Free Press reports on recent scientific diving certifications at Darling Marine Center
The Free Press reported nine undergraduate and graduate students recently earned their scientific diving certification at the University of Maine Darling Marine Center in Walpole. Scientific divers use scuba or other diving equipment to study the underwater environment, according to UMaine diving safety officer Christopher Rigaud. The UMaine program follows American Academy of Underwater Sciences standards, which require passing stringent physical exams, meeting additional training requirements, and maintaining a sustained level of diving activity, according to the article. “Our students spend many hours learning about diving physics, physiology, equipment, first aid and rescue techniques, while studying regulatory and scientific policy and procedures,” Rigaud said. “They’re also putting those skills into practice under the water.”