All required training course materials (training request, physical, equipment measurement form, swim test, etc.) for the January Working Diver and Divemaster courses are due ASAP to NDC. A general reminder for all diver candidates to follow the new NOAA diving medical standards and use the new medical forms as applicable. Failure to submit all required training forms by the dates specified in the training packet may cause you to lose your training position in the upcoming classes…. Please contact Laurie Barber at NDC if you have any questions about the above.

Dates for the next Working Diver Refresher course are set for March 26 - 29, 2002 (Tuesday - Friday). This 4-day course is designed to “refresh” divers whose NOAA certification has lapsed for a year or more. It’s also designed to certify active recreationally certified divers above the basic entry level as NOAA Scientific Divers. Please contact LT Bill Cobb if you are interested in attending this refresher course.

The NOAA Diving Program FY2001 Annual Report has been completed and is being printed as we speak. During FY2001, 372 NOAA divers from NMFS, NOS, OAR, NWS, and OMAO completed 12,860 dives for over 7,000 hours of bottom time with two DCS injuries. Since 1989, NOAA divers have completed over 128,000 dives with a safe dive rate of 99.98%, or 1 DCS case every 5,000 dives. Thank you to all who contributed to this report.

TRI air compressor test kits will be mailed to all ships/units the third week in January. Testing and return of the kits needs to be done immediately after receipt in order to avoid a late charge. If the late January timing will not work for your ship/unit, please contact Laurie Barber to reschedule.

Just a reminder to check out the new NDC web site at http://www.ndc.noaa.gov. Information on NOAA diver duties, training, certification, reciprocity, etc., is available at this site, along with all NOAA diving forms and a link to the online dive log.

Scientific diver exam 1.2 is available to all UDSs. Please destroy all other versions of this exam. Previous exams should NOT be used as a study aid for scientific diver candidates. Contact NDC if you need a copy of exam 1.2.