Dive into Science Participants Advance Their Scientific Diving Journey

By Angelina Komatovich, Dive into Science Program Coordinator and Morgan Murphy-Cannella, Director of Education Program

The first half of 2026 has been filled with exciting milestones for Reef Check’s Dive into Science programs. Across California, participants are building the skills, knowledge, and experience needed to become future leaders in marine science, conservation and community stewardship.

In Northern California, the Kelp Guardian Program with the Tolowa Dee-ni’  continues to make impressive progress. Participants recently spent several days at Smith River completing the hands-on components of their Rescue Diver course, practicing emergency response techniques and diver recovery skills. This summer, the cohort will begin Reef Check’s Kelp Forest Monitoring course before moving into AAUS Scientific Diver training later this year. These certifications will help participants contribute to Tribal stewardship initiatives, marine monitoring efforts and community-led resource management.

Our Northern California Tribal program is also growing, with both returning and new participants advancing through the Dive into Science pathway. Members of the existing cohort are completing Rescue Diver training at Van Damme State Park, while a new group of participants from the Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo and Yurok Tribe are earning their Open Water certifications. These divers will continue into Advanced and Rescue Diver training this summer, helping build a network of Tribal divers prepared to support marine monitoring and stewardship efforts within their communities.

In Southern California, participants from the Coastal Chumash and Tongva communities have been strengthening their skills through proficiency dives in the Channel Islands and recently completed Reef Check’s Kelp Forest Monitoring course on Pimu (Catalina Island). This summer, the cohort will begin AAUS Scientific Diver training, preparing participants for leadership roles in marine science, conservation and Indigenous-led stewardship of culturally important coastal ecosystems.

Another major accomplishment this year was the certification of our newest group of NAUI Rescue Divers in the Southern California youth program. In May, participants traveled to the Catalina Island Marine Institute to complete their training. These divers have already achieved an incredible amount in a short time and are now preparing to begin Reef Check Kelp Forest Monitoring training in July. Most have completed at least 30 open water dives to qualify for the course, marking an important step in their journey toward becoming citizen scientists and marine stewards.

The impact of these programs continues to grow. We are only halfway through the year, and Dive into Science participants have already completed more than 300 dives. Across all programs, participants are gaining scientific diving skills, ecological knowledge and hands-on experience that will strengthen community stewardship and support greater Tribal participation in marine science and conservation for years to come.

We are incredibly proud of the dedication and accomplishments of every participant and look forward to seeing what they achieve in the months ahead.

Special thanks to our funders at the Coastal Commission WHALE TAIL® Grants Program, California Natural Resource Agency’s Youth Community Access program, OPC,  SeaGrant, and the Outdoor Equity Grants Program, created through AB 209 and administered by California State Parks, Office of Grants and Local Services.