Education and Training

Training opportunities are available to enrolled students during the academic year only.

Training opportunities include both for-credit courses and not-for-credit recreational and professional certification programs. All recreational dive training complies with WRSTC and Scuba Diving International (SDI) Standards.

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Research Diving

Scientific Diving is a valuable tool to conduct undersea research by gathering observations and data underwater. URI divers are engaged in research around the world covering multiple disciplines from marine biology, ecology, oceanography, archaeology, ocean engineering and conservation. URI is an organizational member of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences and has modeled its program after these standards. Scientific diving operations take place under the direction of the Diving Safety Officer (DSO) with oversight of a Diving Control Board (DCB). Divers must be authorized prior to taking part in scientific diving activities on behalf of URI. Please refer to the 2020 Diving Research & Safety Program: Program Report and Strategic Plan for detailed information on current statistics and future objectives.

Anyone interested in conducting underwater research should already hold a basic open water scuba diver certification. The next step is to enroll in AFS 433 or the not-for-credit Research Diving Methods course offered each May. Please note that additional paperwork is required and must be submitted to the DSO upon enrollment:

• AAUS Medical Evaluation of Fitness for SCUBA Diving (or equivalent) – to be completed by physician familiar with diving medicine – a diving medical is current for 5 years if under the age of 40, 3 years if over the age of 40, and 2 years if over the age of 60. URI Health Services is capable of conducting this exam for students only.
• Diving certification card from recognized agency (please send any and all certifications available)
• Proof of current dive accident insurance (e.g. DAN membership and insurance)
• URI will provide diving equipment except in the situation of unusual sizing circumstances. If personal diving equipment (regulators and BCDs only) will be used, please ensure that equipment has been properly serviced or purchased in the last 12 months. Verification such as a copy of the receipt of service or purchase must be submitted to the DSO.
• Completed URI waivers: statement of safe diving practices and waiver release.
• All participants will be required to pass a swim test (typically on the 1^st day of class) prior to participating in research diving activities. Please refer to the URI Dive Safety Manual for specifics.

If you have been previously qualified at another institution, please request that a training verification letter be sent from that institution directly to the URI DSO.

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Diving Protocol

URI’s Diving Safety Program provides a support center for faculty, staff and students to facilitate fieldwork using scuba diving or other diving technologies. All operations follow standards per the American Academy of Underwater Sciences and URI Dive Safety Manual. Program personnel are well networked with local and regional experts in the field and can facilitate program development efforts for more technical or specialized projects. Please contact the URI Diving Safety Officer (DSO) if further dive training or consultation is required for a project.

When planning a project:

• Please refer to the URI Dive Safety Manual v2019 (link here) for specific information regarding URI and AAUS standards and regulations. All standards must be followed to fulfill the requirements of the OSHA Scientific Diving Exemption. 
• Lead divers should submit a dive plan. (Please refer to the URI Dive Safety Manual for the roles and responsibilities of the lead diver.) Local dive plans may be submitted using URI Diving. (If this is your first time accessing this system, a new profile must be generated and approved beforehand at http://uridiving.com/newdiver.cfm). If travel is required, please use the dive plan template and email the completed version to the DSO. Tips for a successful dive plan can be seen here.
• Dive plans are reviewed by the URI Diving Control Board. Diving operations may not be conducted until the Diving Control Board has granted authorization. Failure to comply may result in suspended diving status or operations. Any dive plans including travel should be submitted to the Diving Safety Officer for review at least 3 weeks in advance. Local dive plans should be submitted at least 1 week in advance.
• All divers will be given a URI dive computer prior to departure. Approved dive plans should be printed and on-site during diving operations along with emergency equipment (e.g. medical-grade oxygen, first aid kit). Lead divers are expected to ensure all divers are fully briefed on diving objectives and protocols.
• If any issues arise with equipment, medical concerns, or other, please contact the DSO immediately.

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Dive Facilities

URI maintains a variety of infrastructure and resources for scientific diving. These include a dive locker at the Bay Campus for local scientific diving, a dive locker at the Tootell Aquatics Center for dive training, a vehicle to transport divers to/from field sites, and an NSF funded portable van designed to support shipboard dive operations aboard the R/V Endeavor or other UNOLS ships.

URI’s dive locker resources are configured to support from shallow training using conventional SCUBA to advanced modes of diving for scientific exploration. All equipment is maintained to high industry and manufacturer standards.