Maintaining Certification

SDSU’s Active Diver Requirements

Dive Physical
• FREQUENCY: A diving physical is required within the preceding 5 years (3 years if over the age of 40, 2 years if over the age of 60) from the last diving medical evaluation.
• SDSU’s STUDENT HEALTH: Please make an appt. with Student Health Services.
• FOLLOWING ANY MAJOR INJURY OR ILLNESS: Clearance to return to diving should be obtained from a physician following any major injury or illness or any possible contraindications to diving. Please refer to NAUI’s List of Contraindications to Diving and contact DAN and/or the SDSU DSO if you have any questions concerning your fitness to dive.
• NOAA DIVE PHYSICAL: Please contact the DSO if you will need reciprocity with NOAA since they require you complete a different dive physical.

Dive Logs
All research dives are to be logged into your online dive log monthly. During any 12-month period, each certified scientific diver shall log a minimum of 12 dives. Please signup for a refresher dive from your Webdiver homepage.

Depth Certification
At least one dive to the depth of certification should be made during each six-month period. Information about how to increase your current depth certification can be found on the Depth Certification page.

CPR & Oxygen Administration
Training certificates are to be kept current and the SDSU’s Diving Safety CPR/O2 refresher training should be updated annually. Please signup for an upcoming course from your Webdiver homepage.

Equipment
All equipment shall be regularly examined by the person using them. If your gear is past its inspection date or does not pass the inspection then you will need to get this updated prior to using it on a SDSU project.
• Regulators (1st & 2nd Stage), alternative air devices, hoses, gauges and BC are to be inspected (Bench/Service Check) at 12 month intervals and overhauled if required. An Equipment Inspection Form should be completed by the repair technician and submitted to the Diving Safety Office annually.
• Scuba Cylinders: Must be hydrostatically tested in accordance with DOT standards and visual inspections are required every 12 months.

Scientific Diver Status Levels
Active
Diver has current medical examination with no contraindications for diving, has current certification in First Aid and CPR, and has met the 12 dives per year standard.
Sustaining
Diver has one or more deficiencies, i.e., medical examination has expired, CPR / O2 provider is not current, equipment not currently inspected or has not maintained the 12 divers per year activity level. Contact DSO to inquire about a diver with this status.
Inactive
Diver has let medical examination expire and/or has not maintained minimum dive frequency of 12 dives per year for over a year. Reconsideration for ACTIVE dive status requires contacting the Diving Safety Office, updating your records and may require refresher training and/or a skills/academic evaluation.
Restricted
Special limitations are imposed on diving activities in which the diver may participate, e.g., restrictions due to the diver’s medical status or questionable skills.

SDSU Scientific Diver Classification Levels
Scientific Diver
Diver meets 100 hour training criteria w/12 logged training dives. A checkout dive may be required if not previously completed at the time of classification as a Trainee or via reciprocity from another research diving program.
Trainee
A newly trained scientific diver that has not completed the 12 required scientific divers. Individuals qualified at the Trainee level must dive with an active SDSU scientific diver at all times.
Visiting Diver
Diver certified through reciprocity from another scientific diving program and must dive with an active SDSU scientific diver.