Fwd: Request: Share class info for Summer Sci Dive @ DMC

[Ellen Hostert]

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Brian Beal <bb...@maine.edu>
Date: Tue, Apr 28, 2026 at 1:24 PM
Subject: Fwd: Request: Share class info for Summer Sci Dive @ DMC
To: Eric Jones <eric....@maine.edu>, Kathryn Anderson <kathryn....@maine.edu>, William Otto <willia...@maine.edu>, Ellen Hostert <ehos...@maine.edu>, Gayle Kraus <gkr...@maine.edu>, Gerard Zegers <gpze...@gmail.com>

If you think you may have students who are interested, please share.....

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Elisabeth Maxwell <elisabet...@maine.edu>
Date: Tue, Apr 28, 2026 at 11:16 AM
Subject: Request: Share class info for Summer Sci Dive @ DMC
To: Brian Beal <bb...@maine.edu>

Good morning,

I'm the Scientific Diving Coordinator and dive instructor for UMaine SMS based at the DMC. We have several open student slots in our summer dive class and I was wondering if you would circulate this information to any potential students that you know? 

I would be excited to have a few folks from UM Machias participate in the course! 

Key details are listed below and I'm happy to answer any questions.

Thanks in advance!

~Lis

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We have open slots in our summer session of SMS324: Intro to Research Diving. In 2026, this course is being offered as a three-week intensive based at the Darling Marine Center. This is an excellent way to advance your diving skills, add internationally-recognized certifications to your resume, and have a TON of fun diving in Coastal Maine. Please see details below and reach out to me with questions (Course Instructor: Elisabeth Maxwell, elisabet...@maine.edu).

Course Details

• SMS324: Intro to Research Diving (4 credits)
• Schedule: Class meets daily, 0800-1800, from Monday, June 8th to Friday, June 26th. Optional activities may be offered on weekends (13th/14th, 20th/21st) but will not be required for certification. 
• Location: All classes start/end from the Darling Marine Center (Walpole, ME)
• Certifications: Students have the opportunity to earn the PADI Advanced Open Water, PADI Rescue Diver, AAUS Science Diver, and DAN Diving First Aid certifications. Participation does not guarantee certification, each student must demonstrate skill mastery to meet nationally recognized standards.
• Course fee: $1100, includes cost of course materials, certifications, group equipment, in-class transportation, and equipment rental. The course fee is paid to the UMaine Bursar's Office.
• Housing and Meals: Participants are strongly encouraged to stay on campus at the DMC throughout this course. Long days and strenuous field activities make it unsafe for students to drive more than ~20 minutes home. Estimates of housing and meal fees can be found on the DMC website. Due to increased campus activity in the summer, you can expect shared rooms

Enrollment Paperwork

Submit the following paperwork to the Diving Safety Officer, Colby Johns (colby...@maine.edu). Forms are attached as fillable PDFs:

• UMaine SDP Scientific Diver Application
• UMaine SDP Medical Packet (Must be signed by a physician. Read carefully and reach out to DSO with questions)
• Proof of an open water diver certification from a nationally recognized agency, if not already submitted

Once your paperwork is approved by the DSO, you will be enrolled in the summer session.

Personal Dive Gear

Each student is required to have their own personal gear appropriate for diving in coastal Maine. Use of program BCD, regulator, and dive computer are provided. Examples of recommended gear have been compiled by a local dive shop (Aqua Diving Academy) and is attached for your reference. 

• Mask, fins, snorkel
• Exposure protection (7mm full wetsuit at a minimum; 2 piece farmer john style suit recommended)
• Hood, gloves, and boots (5mm or thicker recommended)
• Cutting device/dive knife
• Underwater watch (e.g., Timex, Casio, Freestyle, etc.) Note: This is a watch, not a dive computer

Questions?

Any questions about paperwork, your application or eligibility to participate in the UMaine Dive Program, should be directed to the Diving Safety Officer - Colby Johns (colby...@maine.edu).

Questions specific to class (schedule, assignments, grading, etc.) should be directed to the course instructor - Elisabeth Maxwell (elisabet...@maine.edu).

--

Elisabeth A. Maxwell

Scientific Diving Coordinator | University of Maine Scientific Diving Program

Research Associate | Damian Brady Oceanography Lab

Based at the Darling Marine Center

Cell: 409.659.8216

Email: elisabet...@maine.edu

--

Brian F. Beal,

Professor of Marine Ecology &

Director of the Marine Science Field Station

Division of Integrative Biology and Marine Sciences

University of Maine at Machias

116 O'Brien Avenue

Machias, Maine  04654

Telephone

Office (UMM): (207) 255-1314

Marine Science Field Station: (207) 259-5058

Cellphone: (207) 214-3761

check out UMM's Marine Science Field Station at www.downeastinstitute.org

--

Important!  I check email once a day, and often not at all on weekends.  I will respond to your message.  Thank you for your patience.

Ellen E. Hostert, Ph.D. (she/her)
Professor of Biology
University of Maine at Machias
116 O'Brien Avenue
Machias, ME 04654
(207) 255-1301
ehos...@maine.edu