Diving and Boating Board

Diver photo

About the Diving and Boating Board

The organizational reporting structure of the Diving and Boating Board (DBB) reports to the Division of Administrative Affairs and is supported administratively by EH&S.

It is the goal of the DBB to promote the safety, availability, and accessibility of Diving and Boating activities for research and education, aligned with FAU's academic and research mission.

Board Members

The DBB is comprised of FAU faculty researchers and staff representatives of both the scientific Diving and Boating activities with a knowledge of those specializations within FAU's programs to serve as voting members. Members from the Division of Research serve as non-voting members to provide council and administrative coordination within the Board.

Florida Atlantic University, Diving and Boating Board

Voting Members:

Matthew Ajemian, Ph.D., Chair, Associate Research Professor,
John Baldwin, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Faculty Development and Professor, College of Science;
Chelsea Bennice, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Biological Sciences;
Michelle Petersen, Ph.D., Assistant Research Professor;;
James Nelson, Primary Diving & Boating Safety Officer,
Joshua Voss, Ph.D., Associate Research Professor,
Andia Chaves Fonnegra, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biology

Non-Voting Members

Wendy Ash Graves, Director, Environmental Health & Safety
Elisa Gaucher, Assistant Vice President for Research, Division of Research
Brian Bennett, Diving and Boating Safety Officer

Contacts

Matthew Ajemian, Ph.D., Chair, Associate Research Professor
HBOI
majemian@fau.edu

Wendy Ash Graves, MBA, CSP
Director, Environmental Health and Safety
washgraves@fau.edu

Jimmy Nelson
Diving and Boating Safety Officer, Harbor Branch
jnelso40@fau.edu

Brian Bennett
Diving and Boating Safety Officer, Boca Raton
bennettb@fau.edu

Diving and Boating Safety Program (EH&S)

The board will collaborate with the EH&S Diving and Boating Safety Program in EH&S to expand on the research enterprise and sail toward FAU's goal of becoming a top research-intensive institution.

For information about the Diving and Boating Safety Program, visit the EH&S Diving and Boating website here .

DBB Charter

DBB Guidance Documents

The following guidance is provided by the DBB to assist researchers in complying with FAU policies and procedures related to diving and boating activities.

FAU Qualified Boat Operator Training Requirements
Applicability of the Diving and Boating Release and Waiver of Liability
MOCC Training Requirements
First Aid/CPR Training Requirements
Training Requirements for non-Motorized canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards

DBB 2025 Meeting Dates

Meetings are conducted on the first Tuesday of each month unless otherwise noted. Dates are subject to change.

DBB Meeting Dates

January 10, 2025

February 7, 2025

March 7, 2025

April 4, 2025

May 2, 2025

June 6, 2025

July 9, 2025

August 1, 2025

September 5, 2025

October 3, 2025

November 7, 2025

December 5, 2025

DOI-MOCC Training

The DOI-MOCC Motorboat Operator course is required of all new FAU boat operators and includes one day of online training required before class and two days of field instruction.

Prospective candidates should complete and return the FAU Boat Safety Program Boat Application with a PI/Supervisor signature as soon as possible. There are limited seats assigned on a first-come basis. Please return applications to FAU the Diving and Boating Safety Officers Brian Bennett Jimmy Nelson

Visit the Environmental Health & Safety Boating Safety Program page for information on training dates and requirements.