{"id":4,"date":"2008-09-26T13:27:24","date_gmt":"2008-09-26T20:27:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/diving1.mlml.calstate.edu\/?page_id=4"},"modified":"2026-01-07T15:35:55","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T23:35:55","slug":"certification","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/diving\/certification\/","title":{"rendered":"Becoming an AAUS Diver"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Scientific Diver Certification Requirements<\/h3>\n
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There are generally 2 ways to earn an AAUS Scientific Diver Certification at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories (MLML):<\/p>\n

1) If the applicant has limited<\/em> diving experience (i.e. <25 dives), has no diving experience in cold water<\/em> (50 \u00b0<\/strong>F), and\/or has limited experience in kelp forests<\/em>, then the applicant should check enrollment requirements and register for MS 105 Marine Science Diving<\/a> (Fall semester).<\/p>\n

2) If the applicant has more experience (i.e. >25 dives), has experience in\u00a0cold water\u00a0<\/em>(50\u00baF), and has obtained their advanced, rescue, and First aid\/CPR\/O2 certifications, then the applicant should check enrollment requirements and offerings for the MLML-AAUS Summer Class<\/a> (August).<\/p>\n

a) If the applicant meets the criteria above (1 or 2), please complete the Diver Information Application<\/a><\/strong> and email a complete<\/strong> documents package (items 2-8) as a single PDF<\/strong> to the diving operations program admin (mlml-diving-admin@sjsu.edu<\/a>). Please label your file “Last_MLMLDiveApp_Year” for it to be considered. If you have completed an AAUS Scientific Diving Course at another institution, please refer to transferring certifications<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Required Documents<\/h3>\n

Please label each file as “LastName_DocumentName_year” e.g. “Steller_DANInsurance_2025” and upload into your shared google drive folder.<\/em><\/p>\n

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  1. Diver Information Application<\/a><\/strong> – Completed, including a summary of diving experience and most recent time on unassisted, 400yd swim.<\/li>\n
  2. Certification cards<\/strong> – copy all SCUBA certification cards, including DAN membership, DAN insurance coverage, CPR, First Aid, and Emergency Oxygen.<\/li>\n
  3. Medical Exam<\/strong><\/a> – A current diving medical is required to dive with MLML’s research diving program. Anyone interested in diving must obtain a diving medical from a licensed physician before they can SCUBA dive–ideally with a physician familiar to some degree with the physical demands of SCUBA diving. The student Health Center on consortium campuses can usually perform the required tests at reduced costs, but needs to be scheduled several weeks in advance. If possible, complete this medical exam prior to arriving at MLML.\n