NOAA divers often work with other partners during diving missions to increase the scope and impact of their efforts.

NOAA divers may only work with partners that have “reciprocity” agreements in place with the NOAA Diving Program. Before an agency or group of individuals can become a reciprocity partner, appropriate checks must be made beforehand to make sure all reciprocity divers understand and are following the NOAA safety standards and are properly equipped. In this way, all divers dive using the same standards and procedures, and can work safely as a team.

NOAA reciprocity agreements:

• Allow non-NOAA divers to participate in NOAA diving activities, and vice-versa, with minimal administrative requirements.
• Are established with other organizations only after it is determined their diving programs are equivalent to NOAA’s.
• Are only applicable to personnel employed and covered for medical treatment and Workers Compensation by reciprocity organizations.
• Are not transferable to other agencies or institutions that have separate reciprocity agreements with NOAA’s reciprocity partners.
• Expire on December 31 of the year in which they were established. They must be re-established annually.

Read more about establishing reciprocity agreements and administrative requirements.