DIVErsity in Diving
NEW PROGRAM - DIVErsity in Diving
SCUBA diving is an essential skill required for many fields within the marine sciences. UCSB has the largest scientific diving program in the United States, yet the diversity of students entering the training programs does not reflect the diversity of our campus. For many students, getting certified to SCUBA dive can be daunting - physically, mentally and financially. Significant barriers exist to gaining all the necessary training, equipment and certifications required to conduct research underwater, especially for underrepresented students who may have no previous exposure to the ocean or this research tool.
MSI’s Research SCUBA Certification Program (DIVErsity in Diving) is designed to eliminate these barriers by providing financial support, along with mentorship and guidance, for students who are interested in becoming scientific divers. This program will support students with little or no previous underwater experience all the way to becoming full-fledged scientific divers - from swimming proficiency, to open water certification, to practice dives requisites, to scientific certification, to selecting and purchasing gear, to placement in a research project – your gift is an investment in diversifying Marine Sciences.
$5,500 sponsors a student from initial open water certification through scientific diving certification and provides students with the gear and mentorship needed to succeed in underwater field research. By investing in marine science training at MSI, you not only make a difference in the academic career of a student, but you also support a future of environmental leadership that better reflects our society.