Diving and Boating Safety Programs

Diver photo

The Â鶹ŮÀÉ Scientific Diving and Boating Programs are administered by Environmental Health and Safety based on the guidelines set forth by the Diving and Boating Board (DBB). The DBB, through the Diving and Boating Safety Officer, establishes University policies and procedures concerning diving and boating operations conducted in conjunction with academic and research activities at Â鶹ŮÀÉ. Day-to-day operations of the Diving and Boating Safety Program are administered by the Diving and Boating Safety Officers under the Â鶹ŮÀÉ Department of Environmental Health and Safety.

Diving and Boating-Related Training

Diving and Boating Safety Program

To Contact the Diving Safety Officers:

Diving and Boating Safety Officer
Â鶹ŮÀÉ
Building 85 - Dive Locker
777 Glades Road
Boca Raton, Fl 33431
tel: 561-334-4412
email: bennettb@fau.edu

Diving and Boating Safety Officer
Harbor Branch at Â鶹ŮÀÉ
Link Building Room 120
5600 US HW 1 North
Fort Pierce, FL 34946
tel: 772.242.2537
cell: 772.766.1159
email: jnelso40@fau.edu
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After hours or in the event of emergency

Cell: 772.766.1159 or 561-334-4412

Diving and Boating Board

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 Â鶹ŮÀÉ's academic and research mission.

The DBB is comprised of Â鶹ŮÀÉ faculty researchers and staff representatives of both the scientific Diving and Boating activities with a knowledge of those specializations within Â鶹ŮÀÉ'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.

Â鶹ŮÀÉ, 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., Research Professor and HBOI Director of Collegiate Education
Carsten Grupstra, Ph.D., Assistant Professor


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
  • Neil D'Arco, Chief Compliance and Ethics Officer

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

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 Â鶹ŮÀÉ'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.

The Diving and Boating Board Charter governs the operations and rules of procedure of the Diving and Boating Board (DBB) and describes the DBB's authority to make decisions that promote safe practices. Charter available upon request.

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

DBB Meeting Dates
January 2, 2026
February 6, 2026
March 12, 2026
April 9, 2026
May 7, 2026
June 11, 2026
July 9, 2026
August 13, 2026
September 10, 2026
October 8, 2026
November 12, 2026
December 10, 2026