Scientist
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Who may attend NOAA Diving Center courses?
NOAA employees, NOAA contractors, NOAA volunteers and other federal, state, and local government employees may apply to attend NOAA Diving courses. Classes are not open to the general public.
When do I have to wear a RASS?
General Guidelines
A Reserve Air Supply System (RASS) must be worn by NOAA Divers on OSHA-subject dives. In general, they are not required on dives that meet OSHA's Scientific Exemption, however, there are exceptions to this (see the "dives exempt from OSHA regulations" section below for more details). Read more about OSHA regulations on the NDP regulations page.
Dives Subject to OSHA Regulations
- Divers must always have a reserve supply of air. Divers can meet this requirement by using:
- For depths 0-30 feet: a spare air bottle
- For depths 0-130 feet: a RASS
Dives Exempt from OSHA Regulations (Scientific Exemption)
- Divers must use a reserve supply of air when diving:
- Outside of no-decompression limits
- In overhead environments
- In low visibility where diver cannot read his/her pressure gauge
- In enclosed/confined spaces
- Deeper than 100 feet
- Line tended solo diving
- Whenever Divemaster or Lead Diver directs divers to wear one
- Divers can meet these requirement by using:
- For depths 0-30 feet: a spare air bottle
- For depths 0-130 feet: a RASS
What is considered a "dive" at NOAA?
At NOAA, a dive is any time spent breathing compressed air, either underwater or in a recompression chamber, regardless of depth or time.
What is an OSHA-subject Dive? What is an OSHA-exempt Dive?
Any dive that you are doing as part of your job must follow OSHA regulations. However, if the dive is conducted for the advancement of science it may fall under the Scientific Exemption. To find out if a dive qualifies for a scientific exemption, you must review the criteria set forth by OSHA and answer a set of basic questions. You can find this information and more in the Diving Program regulations page.
NOAA aircraft and a NOAA ship recently supported a major multi-agency, multi-platform to study atmospheric rivers.
Five NOAA ships are studying marine ecosystems in the Northern Bering Sea, Chukchi Sea, Beaufort Sea, and Gulf of Alaska.