ALASKA: NSF EPSCoR divers receive certification
If you think getting out on the water in Alaska in March sounds chilly, consider the folks who just spent most of a week underneath it. Three University of Alaska-Fairbanks College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences (CFOS) students received Alaska NSF EPSCoR Fire & Ice rolling travel awards to travel to Kasitsna Bay Lab over spring break to attend UAF’s Scientific Diving class, instructed by Fire & Ice PI Brenda Konar. Students emerged from the course with their American Academy of Underwater Sciences Scientific Diver certification, as well as other certifications.
“I logged 17 dives in 6 days,” noted Alexandra Reich (pictured; photo courtesy Reich). “The entire week I was either diving, preparing to dive, sleeping, or eating.”
Eleven students completed the class, meaning CFOS has now trained more than 500 divers since Konar first taught the course in 2000.