Diving History

Scientific diving at the University of Miami dates back to the early 1940’s. Students ventured into the water wearing surface supplied hard helmets with their “buddies” operating a hand pump which supplied the air. Divers were limited to capabilities of the technology.

The invention of the “Aqua Lung” or Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus (SCUBA) by Cousteau and Gagnan gave divers another mode of discovering the underwater environment. Divers including UM scientists and students, were allowed to leave the restrictive land based support equipment behind and explore the oceans, rivers, lakes, and streams.

The mid 60’s had UM/RSMAS forming a scientific diving program under the supervision of Bob Johnson. Johnson’s duties were to make sure divers were trained and qualified for the tasks they were to perform.

The 1970’s saw the UM/RSMAS Scientific Diving Program become a formal scientific diving program. Under the direction of Tom Mount (now President of International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers (IANTD)), the SDP developed a training curriculum, policies and procedures and standards. The UM SDP supported divers in disciplines such as bioacoustics and oceanography. Under Mount the SDP introduced mixed gas diving to RSMAS scientists. Tom Mount left the University in 1976.

Stu McCormick followed Mount as the Dive Officer for UM/RSMAS. The program under McCormick maintained a steady course helping scientists conduct research underwater.

In 1983 Jack Nichols took the reins and formalized the SDP, forming a program which is the foundation of the present day Scientific Diving Program at the University of Miami.

In 1987 the UM/RSMAS SDP became an Organizational Member of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS). AAUS is the nationally recognized scientific diving entity and has developed the national, consensual standard for scientific diving in the U.S.

UM/RSMAS SDP membership meant the SDP had to adopt the AAUS standards. These include standards for diver training and qualifications as well as diving practices. Fortunately there was not much to change, but these new standards allowed UM/RSMAS divers to travel and conduct diving operations with other organizations with out having to go through the host organizations qualification/training procedures.

In 1994 Rick Riera-Gomez became the Diving Safety Officer for the University of Miami/RSMAS.