Our Oceans Need You – and You Need Us

Ocean researchers, conservationists, environmental journalists, students and more: if you want to understand and protect our oceans, you’re welcome in the Wrigley Institute’s diving program.

Based in a pristine marine sanctuary just 22 miles from Los Angeles, our program offers the unique opportunity to train or conduct research in a protected environment that’s still within convenient reach of a major city.

Whether you’re looking to earn your AAUS certification for the first time, keep your skills fresh, earn advanced credentials, or tap into our expertise for research access and support, we can help!

a scuba diver in full gear makes a heart shape with their hands as they bob with their head and shoulders above the water

Training and Support Options

    AAUS Scientific Diver Authorization

    Offered through the Wrigley Institute’s Catalina Residential College Maymester, our AAUS authorization course equips students for careers in marine biology, oceanography, environmental journalism, and more.

    A highly experienced team of diving instructors, led by USC’s Diving Safety Officer, teaches the course. Students also get support and instruction from the Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber, an emergency dive medicine facility located at WMSC.

    The AAUS scientific diving course provides a minimum of 100 hours of training, including at least 12 ocean training dives. Course topics may include marine species identification, transect use, underwater mapping and navigation, first aid, rescues, and more.

    Note: Before applying for this course, you must obtain an Open Water Scuba Certification from an internationally recognized training agency, log at least 10 open-water dives (at least 5 of which must have been in cold water), and pass an AAUS diving physical.

    This course is listed as ENST 298a/b for the 2027 Maymester. Visit the Maymester page at the link below to learn more and to indicate your interest in the course.

    Proficiency Diving

    Our next proficiency dive day is August 20, with a registration deadline of August 9. Sign up at the link below.

    Need to log dives to maintain your scientific diving authorization?

    Spend a day with us on beautiful Catalina Island while you log those dives! We offer designated dates when you can access our facility to keep your skills sharp and your authorization current.

    Proficiency dive days are offered monthly and are open to active USC divers only*. Participants must be current and authorized, provide their own dive gear, and submit a dive plan for approval prior to arrival.

    *If you are a USC diver who has fallen out of active status due to infrequent diving, but you otherwise meet all the requirements, you may request to join a proficiency dive day for a checkout dive.

     

    Additional Training

    The Wrigley Institute also offers dive training to fit varying needs shared by our community. These trainings can range from intro-level courses for pre-divers to advanced training for those who have extensive experience.

    Fall 2026 Trainings

    Discover Scientific Diving

    This training introduces USC students to the experience of scuba diving. No prior dive experience is required. If you’re thinking about registering for the Maymester 2027 scientific diving course, this training is a perfect first step!

    Dates: October 23 and November 12

    Location: PED Pool, USC University Park Campus

    Register at the link below

    Visiting Divers and Dive Groups

    Are you looking to conduct independent underwater research around Catalina Island? Or are you a dive group in search of a training or practice facility?

    Catalina Island’s marine sanctuaries, located just 22 miles from Los Angeles, provide a unique setting for studying and learning in protected waters, while our on-staff dive and waterfront teams provide expert technical and safety support.

    Options – including housing, dining, labs, and meeting spaces – are available for day trips or extended stays.

    an underwater scene showing corals of various shapes and sizes, as well as macroalgae and rocks
    an underwater scene showing corals of various shapes and sizes, as well as macroalgae and rocks
    an underwater scene showing corals of various shapes and sizes, as well as macroalgae and rocks
    an underwater scene showing corals of various shapes and sizes, as well as macroalgae and rocks

    A Dive Location Like No Other

    The Wrigley Marine Science Center’s Big Fisherman Cove and Catalina Island’s coastal waters provide a remarkable setting for dive training and ocean research. Part of California’s Marine Protected Area Network and Mission Blue’s Hope Spot network, the cove and nearby waters were recently added to the IUCN’s Green List of exceptional conservation areas worldwide.

    With visibility that is often remarkably clear, the area offers a mix of healthy kelp forests, eelgrass beds, sandy bottom, and rocky reefs populated by an incredible depth and breadth of marine life. From numerous types of snails and nudibranchs all the way to giant sea bass, countless species thrive at all life stages.

    Click through the gallery for a snapshot of what you might encounter when you visit.

    Scientific divers work underwater with tape measure
    The View From Here

    Book Your Visit

    Submit a reservation request