is a marine ecologist specialising in reef biodiversity in the North Sea and serves as an IMCA‑certified commercial and scientific diver. He regularly conducts research dives on a wide range of offshore installations — including platforms, wind farms, shipwrecks, and natural reef systems. His fieldwork has been featured in scientific outreach, showcasing the diversity of marine growth on reefs in the North Sea.
Oscar Bos – marine ecologist & field‐diving researcher
Oscar Bos is a marine ecologist and commercial as well as scientific scuba diver who leads research focused on North Sea biodiversity, habitat conservation (e.g., Natura 2000, Marine Strategy Framework Directive), oyster restoration, benthic monitoring, and image‑based fauna recognition. He participates in numerous expeditions to observe marine systems firsthand and strengthen scientific insights.
Joop Coolen at work
What does our team offer?
Our team brings a robust suite of in‑situ and sampling services tailored for offshore energy environments:
- Marine growth / biofouling sampling: precise collection of biofouling communities on structures using diver‑deployed tools — enabling biomass, taxonomy, and community analysis.
- Visual counts: diver‑conducted surveys for assessing species composition and abundance on submerged surfaces.
- In situ incubations & experiments: underwater deployments and controlled incubations to assess biological processes such as growth rates, reproduction, or nutrient uptake directly in their natural environment.
Proven capabilities
- Offshore installations: our operational experience spans wind farms, oil & gas platforms, and natural/artificial reef systems, demonstrating adaptability and technical excellence under challenging marine conditions.
- Scientific fieldwork and communication: we actively contribute to national and international scientific communities, policy dialogues, and expert networks — bridging field operations with research and advisory functions.
Why choose our diver team?
- Expertise meets compliance: fully qualified in both science and offshore diving — ensuring safety, regulatory compliance, and top-tier research quality.
- Versatile field capabilities: able to deliver visual assessments, collect precise samples, and run experiments directly underwater, tailored to client needs.
- Operational flexibility: proven records of safe and effective performance across diverse North Sea environments, suited for both fixed and dynamic offshore assets.
- Scientifically grounded, client-focused: every deployment is backed by rigorous data collection and analysis, supporting decision‑making, environmental permitting, and sustainable design strategies.
Shipwrecks, gas platforms and wind turbines are a source of new underwater life in the North Sea. Ecologist and diver Joop Coolen collects underwater samples to better understand this ecosystem.
Get in touch with our expert
For collaborations, project inquiries, or bespoke offshore sampling plans, our diver team stands ready to support developers, regulators, and research partners with tailored in‑water expertise and scientific insight.
dr. JWP (Joop) Coolen
Researcher Benthic Ecology
