Courses and Opportunities

Courses: 

BIOL 4410 & BIOL 5470 Scientific Diving (4 credits - Maymester)

• The Scientific Diving course covers theoretical and practical topics and skills required to safely conduct scientific research utilizing SCUBA techniques. This course will emphasize skills and knowledge utilized by regional researchers, public institutions, and companies requiring scientific divers. Specific examples of biological and hydrological research using these SCUBA techniques from peer-reviewed scientific journals will be used to further illustrate the relevance of these skills to real-world scientific inquiries.

At the end of the course students will be able to obtain the A&M-SA Scientific diving certification and authorization of up to 60 ft; PSAI Advance buoyancy control, trim, and technique certification; PSAI Basic underwater navigation; and PSAI Advance underwater navigation. 

Registration requires instructor approval. For further details contact the DSO at DiveSafetyBoard@tamusa.edu.

Diving First Aid (Certification Course - DAN DFA Pro)

• Scientific and professional divers have unique responsibilities and a duty to respond to unique situations; their first aid training should not be any less unique. DAN’s Diving First Aid for Professional Divers course is designed for commercial, professional, aquarium, and scientific divers, and it provides knowledge and first aid skills specifically for these work environments. DFA Pro includes all elements of the DAN Basic Life Support and Emergency Oxygen for SCUBA Diving Injuries courses and includes material on neurological assessment and first aid for hazardous marine life injuries.

The emergency response skills taught in this course are not unique to SCUBA diving; they’re applicable to many other watersports and other activities. This course includes an online component that must be completed prior to the in-person component. At the end of the course participants will obtain a DAN certification valid for 2 years.

This course meets the A&M-SA requirements for scientific divers, the current guidelines by ILCOR, AHA, OSHA guidelines for workplace first aid and CPR, and is approved by the U.S. Coast Guard. Notify the instructor ahead of time if you are taking the DFA Pro course to satisfy USGC requirements.

Next dates: May 5 & 6, 2025; December 8 & 9, 2025; January 12 & 13, 2026 | Register here 

• This fundamental course prepares you to provide proper care for life-threatening illnesses or injuries until professional emergency medical care is available. The life-support skills taught in this course include one- and two-rescuer CPR for adults, children, and infants. Use of automatic external defibrillators (AED), bleeding management, assisting a choking victim, and responding to a person in shock. The first aid skills taught include conducting secondary assessments, splinting, and responding to medical emergencies.

This course includes an online component that must be completed prior to the in-person component. At the end of the course participants will obtain a DAN certification valid for 2 years. This course meets the current guidelines by ILCOR and AHA.

Next dates: August 11; September 27; November 26 2025 | Register here 

Diving Related Internships and other Opportunities:

• ZARA Environmental LCC (San Marcos, TX - Paid)
  • Zara Environmental LLC (Zara) is a central Texas based woman-owned business founded in 2003 with the primary purpose of assisting clients to achieve environmental compliance for their projects. Zara’s primary service areas are driven by requirements for compliance with the Endangered Species Act (ESA), Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) regulations, and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

This internship opportunity will include extensive experience utilizing Scientific Diving methods across freshwater ecosystems in Texas

Apply at https://zaraenvironmental.com/scientific-diving-internship.html 

*Required qualifications and duration for A&M-SA Scientific Divers varies with those posted online. Contact the A&M-SA DSO for specific information.

 Institutions and companies interested in offering diving related internships can contact the A&M-SA Dive Safety Board or Dive Safety Officer at DiveSafetyBoard@tamusa.edu. 

Flyers:

Basic Life Support

Diving First Aid for Professional Divers

Scientific Diving Maymester 2025

 Job Posting: Scientific Diving Intern

ILCOR - The International Advisory Committee on Resuscitation

AHA - American Heart Association.

OSHA - U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

DAN - Divers Alert Network https://dan.org/education-events/instructor-led-courses/