NOAA Divers

Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary has an active dive team and is part of the NOAA Diving Program. NOAA divers from multiple sites in Central California and Monterey Bay are administered locally by Unit Diving Supervisor Dr. Steve Lonhart. The dive team regularly participates in a variety of science diving projects, which often occur during the summer and fall. Science diving tasks include monitoring inside and outside of marine protected areas, experiments with invasive species, habitat characterization, and digital photography and videography. The NOAA Diving Program has reciprocity agreements with several agencies and the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS). Most of the dives logged by this dive unit are in partnership with university reciprocity divers and focus on science projects inside the sanctuary.

NOAA divers are full time employees or contractors, and in a few instances, we also have volunteer divers. A commonly asked question is how to become a NOAA diver. Interested divers should review Becoming a NOAA Diver, and can contact Dr. Steve Lonhart with questions at steve.lonhart@noaa.gov.