Marine Diving Technician
Certificate of Achievement (C) Marine Diving Technologies · Santa Barbara City College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Overview
A certificate of achievement as a Marine Diving Technician certifies professional commercial divers for employment under ANSI/ACDE-01-1998 industry standards. The training curriculum includes instruction in all phases of commercial diving, hyperbaric medicine, bell/saturation diving emergency medicine, and remote operated vehicles (ROV’s) to name but a few. Teamwork and Safety are the prime emphases of marine technician training. Students completing the certificate program receive industry certifications which are required for employment. Students completing the full certificate program have the option to seek employment in the marine industry or combine their completed coursework toward an Associate in Science degree in Marine Technology at SBCC.
Admission Requirements: The program is open to all interested students to both diving and non-diving classes.
- Non-diving students submit an SBCC Application to Admissions Office.
- Students enrolling in diving classes, provide proof of diving certification and submit the Department Application for Diving
Requirements
Certificate of Achievement Requirements
Complete all Major Requirements for the Certificate of Achievement with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or better. Candidates for a Certificate of Achievement are required to complete at least 20% of the major requirements through SBCC.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Major Requirements | ||
| Required Core | ||
| MDT 101 | Information and Introduction to Marine Diving Technology | 0.3 |
| MDT 104 | Fundamentals and Practices of Diving | 2 |
| MDT 105 | Advanced Scuba Techniques | 1.7 |
| MDT 106 | Open Water Navigation And Rescue | 0.7 |
| MDT 107 | Hyperbaric Chamber Operations | 1.5 |
| MDT 108 | Rigging | 1 |
| MDT 109 | Seamanship and Small Boat Handling | 1.5 |
| MDT 111 | First Aid For The Diving Professional | 1.4 |
| MDT 112 | Introduction To Marine Welding | 1.1 |
| MDT 140 | Principles Of Surface-Supplied Diving | 1 |
| MDT 141 | Commercial Diving Equipment | 1.5 |
| MDT 142 | Surface-Supplied Ocean Diving | 1.8 |
| MDT 143 | Mixed Gas Diving | 1.1 |
| MDT 145 | Principles Of Underwater Cutting And Welding | 1 |
| MDT 146 | Advanced Underwater Cutting And Welding | 1.5 |
| MDT 147 | Ocean Structures | 0.5 |
| MDT 148 | Hydraulics I | 0.7 |
| MDT 152 | Underwater Tools And Inspection | 1.7 |
| MDT 154 | Bell And Saturation Diving Procedures | 1.7 |
| MDT 179 | Nitrox Diving | 0.8 |
| MDT 190 | Assessment And Development Of Diving Competence | 1 |
| Total Units | 25.50 | |
Recommended Electives
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 124 | Biological Oceanography | 3-4 |
| orBIOL 142 | Marine Science | |
| orERTH 151 | Introductory Physical Oceanography | |
| BIOL 125 | Marine Biology | 4 |
| CS 101 | Computer Concepts | 4 |
| DRFT 101 | Basic Drafting | 3-5 |
| orDRFT 130 | Computer-Assisted Drafting And Design I | |
| orENGR 105 | Engineering Graphics | |
| EMT 110 | Emergency Medical Technician-Basic | 8 |
| PE 134A | Swimming For Conditioning: Beginning | 1.5 |
| PHYS 101 & PHYS 101L | Conceptual Physics and Conceptual Physics Laboratory | 4 |
Learning Outcomes
- Meet the qualifications of an entry-level commercial diver established by the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the United States Coast Guard, the American National Standards Institute and the Association of Diving Contractors
- Comprehend physical laws governing hyperbaric and industrial operations in a marine environment
- Conduct hyperbaric and industrial-related activities safely and in accordance with recognized agency and industry standards
- Apply knowledge of diving techniques and associated capabilities to determine proper operational procedures for diverse marine-related construction, inspection, maintenance, repair and decommissioning projects
- Perform the assigned duties of an entry-level diver as an individual or member of a support team in a safe, effective and efficient manner
Recommended Sequence
Make an appointment with your SBCC academic counselor through Starfish to create a Student Education Plan that reflects a recommended course sequence for this program that is tailored to your individual needs.
How to schedule an Academic Counseling appointment.