The FSU Coastal & Marine Laboratory’s Academic Diving Program offers opportunities for FSU faculty, students, 
and staff for whom scientific diving is an element of their research or job description to become expert Scientific Divers.
Candidate Scientific Divers are required to apply to the program, complete training, and pass both written and fitness evaluations to dive. Written exams and fitness evaluations are scheduled through the ADP office. Students must also submit a transcript detailing their coursework (unofficial transcripts are acceptable). Required training for Scientific Diving is outlined in The FSU Standards for Scientific Diving. The application packet is found online.
Divers already certified as scientific divers through a nationally recognized program--e.g., American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS) or Canadian Association for Underwater Science (CAUS)--can conduct scientific diving under the auspices of Florida State University either by establishing science diver status directly through ADP or, for visiting students and faculty, by having their home institution establish diving reciprocity with Florida State University. FSU has existing reciprocity agreements with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Dive Plans for every FSU event that involves diving or the use of ADP equipment must be submitted to the University Diving Officer on the appropriate form 4 weeks prior to planned diving activities. After each planned dive is completed, the participating diver is to record dives on the online dive log.
The Comprehensive Diving Medical Examination can be administered by any physician knowledgeable in hyperbaric medicine. The examination results must be provided to the ADP University Diving Officer on the provided forms. The Diving Officer, in consultation with the physician, is the sole determiner of an individual’s physical fitness to dive. The cost of this evaluation is the responsibility of the prospective diver. FSU divers with grants should contact ADP for assistance with grant-funded physicals.
Equipment maintained by The Academic Diving Program includes a complete inventory of SCUBA, remote sensing, and field equipment for the diving needs of students and faculty affiliated with the program. Equipment check-out forms appear on this site: http://www.marinelab.fsu.edu/adp/equipment.html.
