This course is designed to prepare participants with knowledge and skills necessary towards earning qualification as an Indiana University Scientific Diver.  Course provides comprehensive principles for safe and efficient diving during scientific investigations and surveys.  Topics include OSHA and IU standards for scientific diving, research techniques, and diving skill development.  Underwater techniques for data collection in several academic areas and personal diving skills will be emphasized during open water training.

Indiana University’s Academic Diving Program will provide students with all the necessary scuba equipment to be successful in the field, but students will be responsible for providing their own exposure suits, boots, etc.  Dates will be arranged for gear check out during final exams week. This project and project participants will adhere to all University standards and guidance for conducting activities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This field school and research will focus on submerged cultural and biological resource monitoring techniques at ongoing IU research sites in the Florida Keys. Activities will include: monitoring rapid assessments of submerged cultural and biological resources in IU-established park sites, site documentation including photography, and monitoring reports. Independent research credits may be available to qualified students with permission of instructor. A lab fee will be assessed with registration to cover all research diving costs, accommodations, and diving equipment. Students must provide their own round-trip transportation to Quiescence and food. PADI Open Water Certification dives will available during project, although spaces are very limited and acceptance is highly competitive. 

The cost of this project is tuition plus a course fee of $895. Students will enroll in SPH K-492. Students will be assessed additional fees dependent on diving participation.

Please contact Sam Haskell (sihaskel@indiana.edu) for further course or diving information and Kirsten Hawley (kmhawley@iu.edu) for information about active research.