On March 24th, Florida Keys Community College (FKCC) announced its induction into the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS). FKCC is just the second community college in the United States to be granted AAUS membership — and the only one in Florida. With this designation, all scientific diving activities at the college’s James E. Lockwood Jr. School of Diving and Underwater Technology will operate under the AAUS's standards and guidelines, while being overseen by an internal Dive Control Board made up of FKSS faculty and administrators.

Organized in 1977, the Academy sanctions and supports scientific diving research programs, enabling scientists and students to operate under exemption from OSHA commercial-diving regulations.

“We’ve been preparing for this for over a year,” said Dr. Alex Brylske, FKCC Dive Research Program Coordinator and Diving Safety Officer. “This is the culmination of the collective efforts of many, and indeed a high honor for FKCC.”

A significant benefit of Academy membership is reciprocity from other AAUS organizations when collaborating on research projects. FKCC diving and marine science students can now qualify to work with major research universities, various aquaria throughout the United States, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and even the Smithsonian Institute.

“The affiliation opens up many new opportunities for internships for our students and enhances their prospects for employment after graduation,” said Dr. Patrick Rice, FKCC Dean of Marine Science and Technology. “The demand for AAUS divers is huge and the supply is limited.”

To be eligible to become a FKCC/AAUS-Certified Scientific Divers, students must successfully complete Basic Research Diving, Diving Physiology and Emergency Medicine courses, along with passing a physical exam and obtaining CPR and oxygen-administration certification. The college’s Diving Control Board will begin awarding certifications to qualified students this semester. Several students working toward AAUS certification have already applied for summer internships with organizations such as the Mote Marine Laboratory.

AAUS membership will open doors to new projects and expand participation with current collaborations in the Keys. According to Rice, the most immediate ventures for the college will be to increase coral restoration and marine aquaculture activities.

“We’ll tighten our partnership with the Coral Restoration Foundation,” said Rice. “Our students have been taking classes and learning how to operate and maintain coral nurseries for ongoing coral restoration projects. Now graduates of those classes with the FKCC/AAUS certification can get jobs as scientific divers and be paid to do underwater research.”

According to Brylske, FKCC students will also be able to dive alongside NOAA researchers and assist surveying the National Marine Sanctuary. Previously, FKCC students could only serve in non-diving roles as NOAA requires AAUS certification.