Reciprocity
A NOAA Reciprocity Diver from the University of Miami collects photos to be compiled into a photo mosaic of a reef near the Florida Keys.
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.
Organization |
NOAA Sponsor |
Certification |
|
Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) Kyle Hebert 907-465-4228 |
Pat Malecha Auke Bay Laboratorie |
Scientific |
|
American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS) Marc Slattery 662-915-1053 |
Greg McFall Diving Program
|
Scientific |
|
American Samoa Department of Marine & Wildlife Resources Coral Reef Advisory Group (DMWR/CRAG) Alice Lawrence 684-633-4456 |
Raymond Boland Ecosystems & Oceanography Division
|
Scientific |
|
Bishop Museum Richard Pyle 808-848-4115 |
Raymond Boland Ecosystems & Oceanography Division
|
Scientific |
|
William Hoffman 703-787-1549 |
Phil Hartmeyer Thunder Bay |
Scientific |
|
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) Daniel Herb Leedy 504-736-2776 |
Phil Hartmeyer Thunder Bay
|
Scientific |
|
California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) David Osorio 831-649-7195 |
Steve Lonhart Monterey Bay |
Scientific |
|
California Department of Parks & Recreation (CDPR) Kenneth Kramer 949-922-4708 |
Steve Lonhart Monterey Bay
|
Scientific |
|
John Iguel 670-664-8500 |
Raymond Boland Ecosystems & Oceanography Division
|
Scientific |
|
Coral Restoration Foundation Patti Kirk Gross 305-906-0105 |
Sean Meehan Southeast Region
|
Scientific |
|
Florida International University (FIU) 305-664-2916 ext.207 |
John Katchenago Florida Keys |
Scientific |
|
Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Jeff Loflin 850-245-2312 |
John Katchenago Florida Keys
|
Working |
|
Force Blue Patti Kirk Gross 305-906-0105 |
Sean Meehan Southeast Region
|
Scientific |
|
Guam Department of Agriculture, Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources (DAWR) Brent Tibbatts 671-735-0289 |
Raymond Boland Ecosystems & Oceanography Division |
Scientific |
|
Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) Paul Murakawa 808-253-9826 |
Raymond Boland Ecosystems & Oceanography Division |
Scientific |
|
Indiana University Samuel I. Haskell 812-855-5523 |
John Katchenago Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary |
Scientific |
|
Miami-Dade County Department of Environmental Resources Management (DERM) Rebecca Ross 305-372-6857 |
Laura Jay Grove Protected Resources |
Scientific |
|
Moody Gardens Jake Emmert 409-683-4104 |
Marissa Nuttall Flower Garden Banks |
Working |
|
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Alan Humphrey 609-865-4546 |
Greg McFall Diving Program
|
Scientific |
|
United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Mitch Osborne 907-456-0209 |
Raymond Boland Ecosystems & Oceanography Division |
Scientific |
|
United States Geological Survey (USGS) Marc Blouin 734-657-0690 |
Phil Hartmeyer Thunder Bay
|
Scientific |
|
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Michael Ulrich 360-902-2737 |
Nick Tolimieri Northwest Fisheries Science Center |
Scientific |
|
United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS) Brett Seymour 303-969-2993 |
XO NDC NOAA Dive Center |
Scientific |
NOAA Diving Emergencies
855-UBA-DIVE
(855-822-3483)
or (satellite phone)
206-526-6986
