Except on rare occasions when the NOAA Dive Center posts a vacancy, NOAA does not hire divers directly. Diving is an ancillary activity. NOAA hires or contracts individuals for other primary skills, such as being a scientist or a mariner in the NOAA fleet of research vessels. Current job opportunities with NOAA are advertised on the website: http://jobsearch.usajobs.opm.gov. If you are employed with NOAA, or are employed as a NOAA contractor, and are authorized by your supervisor, you are eligible to pursue NOAA diving certification by the NOAA Diving Program (NDP). Different certifications are possible. They are obtained by successfully completing an official NDP diver training program. More information about these certifications and requirements can be obtained from this website or by contacting the NOA Dive Center front desk.
NOAA, NOAA
-contractors, other federal, state, and local government employees.
Courses are not open to the general public.
What
Are the Medical Prerequisites for NOAA Diving Center Training
Courses?
NAO
209-123
SECTION 7. PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS.
.01
Before acceptance for initial divers’ training or certifications,
at specified age intervals, or following major illness or injury,
divers shall be required to undergo diving physical examinations.
In order to ensure examinations are appropriate for the type
of diving activities in which the individual may be involved,
divers shall provide their examining physicians with the following:
a.
NOAA Form 56-57, NOAA Diving Program - Medical Evaluation
Checklist;
b.
SF-88, Report of Medical Examination, or NOAA Form 56-60,
NOAA Diving Medical Evaluation Report;
c.
SF-93, Report of Medical History, or NOAA Form 56-58, NOAA
Diving Medical History Report;
d.
Body Composition Screening Form.
.02
After initial diving physical examinations, subsequent examinations
will be completed at the following intervals unless otherwise
specified by the NOAA Diving Center:
a.
once every 5 years to age 49;
b.
once every 2 years from age 50 to 59; and
c.
annually age 60 and older.
.03
Completed Annual Medical History Forms (NOAA form 56-59) must
be submitted to NDC, as described in section 7.04, by March
01 each year by every diver under age 60. Failure to submit
this form may result in suspension of diving privileges.
.04
Upon receipt of the completed medical documents/results from
examining physicians, divers shall be responsible for distribution
of these forms as follows:
a.
signed originals or legible copies shall be forwarded to the
NOAA Diving Center through UDS's; and
b.
copies of all forms shall be retained by individuals for personal
records or to provide additional copies.
.05
In any instances where individuals do not meet established physical
standards, or in any instances where there are questions about
individuals' medical qualifications for diving, the DNDP may
consider waivers based on a review of these cases from the NDMRB,
which shall render its medical opinion and recommendations promptly.
.06
Based upon the opinion or recommendations of the NDMRB, the
DNDP may:
a.
refuse waivers;
b.
approve waivers and certify fitness for full diving duty;
or
c.
approve waivers and restrict diving duty as appropriate.
.07
Waivers shall only be approved for conditions that are not significantly
disabling and do not constitute significant threats to the individuals
or fellow divers.
.08
If waivers are granted after consultation, the NDMRB shall be
notified in writing 30 days before commencement of the waivers,
stating the reasons for overriding the NDMRB's recommendations.
NAO
209-123, NOAA Diving Program, dated April 12, 1991, is superseded.
