Describe two potential hazards of conducting scientific diving.

Conducting scientific diving entails exposure to various environmental conditions and biological factors that can pose significant hazards. Strong currents can create challenging conditions that not only threaten diver safety by increasing the risk of becoming displaced or fatigued, but they can also affect the ability to accurately collect data or conduct research. Similarly, encounters with marine life, while often part of the research, can lead to dangerous situations if divers are unprepared for interactions with species that may be aggressive or venomous.

In contrast, the other options focus on narrower aspects of potential hazards or present inaccurate views. Mentioning only underwater visibility and temperature changes overlooks the multitude of other factors that can affect diving safety and research integrity. Similarly, while equipment malfunction is indeed a critical concern, addressing it in isolation does not encompass the breadth of risks present in the underwater environment. The idea that scientific diving is always performed in safe conditions is misleading; while safety protocols are in place, the nature of diving introduces inherent risks that must be acknowledged and mitigated.