The Lumberjack

Issue date: 5/2/07 Section: Campus

Media Credit: Rich Alvarez Taking a dive.

The cold, rough conditions Humboldt State scuba divers face off on the north coast, and the university's intense training, give them a reputation as some of the best divers in the nation.

The country's sixth-largest university dive program, with 77 members, has reduced the number of classes available fall semester. The scuba program is finding ways to alleviate budget shortages without diminishing its' quality of education. To reduce the budget for the scuba program, classes for the leadership program, underwater photography and advanced rescue diving may be offered by Extended Education, passing the cost onto students.

Johnathan Centoni, a junior biology major is in Humboldt State's leadership program. He was hired as a scuba instructor at the Catalina Island Marine Institute for the summer.

"This program has enough of a reputation that employers actually seek us out," Centoni said.

Several companies and government agencies including the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the Department of Fish and Game consistently seek out and hire Humboldt State scientific and leadership divers.

Steve Monk, a part-time lecturer who teaches the beginning and advanced scuba classes, is concerned that making the leadership certification more expensive will reduce the number of students trained to supervise the lower-level classes. The program would then have to reduce its enrollment to meet safety standards.

"The cost of everything is rising," Monk said, "it would be sad to lose some of our strongest divers who can't afford to take the class."

There are currently 11 teachers' assistants with dive master certifications supervising dives and classes of up to 30 students. These 11 students are working towards their dive-master certification as part of the leadership course.

Jennifer Kavanaugh, a junior enrolled in the advanced rescue class came to Humboldt State from Illinois to get a dive-master certification.

"I was planning on having this program here the rest of the time I was in school," she said. "Now I don't even know if I can get the [diving] minor I wanted."

Liv Wheeler, a senior majoring in wildlife hoped to take the leadership and scientific-research courses next semester, now she's worried that she might not have enough time to get her certification before she graduates.

Continued...

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