Facilities & Equipment
Darling Marine Center
The Darling Marine Center serves as the primary home of the UMaine Scientific Diving Program. The shore side location allows for dive training, equipment testing, and other associated activities to be conducted within a few yards of the laboratory. A heated Dive and Field Staging building is available to prepare, store, and clean scuba gear and other field equipment. Personal storage spaces and warm water showers are also available.
Equipment
The UMaine Scientific Diving Program encourages all scientific divers to invest in their own scuba equipment. Scuba cylinders and air fills are available at the Darling Marine Center. Diving operations that demand a large number of cylinders should consider acquiring project specific cylinders.
The UMaine Scientific Diving Program wishes to express our gratitude to everyone who has provided assistance for our diving scientists and students. In addition to assistance provided from within the University, Aqua Diving Academy and Halcyon Manufacturing, Inc. whom have been key partners during this process.
Equipment Rental
UMaine has a limited number of BCDs, regulators, dive computers, and weights available for loan/rental to scientists and students; all other equipment must be provided by individual divers. Contact the DSO regarding equipment availability and fees well in advance of your intended use date.
Donate Now
Please help us continue the tradition of scientific diving at UMaine. The Office of University Development has established a gift account to receive contributions made on behalf of UMaine divers. Any funds donated by alumni or friends of the program will be used exclusively to acquire scuba equipment to assist UMaine students and scientists who wish to conduct underwater research. If you are interested in contributing to the UMaine Scientific Diving Program, please contact Diving Safety Officer, Colby Johns at colby.johns@maine.edu, or simply click on Donate Now.