Objective: To train NOAA employees to be competent, safe divers capable of supporting the underwater activities required of their organizational unit.

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Greg McFall/NOAA

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Students taking the NOAA Diver course practice their newly acquired line tending skills at the NOAA Diving Center (NDC).

NOAA Diver

The three week NOAA Diver course is designed for the beginner or inexperienced diver. It starts with diving basics and works through underwater tasks, rescue techniques, and NOAA policies and procedures. By the end of week three individuals have gained experience in various facets of diving and underwater work techniques resulting in Special Task Endorsements (STE). Core STEs include: Lift Bags & Rigging, Reels & Surface Marker Buoys, Reduced Visibility, and Search & Recovery Techniques. Optional STEs include: Dry suit, Scientific Survey, Long Distance Navigation, Ship Husbandry, Anchoring Devices, Pneumatic Tools, Disentanglement, and Full Face Mask. The intent is for the diver to finish the training with the diving experience and knowledge needed to conduct  underwater tasks as a dive buddy or standby diver at their unit. Successful completion of this course certifies the candidate as a NOAA Diver.

NOAA Diver Refresher

This one week course is designed for individuals previously certified as NOAA divers who have had a lapse in proficiency and require a refresher to be re-authorized as a NOAA Diver. Candidates must receive LODO and UDS approval to a NOAA Diver Refresher course. With prior experience as a NOAA Diver, students focus on checkout skills, underwater tasks, rescue techniques, and NOAA policies and procedures. Successful completion of this course re-certifies the candidate as a NOAA Diver. Currently the NOAA Diving Center offers refresher training on an as-needed basis. If you feel that this training meets your needs, please reach out to support.ndc@noaa.gov to schedule a course.

Duration and Schedule

• NOAA Diver Training: three weeks (Download a sample schedule [pdf])
• NOAA Diver Refresher: one week

Certifications

Students must complete all water work and pass written examinations to receive certification.

• NOAA Diver
• SDI Advanced Adventure Diver
• TDI Nitrox Diver (optional)

Prerequisites

NOAA Diver Training

• NOAA diving physical exam
• CPR, AED and first aid training (current during the entire class: certificates that expire during class are not acceptable)
• Successful completion of the NOAA Diver initial swim test before the start of class (please submit NF 57-03-39, Swim Test Evaluation before the deadline) and again at the start of the training. 
• Completion of the online portion of the Divers Alert Network (DAN) Emergency Oxygen for SCUBA Diving Injuries class before the start of class. Once you have received confirmation of registration from the NOAA Diving Center, a separate link with the DAN materials and instructions will be e-mailed to you by the NOAA Diving Medical Officer. 

NOAA Diver Refresher

• All of the items listed above
• UDS and LODO approval and:
  • previous certification as a NOAA Diver

Equipment Requirements

• SCUBA diving mask
• Drysuit undergarments
• Laptop or tablet to access student materials and exams online
• All other diving equipment will be provided by the NOAA Diving Center to NOAA students
• Non-NOAA students must provide all their diving equipment (download a list of gear for non-NOAA students)

Application Materials

All training request forms and SEP measurement forms must be RECEIVED by the NOAA Diving Center at least 60 days before the course start date. All other materials must be RECEIVED 30 days before the course start date. They can be e-mailed to the Diving Center at Support.NDC@NOAA.gov.

NOAA Diver Training

• NF 57-03-38, Training Request and Authorization Form
• NF 57-03-65, SEP Measurement Form
• NF 57-03-67, SEP User Agreement
• NF 57-03-39, Swim Test Evaluation
• NF 57-03-09, Liability Release and Assumption of Risk
• Copies of your CPR, AED & first aid certificates (these should be current through the end of class)
• NF 57-03-50, 51, 52, Report of Physical Examination – Diver*
• Non-NOAA divers only: service records showing that diving equipment being used during class has been serviced within the last 12 months

*Please send medical forms via fax at 206-529-2759 or use an encrypted file transfer method (such as Kiteworks) to send to DMO@NOAA.gov (information in these forms contain sensitive Personally Identifiable Information)

Registered NOAA Diver Students

• Preparing for your NOAA Diver class (downloadable .pdf tip sheet)
• Non-NOAA students will be required to provide all their diving gear: download the list