Research Diving Program
Meet Our People
| CSUMB Diving Control Board | Title |
|---|---|
| James Lindholm, Ph.D. | Chair & MSCI Faculty |
| Nick Nechay | CSUMB Diving Safety Officer |
| Travis Leggett | MSCI Faculty, Graduate Student Representative |
| Sal Jorgensen | MSCI Faculty |
| Amy Thomas | Director of Environmental Health, Safety and Risk Management |
| Steve Lonhart, Ph.D. | Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, NOAA |
| Drew Bewley | Diving Safety Officer, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute |
| Deborah Stewart | Advisory, Dive Medicine |
Program Administrators
James Lindholm -- Program Director
James is a native Californian who grew up surfing and diving outside of San Luis Obispo, CA (approximately 2.5 hours south of Monterey). He arrived at CSUMB in January 2007 as an active scientific diver, having worked for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in New England and a private research institute in southern California. Immediately upon arrival at CSUMB, James was introduced to Frank Degnan, the instructor for the recreational dive courses and the part-time Diving Safety Officer. Together, and despite a variety of hurdles, they developed the scientific diving program, ultimately merging all dive courses, personnel and resources under the umbrella of the new Department of Marine Science into what is now the largest university dive program in the country.
James has conducted SCUBA-based research on six continents (no trips to Antarctica yet) and has been a participant in six missions to the Aquarius Undersea Laboratory in the Florida Keys (four as a saturation diver, two as a member of the surface diving team). Much of James' research involves the collection of undersea imagery, including stereo diver-operated video and, more recently, 360-degree video for virtual reality, to better understand where fish are and why they're there.
If James isn't diving, usually accompanied by his teenage daughter, he can be found surfing (also accompanied by his daughter), riding his road bike, or writing undersea adventure novels.
Nick Nechay -- Dive Safety Officer
Nick was introduced to the ocean through freediving, quickly developing a deep connection with the underwater world. At the age of 13, he became certified as an open water scuba diver in Monterey, CA. This experience ignited a lifelong passion for both Monterey Bay and the broader oceans. After high school, Nick served in the Army, gaining valuable leadership and teamwork skills, as well as real world experiences that he carries with him in his work ethic. He brings a strong sense of discipline and commitment to tasks, ensuring the highest standards of performance for the dive program.
Transitioning from the military to the diving world, Nick became a dive professional in 2014. Currently he holds the highest Instructor designation achievable as a NAUI Course Director Trainer, one of only around 30 in the world.
Driven by a commitment to dive safety through education, Nick works to ensure that every diver he trains or helps train is prepared for diving in real world conditions. He also shares a special desire to make sure that diving is accessible to all and that no barriers exist that keep students from experiencing the beauty of our underwater world. Whether pursuing diving recreationally, scientifically, or professionally, Nick is dedicated to guiding students every step of the way, ensuring they’re fully prepared for their underwater adventures and future careers.