Over spring break, Cal Poly Humboldt’s Master Divers in training had the opportunity to visit Catalina Island, hosted by USC Wrigley Institute, to work toward their certification. On this trip, divers were able to work on their buoyancy control, buddy awareness, and situational awareness. This experience was unique as they got to embark on dive experiences that cannot be so easily replicated closer to Humboldt such as night diving, deep diving, and kelp forest exploration.
Totaling eight dives across three days, the students are now only four dives away from achieving their Advanced/Master Diver certification. With this certification, students are able to continue on to Scientific Diving, where they learn to conduct science underwater, and Leadership Diving, where they earn their Dive Master certification that enables them to lead dive trips.
While students can participate in scuba diving courses for recreational purposes, most are seeking a Scientific Diving Minor that will bolster their degree or a Bachelors in Recreational Administration with a focus in Dive Leadership. Students with an interest in beginning your scuba journey should enroll in Diving First Aid next semester.
All photos courtesy of Angela Edmunds and Steve Monk.