January 27, 2005
Hello and Welcome
My name is Dida Kutz and I've been doing volunteer research diving for 11 years (Monterey, Carmel, Channel Islands, Big Sur, Malaysia). I'm launching this site for a number of reasons ranging from the personal (assuaging my guilt for not completing my graduate degree in marine biology) to global (wanting to do my bit for conserving our precious little planet).
This site is an experiment. It's my hope that principal investigators seeking volunteers will post requests here, and that volunteer and paid research divers will help each other network and learn. Authors will post trip reports, organization news, methodology tips, and whatever else we come up with. Comments are highly encouraged.
I've added links on the right I hope will be of interest to both the seasoned and new research diver. Please feel free to contact me with suggestions, questions, requests for volunteer divers, or requests to be a regular contributor.
Peace--
Dida
Posted by Dida at January 27, 2005 12:37 PM
Comments
Dida,
I've been interested in getting involved with research diving for some time and this site is a very exciting find.
One thing missing from your site is information on structured classes/programs to train divers in the procedures and methodologies of research diving. I've read about such a program being run by a group in Florida. Does such a program exist for divers in the Monterey area?
Thanks, Bill Stotzner
Posted by: Bill Stotzner at March 10, 2005 12:12 PM
Hi Bill- Thanks for visiting and for your comment. Yes, I am intending to put information re: training programs on this site, but as I am doing this voluntarily and by myself, I am limited in how much I can devote to this site. PLUS, I am looking for a job!
But to answer your question in short, yes, there are numerous research diving programs in the US and Monterey, but they are generally connected with a university (such as California State University's Moss Landing Marine Lab program in Moss Landing, CA -nr. Monterey). There are other ways of getting involved in research diving, such as contacting your local NOAA office. They have their own set of standards, similar to AAAUS standards (see links on right), and can check you out for NOAA affiliated trips. (Contact me privately if you want contact info.)
If so inclined, I welcome you to contribute pieces to my site! As you can see, I need all the help I can get . .
Best-
Dida
Posted by: Dida at March 17, 2005 9:54 AM
