Fully leveraging our proximity to the extraordinary "living laboratory" of Monterey Bay, CSUMB began a dive program from its earliest days. The program focused on recreational training, including introductory courses in open water SCUBA and advanced SCUBA rescue. In 2010, the scientific research diving program was born.

The program is certified by the American Academy of Underwater Sciences, an organization that sets standards for scientific diving, certifications and operations at all universities in the United States.

The entire dive program is now unified under the umbrella of the Department of Marine Science, including new courses that allow students to use their training to conduct original research on the state’s most pressing environmental challenges.

“We’re interested in giving students the tools they’ll need to succeed out in the world, and scientific diving is a critical tool,” said James Lindholm, marine science and diving program chair.

“Our students are getting incredible jobs and opportunities in graduate school. With training in the challenging conditions of Monterey, they are very literally ready to work on day one.”

Read about 24 more innovative people, projects and programs in the CSUMB Magazine.