Advance Science Diving Program guidebook

DIVE IN Advanced Science Diving Program Florida State University

ONE PASSION. A WORLD OF POSSIBILITIES. Florida State University’s Advanced Science Diving Program pairs recreation and science for a unique student experience. Discover a world that can expand your research potential or become your perfect getaway.

Coursework provides the following certifications: • • • •

Open Water Diver Advanced Open Water Diver Enriched Air (EANx) Diver Rescue Diver

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Public Safety Diver American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS) Scientific Diver

RESEARCH

DISCOVERY

RECREATION

EXPLORATION

“

Scuba changed my life, and the program helped guide me to achieve goals I didn’t even know were possible. It wasn’t easy, but it was always worth it.”

— Sally Pendoley crime scene investigation, ’19

PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER. Sally Pendoley was drawn to FSU when she spotted a Mark IV dive helmet at an open house. Although she didn’t have any diving experience, she was sold, excited to break away from what she thought of as traditional college courses.

Sally began earning dive certifications and developing a passion for the water while pursuing a degree in crime scene investigation. Pairing the two disciplines, she learned to collect evidence, analyze data, document scenes and search for anomalies in the water.

Through coursework, her career objectives have shifted from being a crime scene technician to working as a science diver to improve marine environments.

“The diving program made my student experience feel like I was part of something bigger and more unique,” she said. “I truly feel like I’m in my element when I’m diving, and I have FSU and my dive instructors to thank for that.”

YOU WILL LEARN TO PUSH YOUR BOUNDARIES AND DO SOMETHING REALLY AMAZING.

For Will McEwan, an Instagram ad for a dive class turned into an opportunity to get out of his comfort zone and save a life.

Will, who signed up for a summer dive course on a whim, saw a fellow diver in distress while exploring a cavern. Using training from the program, he calmly assessed the situation. He took the faulty regulator out of the diver’s mouth, offered him his own regulator then guided him to safety.

“

I didn’t fully comprehend how high the quality of training is. Most of the time when I am in the water I have one of the best educations out of all the divers there.”

— Will McEwan, international affairs, ’22

Will said the program enhanced his student experience, connecting him with new friends and mentors. It taught him how to work in a team and handle high-stress situations. “I will take many lessons and morals from the dive program at FSU into my career and later life,” he said.

WE TRAIN THE PROS. Florida State’s Advance Science Diving Program educates and supports excellence in underwater research throughout the nation.

Faculty and students have: • trained dive teams from the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission, the New York Police Department and others.

• assisted with rescue and recovery missions for missing boaters, swimmers and airmen.

• canvassed bodies of water for weapons and other evidence in criminal investigations.

• loaned equipment to regional law enforcement for training and investigations.

AND HAVE A LITTLE FUN. SHARC (Scuba, Hyperbaric, and Recreational Club) is a FSU Panama City registered student organization that coordinates scuba training and organizes diving excursions for members, emphasizing safety ďŹ rst. Members can use FSU dive equipment, such as regulators, lights and tanks for free.

ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING COURSES I HAVE TAKEN.

“

If you even think you might be interested in working underwater, take the program. I found out there were many other facets to scientific diving than just marine biology, and all are just as exciting. The certification opens you to many opportunities.”

— Logan Turner, biology, ’19

For Logan Turner, the Advanced Science Diving Program opened the doors to 14,000 years of research potential.

Already a recreational diver, Logan used the program to reinforce his resume with dive certifications to land research experiences uncovering evidence of the earliest people in Florida and studying food web interactions in Galapagos coral reefs.

“Much of the training we did for the dive certification translates perfectly into marine biology,” he said.

“It was great to be part of a group who were as excited about diving and working underwater as I am, and it widens the scope of research that I can be a part of.”

“

I came out of the program with a strong sense of community with other divers.”

— Emma Graumlich, anthropology, ’20

Although snorkeling on vacation was the closest to diving Emma Graumlich had experienced, she knew the Advanced Science Diving Program would open doors to ancient times. After earning her dive certifications, she spent the entire summer exploring the depths with an FSU anthropology team to uncover traces of ancient people.

“Underwater archaeology hadn’t been something I saw myself doing before I came across this opportunity, but now I see it as a possible career path,” she said.

Working in silted waters for hours at a time, she used her cavern and rescue training to navigate with little visibility while loaded down with equipment and specimens. “Taskloading was a real concern, so having the experience in cavern diving in which you have to manage a lot of equipment and rescue diving in which you have to problem solve was very valuable,” she said.

THE DIVING PROGRAM MADE MY EXPERIENCE AT FSU SO MUCH BETTER.

TAKE THE PLUNGE. Dive into a new world, opening doors to new friendships, career opportunities and recreational hotspots. Enroll in the following courses at FSU Tallahassee or Panama City.

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Introduction to Underwater Investigation (ISC 3062/ISC 3062L or ISC 5060/ISC 5060L) presents the history, principles of basic hyperbaric science diving, physics and physiology as they relate to diving. The lab is designed to develop proficiency in the basic skills required to perform safe underwater operations.

Scientific Underwater Investigation (ISC 3063/ISC 3063L or ISC 5061/ISC 5061L) provides the technology to collect data in an underwater environment according to the scientific method. The course emphasizes techniques used in science disciplines that function underwater.

Elective: Theory and practice of compressed-gas diving (PEN 1136) leads to Open Water Diver certification.

CONTINUING REQUIREMENTS FOR UNDERWATER CRIME SCENE DIVING • Underwater Crime Scene Methodology (CJE 4764 and CJE 4764L) applies underwater measurement protocols, advanced dive skills and sophisticated instruments to gathering and examining evidence in underwater environments like those encountered in actual investigations.

• Underwater Crime Scene Investigation course and capstone (CJE 4765 and CJE4765L) utilizes program skills to plan, conduct and report on several simulated crime scenes.

LEARN MORE pc.fsu.edu/dive CONTACT US Mark Feulner, director 850-770-2205, mfeulner@pc.fsu.edu