Diving Opportunities

UMaine: John H. Dearborn Scientific Diving Scholarship

This $500 scholarship is available to a UMaine student who is majoring in Marine Sciences and currently enrolled in the SMS324: Intro to Research Diving class. The application process is announced during class activities.

Dr. John H. Dearborn began his career at the University of Maine in 1966 in the Department of Zoology and retired in 1999 as Professor Emeritus of Marine Sciences. His love for teaching and the interactions with his students over three decades was a highlight of his career. This scholarship in his memory was established in 2011 with a gift from J. F. White Contracting Company and renewed by an anonymous donor in 2013.  Click here to donate to the Dearborn scholarship.

Past recipients include:  

  • 2012: Joshua Manning and Hillary Scannell
  • 2013: Jacqueline Rosa
  • 2014: Audrey Knowlton
  • 2015: Melissa Hoffman and Zachary Topor
  • 2016: Adam Desjardins (Summer), Teiga Martin (Summer), and Katherine Miller (Fall)
  • 2017: Julia MackinMcLaughlin (Summer), and Katherine Lasdin (Fall)
  • 2018: Megan Amico
  • 2019: Montana Benning (Summer) and Jason Morrill (Fall)
  • 2020: Joshua Lynn
  • 2021: Kyle Oliveira (Summer) and Allie Ouimet (Fall)
  • 2022: Everett Rzeszowski (Summer) and Caitlin Haley (Fall)
  • 2023: Matt Yost (Summer) and Allison Fargo (Fall)
  • 2024: Hope Bowden (Fall) and Celestial Fish (Fall)
  • 2025: Chloe Root (Summer) and Sean Engelsen (Fall)

Other Diving Opportunities

A number of other scientific diving related internships & scholarships are available from the organizations listed below. Note that the information on this page may be out of date. Please refer to each organization’s website for up-to-date information.

AAUS Scholarships

The American Academy of Underwater Sciences Foundation awards several research, travel, and training scholarships each year. These opportunities have varying deadlines so read each description carefully. Link to scholarship descriptions.

  • Research Scholarships (MS and PhD)
  • Foundational Instruction for New SCUBA Scientists (FINSS)
  • Kevin Flanagan Student Travel Award
  • Cheryl Thacker Diving Safety Professional Training Program
  • Mike Dardeau Diving Safety Professional Immersion Program

AAUS & OWUSS Scientific Diving Internships

The American Academy of Underwater Sciences has collaborated with the Our World-Underwater Scholarship Society to create two AAUS-OWUSS scientific diving internships:

  • Dr. Lee H. Somers Scientific Diving Internship
  • Mitchell Scientific Diving Research Internship

Both opportunities provide undergraduates with the experience and skills necessary for a future in underwater research, science, and related fields. The University of Maine Scientific Diving Program hosted interns in 2014 and 2015. 

Our World-Underwater Scholarship Society (OWUSS)

In addition to supporting the Dr. Lee H Somers Scientific Diving Internship and the Mitchell Scientific Diving Research Internship, OWUSS supports several other diving-related opportunities including: Dr. Glen H. Egstrom Divers Alert Network (DAN) Diver’s Health and Safety Research Internship, Divers Alert Network (DAN) Diver’s Safety Internship, National Park Service Research Internship, Dr. Jamie L. King Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) Marine Conservation Internship, and the Paul L. Schutt Underwater Photography Internship.

Women Divers Hall of Fame (WDHOF)

The Women Divers Hall of Fame ™ (WDHOF) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring and raising awareness of the contributions of outstanding women divers. WDHOF provides educational, mentorship, financial, and career opportunities to the diving community throughout the world. Each year, WDHOF awards scholarships and training grants that provide financial and educational support to individuals of all ages.

Divers Alert Network (DAN)

DAN is committed to encouraging young minds interested in dive medicine, research and safety to pursue their interests through the DAN Internship Program. Participants will have the opportunity to learn, develop and enhance professional skills that can lead directly to career advancement.

Academy of Underwater Arts & Sciences (AUAS)

The Zale Parry Scholarship, which debuted in 2006, is awarded annually to an outstanding young man or woman diver who is enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate academic program or who is engaged in accredited field work in undersea exploration, marine conservation, hyperbaric medical research or diving equipment technology. The goal of the Zale Parry Scholarship is to encourage and enable future generations of divers to carry on Zale Parry’s legacy.

PADI Foundation

The PADI Foundation encourages and supports research and education related to aquatic environments. The Foundation will fund and assist worthwhile projects that either: Enrich mankind’s understanding of aquatic environments and encourage sensitivity to and protection of ecosystems; Increase understanding of sport diving physics and physiology that will benefit the general diving public and add to the scientific understanding of man’s relationship and ability to survive in the underwater environment; or improve understanding of, and response to, hazards to humans and ecosystems related to climate change in coastal and ocean environments.