Rosario Scuba Diving

The Rosario Beach Marine Laboratory supports and encourages scuba diving by faculty, researchers, and upper-division and graduate students who wish to use scuba for academic activities. Students in General Biology will not be able to use scuba at Rosario. All scuba divers, regardless of previous experience, must be checked out at the beginning of the summer session by a professional dive instructor retained by Walla Walla University. Rosario has a scuba locker room adjacent to the beach with hot showers and gear storage space.

REQUIREMENTS
All prospective scuba divers ( faculty members, researchers, upper-division/ graduate students) need to arrive at Rosario by Sunday June 20, 2010, and be present by noon on Sunday June 20 for a three-day check-out procedure (involving classroom activities, several in-water dives, and a written exam) administered by the Walla Walla University Dive Safety Officer (DSO) or his designee. No one will be permitted to dive at Rosario who is not on an approved scuba diver list prepared by the DSO.

You need to do the following: (you may download pdf forms and print them, or request that we mail them to you)

bring your current certification card(s).
complete a Liability Waiver Form. If you are under 18, your parents must sign this form.
complete a Medical History Form.
show evidence of a recent medical examination by having a medical practitioner complete a Medical Evaluation Form. You need to provide the medical practitioner with the Medical Exam Overview and your completed Medical History Form.
be currently certified for First Aid and CPR. Bring your current certification cards.
read and understand the WWU Standards for Scientific Diving.
Complete the Scientific Diving Certification Form.
bring an up-to-date log book documenting your diving experience.

Please call (509-527-2602) or email (rosarioATwallawalla.edu) to receive complete information by mail.

EQUIPMENT
Each diver must provide his/her own equipment, including weights; Rosario does not provide or rent any equipment except for tanks and air. Some people find the cost of purchasing new equipment prohibitive and instead choose to rent or purchase used equipment. You may rent or purchase equipment from any appropriate dive shop/company you wish. In the past many students have rented or purchased equipment from Undersea Adventures in Kennewick. Two local dive shops located near Rosario also rent equipment (Whidbey Island Diver Center, Anacortes Diving and Supply). Please contact them directly for prices and availability.

You must have the following equipment before you dive at Rosario, and evidence that your regulator and BCD have been professionally inspected.

a full cold-water 7mm wetsuit or drysuit (including booties, hood, and gloves)
mask
snorkel
fins
appropriate weights
regulator, equipped with two second-stages (octopus)
gauges (air pressure, depth) or appropriate dive computer
at least one tank (with current hydro test and visual inspection)
buoyancy compensating device
up-to-date log book