College of Science

Diving Courses

The CSUMB Research Diving Program's training progression is designed to building core diving competencies for divers who aspire to enjoy the underwater world in whatever way they choose. The pathway offers introductions to diving techniques with many ultimate outcomes once a student reaches the end of the progression.

Our courses follow a 16-week, semester long curriculum that is designed to give our students ample time to achieve mastery of all concepts and skills introduced in the courses.

Whether your goal is to be a Scientific Diver, Diving Leader and Professional or to simply enhance your recreational life, we have a pathway for you!

Policies and Procedures that apply to all courses:

• 1. Ability to pass an AAUS diving medical examination (upon entrance into the training progression)
• 2. Pass a swimming evaluation each semester (with no swim aids other than goggles)
• ---a. Surface swim 400 yards in 12 minutes or less
• ---b. Underwater swim 25 yards without surfacing
• ---c. Tread water for 10 minutes using hands OR 2 minutes without the use of hands
• ---d. Transport (tow) another person of equal size a distance of 25 yards
• 3. Pay course fee and purchase materials - Amount varied per course
• 4. Meet Prerequisites at any point during the progression

MSCI 280: SCUBA I: Entry Level SCUBA

MSCI 280: SCUBA I: Entry Level SCUBA is the first course in our dive training progression and in an introduction to safe SCUBA diving techniques. Successful evaluation qualifies students for a NAUI Open Water Scuba Diver certification. Topics and skills to be introduced:

• Applied Sciences - Physics and Physiology
• Diving Equipment - Purpose, Care, Use
• Diving Practical Skills - Basic SCUBA skills, Dive Management Skills
• Diving Safety - Emergency Procedures, Emergency Prevention
• Diving Environment - Locally and Beyond
• Diving Activities - How to Continue Diving!

Prerequisite certification(s): No certification required. Ability to pass a diving medical examination and swim skill evaluation.

MSCI 282: SCUBA II: Emergency Management and Advanced SCUBA

MSCI 282: SCUBA II: Emergency Management and Advanced SCUBA grants divers the opportunity to gain more diving experience in the Monterey area, while also allowing then to increase their awareness and proficiency with emergency management and advanced diving techniques. Included in the course is training in diving first aid, and successful completion of this training will result in a diving first aid certification. Successful evaluation qualifies students for a NAUI Advanced Open Water Scuba Diver and NAUI Rescue Diver certifications. Topics and skills to be introduced:

• Emergency Management
• Rescue Techniques
• Problem Solving
• Advanced Diving Activities - Night Diving, Navigational Techniques, Deeper Diving
• Diving First Aid
• Emergency Oxygen for SCUBA Diving Injuries

Prerequisite certification(s): NAUI Open Water Scuba Diver, AAUS Medical Evaluation

MSCI 283: SCUBA III: Occupational Diving Techniques

MSCI 283: SCUBA III: Occupational Diving Techniques provides divers with a deeper understanding of occupational diving - scientific diving, NAUI leadership roles. Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to demonstrate all skills introduced and evaluated throughout the course duration at a leadership level. A combination of confined water and open water training sessions are designed with this goal in mind, with final evaluation focusing on mastery of theoretical and practical skills. Successful evaluation qualifies students for the NAUI Master Diver certification and is the last prerequisite course for admission into MSCI 380: SCUBA IV: Advanced Scientific Diving Techniques. Topics and skills to be introduced:

• Advanced Applied Science - Physics and Physiology
• Diving Equipment - Redundant Breathing Supply (stage bottle), Scientific Equipment (transect tape, slates, quadrats, etc.)
• Diving Safety - Advanced Dive Planning, Contingency Planning, Emergency Planning and Coordination
• Diving Environment - Introduction to Local Ecosystems
• Guaranteed Dives - Advanced Navigation, Night and Limited Visibility Diving, Search and Recovery, Deep and Simulated Decompression Diving

Prerequisite certification(s): NAUI Advanced Scuba Diver or equivalent, NAUI Rescue Diver or equivalent, DAN Basic Life Support Provider or equivalent, AAUS Medical Examination, Emergency Oxygen for SCUBA Diving Injuries

MSCI 380: Scientific Diving Techniques

MSCI 380: Scientific Diving Techniques provides an introduction to the techniques for conducting scientific research underwater using SCUBA, including transects, quadrats, behavioral observations, videography and photography, and many other tools. In addition to lectures and pool training sessions, there will be a significant number of open water dives. The course will provide the 100 hours of required training of scientific dives as prescribed by the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS). Topics and skills to be introduced:

• Scientific Diving
• Diving Safety - Dive Planning, Dive Objective Formulation, Emergency Action Planning, Diving First Aid
• Elements of Experimental Design
• Research and Monitoring Protocols
• Independent Research Project

Prerequisite certification(s): NAUI Master Diver or equivalent, NAUI Rescue Diver or equivalent, AAUS Medical Examination

MSCI 485: Marine Biogeography of California

MSCI 485: Marine Biogeography of California is a SCUBA-based group capstone course which involves the collection and analysis of data on fishes and invertebrate from across CA, focusing on biogeographical patterns of the subtidal zone. This course requires field trips on weekends and dates when classes are not normally in session. Dive sites may be located inside many of CA's marine protected areas. A final project combines data collected by each student into a single, comprehensive analysis.

Prerequisite certification(s): Qualified as a CSUMB Scientific Diver, along with all other requirements of that designation (See CSUMB Diving Safety Manual for details). Other, non-diving courses are prerequisite - see course catalog for details.