Cal Poly is offering an exciting opportunity to put your scuba diving certification to work for your marine science career! Open to students of all departments and majors, MSCI 410 – Scientific Diving provides the training necessary to join Cal Poly researchers that use scuba diving to study a broad range of subtidal processes.
MSCI 410 will combine academic course work with confined and open water training to give students the skills to perform scientific tasks underwater. Academic topics will include advanced diving physics, hyperbaric and immersion physiology, decompression theory, dive planning and emergency preparedness, local species identification and much more. Students may conduct at least 12 dives and spend over 6 hours underwater learning different sampling techniques in a variety of local underwater habitats, from human-made structures to rocky reefs and kelp forests.
To accommodate the demanding field schedule associated with this course, we will have a unique schedule. We will have an introductory meeting on June 24 to review the required prerequisites and practice swim evaluations. Then, we will start August 15, meeting 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, ending August 29.
This course is available for divers possessing at least an Open Water scuba certification (required before the start of the course) and preferably Rescue and Advanced diver certifications. Divers will need to log a minimum of 10 dives, preferably 20 dives in cold water, before the course begins, independent of prior certification courses, along with additional prerequisites.
In addition to Cal Poly tuition, there are other costs associated with purchasing scuba equipment, scuba and first aid certifications, equipment maintenance and testing, and medical evaluations for diving.
This course meets the requirements of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences for Scientific Diver Certification. The AAUS is comprised of over 150 organizational members and is recognized by OSHA as the standard setting organization for scientific diving in this country.
For more information on the 2025 offering of MSCI 410 – Scientific Diving, please refer to the Marine Operations website. The following links should provide more details:
To apply, fill out our Scientific Diving Application. Applications are due by May 26.
For Additional questions, please contact Jason Felton by email jfelton@calpoly.edu.
