The Dive Safety Program is to ensure that all scientific diving under the auspices of the University of West Florida (UWF) and the Marine Services Center (MSC) is conducted in a manner that will maximize the protection of scientific divers from accidental injury and/or illness.

The Dive Safety Program is administered by the Dive Safety Officer (DSO) whose job is to develop and implement the Scientific Diving Program. The DSO is the primary support person for diving from our facility and for the operation and maintenance of our dive equipment, waterfront facilities and small boats. He also directs and instructs staff, students and research divers in the safe and efficient operation of marine diving and boating projects and accompanies divers on marine investigations to record scientific data. The DSO supervises deck crew and all operational and safety functions as well as verifying diver certification and maintaining UWF project dive logs. The DSO has operational authority for the diving program, including enforcement of diving safety regulations, approval of dive plans. The DSO also teaches Continuing Education classes.