The Ocean Studies Institute (OSI) AAUS Scientific Diving Program
Locations & Schedule
The first week of the course is conducted on the mainland. Swim tests and confined water training is conducted at the California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) pool, and classroom lectures are conducted at the Southern California Marine Institute (SCMI). Mainland days start at 8:00am and end at 5:00pm, with daily homework assignments. The second week of the course, consisting of open water dive training and completion of classroom lectures, is conducted on Catalina Island at the USC Wrigley Marine Science Center. Island days start at 8:00am and continue into the evening with late afternoon and night dives and classroom lectures.
Sample Schedule
Below is a typical day-by-day schedule for the program. Dates and locations for practical skills training may vary based on weather and conditions.
Mainland
Monday: SCMI – Orientation, AAUS history/standards, OSI policies/procedures lectures
Tuesday: CSULB Pool, SCMI – Swim tests, checkout dive; classroom lectures
Wednesday: CSULB Pool, SCMI – Buoyancy, Task management dives; classroom lectures
Thursday: CSULB Pool, SCMI – Rescue skills/dives; classroom lectures
Friday: CSULB Pool, SCMI – SMB, Life bag, Transect dives; DAN Diving First Aid for Professional Divers
Saturday: Cabrillo, SCMI – Beach skin dive, rescue skills 1; DAN First Aid for Professional Divers
Sunday: Prep & Pack out for transit to Catalina
Catalina Island
Monday: SCMI – transit to USC Wrigley Marine Science Center – Facility Orientation, checkout, rescue 2, night dives
Tuesday: WMSC – Deep, Blue-water, navigation 1 & 2 dives, evening lecture
Wednesday: WMSC – Search & Recovery, Light salvage, data collecting (transects, fish survey) dives; evening lecture
Thursday: WMSC – Deep/simulated decompression, air consumption (SAC rates) dives; evening lecture
Friday: WMSC – Environmental survey (s)
Saturday: Transit to SCMI
Application Deadlines
Session 1 (June 17-29): May 17, 2024
Session 2 (August 5-17): July 5, 2024
COVID19 DIVING AND BOATING NOTIFICATION
The Campuses of the California State University, have adopted federal and state guidelines regarding COVID mitigation protocols. In the event of an outbreak these guidelines and supplemental protocols may be implemented and will impact locations and scheduling for the AAUS course.