Mainland Training for Volunteers

February 10-11, 2024
Aquarium of the Pacific
Long Beach, CA

Classes start at 8:30 a.m. each day, unless otherwise indicated.

(Mainland Class size limited to: 18 students / Island Class size limited to: 3 students)

• $35 for training materials
• If you continue on to the Island Hands-On Chamber Operations Training – $350.00 U.S. (Tuition, Housing, & Meals)

Students will be responsible for transportation and parking for both Mainland & Island sections of this training.

If you are interested in signing up for the class, please fill in our Course Interest form at: Course Interest Form

We will then send you a link to a pre-course Zoom meeting, which covers the Volunteer Chamber Crew Program, the requirements to become a Crew Member, and instructions on how to register for the mainland class.

This program is for those individuals wishing to explore the possibility of joining the Catalina Chamber Volunteer Crew. All too often, busy schedules prevent many of you from taking our five-day Emergency Dive Accident Management (EDAM) course, which, before the Mainland Based Program, were the only avenues of access to the Catalina Chamber Volunteer Crew. This program, designed to accommodate your busy schedules, makes it possible for you to participate on Crew by providing the minimum additional information and training needed to become an active member of the Chamber’s Volunteer Crew. The class consists of about 16 hours of mainland classroom lectures and one weekend on Catalina for Hands-On Chamber Operations (Chamber Ops) training. Topics covered by the mainland lectures include:

• Diving Physics and Physiology
• Decompression Sickness, Signs and Symptoms
• Air Embolism, Signs and Symptoms
• Decompression Tables
• Treatment Tables
• Use of Hyperbaric Oxygen
• Patient Care, Assessment and Treatment
• Chamber Operations
• Recording Protocols
• Treatment Case Histories

The general schedule for the weekend Hands-On Chamber Operations class is:

• Friday Evening
  • Depart San Pedro to Two Harbors
  • Arrive Catalina Chamber
  • Walk through Chamber startup/shutdown procedures
• Saturday
  • Perform a Standard Chamber Dive at each crew position
  • Universal Precautions
• Sunday
  • Perform Treatment Simulation Dives at each crew position
  • Accident Scenario
  • Depart Two Harbors to San Pedro

Although there are no prerequisites for attending the Zoom Introduction Meeting, there are prerequisites required before signing up for the Hands-On Chamber Ops class. They are:

• Diving Certification (or Medical Training with equivalent physics and physiology understanding)
• CPR Certification
• Medical Clearance to Dive – A diving physical signed by a physician within a year of your Island Hands-On training class is needed in order to be able to “dive” in the Chamber – you may use a medical form from your training agency, an RSTC medical form, or our Clearance for Hyperbaric Exposure form.
• Record of COVID vaccination (LAC DHS requirement)
• Commitment of 15 On-Call days
• A Desire to Help

There is no cost for the Zoom Introduction Meeting.

Once you go through the Zoom Intro you can decide if you want to continue on to the Hands-On Chamber Ops class.

The Mainland Weekend Class is for those who are committed to continue their training to be a Chamber Volunteer.

There is a $35 registration fee cost for the materials for the Mainland Weekend Class (students will be responsible for any parking and meals that weekend).

For the Hands-On Chamber Ops Class on the island you will be responsible for your parking and transportation to the island. Tuition for the Hands-On Chamber Ops course is $350, which will include housing and meals (if the Lab Cafeteria is open) for the Friday night to Sunday afternoon stay.

Your $350 tuition will be used to purchase two Catalina Express Commuter Books (currently a $650 value) for your subsequent trips to the island to volunteer as an Intern (normally 10 weekend round-trips).

If you plan on fulfilling your initial (30 day) Intern Volunteer Crew commitment with fewer trips of longer duration, $300 of the tuition can be waived and you will be responsible for your transportation to and from the island (this can also apply if you plan on utilizing the school boat, or use of your own boat for transportation to and from the island).

Your Hands-On Chamber Ops island weekend will be scheduled at your mainland classroom session. In order to sign up for the Hands-On Chamber Ops class you must commit to scheduling at least 15 days of your 30-day Internship time prior to taking the Hands-On Chamber Ops Class. The 15 days can be distributed anyway you want them, from five weekends (Friday evening to Sunday afternoon counts as three days) to all 15 days in a row.
If you have any questions you may e-mail the Chamber at chamber@usc.edu or call at 310-510-4020.

We look forward to seeing you on Crew.