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 on Sunday June 22, 2008, and be present by 6:00 p.m. on Sunday June 22 for a two-day check-out procedure (involving classroom activities, several in-water dives, and a written exam) administered by a certified scuba instructor retained by Walla Walla University. No one will be permitted to dive at Rosario who is not on an approved scuba diver list prepared by this scuba instructor.

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

bring your current certification card.
complete a Liability Waiver Form. If you are under 18, your parents must sign this form.
complete a Health History Form.
show evidence of a recent medical examination by having a physician complete a Medical Exam Form. You need to provide the physician with the Information for Medical Personnel and your completed Health History Form.
read and understand the WWU Scuba Diving Policy Manual. You will want to look at the Manual Summary for a brief overview of the Policy Manual.
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 and a tank; Rosario does not provide or rent any equipment. 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. Many students rent or purchase equipment from the dive instructor at WWU (Gene Bruns; Undersea Adventures, 1-800-338-4662). 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. All equipment must be inspected and approved by the scuba instructor prior to your check out.

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