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Dive Safety Board

Person diving
Dive Safety Board
Dive Safety Board
Scuba diving was first used as an underwater scientific research method at Texas A&M University - San Antonio (A&M-SA) in the Fall of 2022 through a collaborative project focused on underwater caves in Mexico, in partnership with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the United States Geological Survey (NSF OCE #2136322). The Dive Safety Board (DSB) was formally established two years later, with collective support from the Texas A&M University San Antonio Foundation, Office of the Provost, College of Arts and Sciences and Department of Natural Sciences. The DSB aims to provide high quality training opportunities while fostering underwater research and advancing the mission of A&M-SA.

The Dive Safety Board (DSB) is comprised primarily of active scientific divers and possesses full authority over all diving operations at A&M-SA. The DSB is tasked with developing and overseeing policies and procedures pertinent to dive activities and is responsible for the training and dive operations of all personnel involved in the A&M-SA dive program.

Responsibilities:

  • Establish, review, and revise the policies and procedures for diving activities conducted beneath the auspices of A&M-SA, as outlined on the Diving Standards for Underwater Operations
  • Fulfill the requirements needed to apply for AAUS organizational membership
  • Approve and monitor all A&M-SA diving projects
  • Provide safety and compliance oversight for all A&M-SA diving activities
  • Ensure compliance of the A&M-SA diving community to the A&M-SA Diving Standards for Underwater Operations
  • Suspend diving operations considered to be unsafe or unwise
  • Investigate diving incidents within the Dive Program or violations of the diving safety manual
  • Establish and/or approve training programs through which applicants for dive status can satisfy the requirements of this manual
  • Recommend the issue, reissue, or the revocation of diving authorizations
  • Approve the depth to which a diver has been authorized to dive
  • Act as a board of appeal to consider diver-related problems
  • Recommend new equipment or techniques
  • Establish criteria for equipment selection and use
  • Establish and/or approve facilities for the inspection and maintenance of diving and associated equipment, including gas stations and quality standards
  • Act as the official representative of A&M-SA in matters concerning the diving program
  • Periodically review the DSO (Dive Safety Officer) performance
  • The Dive Program may delegate operational control and oversight for portions of the Dive Program to the DSO, but retains ultimate responsibility for said execution

Membership:

  • The Institutional Official (IO) or designee, with the advice of the DSO, will appoint voting members of the Dive Safety Board
  • The term of appointment for each Dive Safety Board member is three years
View Members

For more information, please view the A&M-SA Diving Standards for Underwater Operations, or contact the DSO at DiveSafetyBoard@tamusa.edu . 

Scheduled meetings: 

  • March 25th, 2025 at 2:00 pm
  • May 7th, 2025 at 2:00 pm