Did you know the Alaska Dive Semester at UAS equips students for careers in Alaska’s marine industries?
May 27, 2025
Why it matters:
Since 2017, the University of Alaska Southeast has offered the Alaska Dive Semester,
a hands-on training program in scientific diving. Graduates gain certifications and
field experience essential for work in fisheries, marine research and environmental
monitoring. These fields are vital to Alaska’s economy and communities.
The experience:
Students spend the semester at the UAS Sitka Campus, progressing from basic SCUBA
skills to advanced underwater research techniques. The curriculum includes cold-water
survival, species identification, data collection, small skiff handling and outboard
engine maintenance.
Kelsey Stansberry, a student from Salmon, Idaho, shared her experience in a blog post for the the Franke Global Leadership Initiative at the University of Montana:
“The Alaska Dive Semester was the most eye-opening, learning intensive, and physically demanding four months of my life. Having never scuba dove before, within the first two weeks I was diving in a dry suit in 34-degree Fahrenheit water in the Sitka Sound.”
Her training led to summer positions as a fisheries technician in Yakutat and Juneau.
Instructor perspective:
Joel Markis, a fisheries professor at UAS and lead instructor for the dive program,
says the curriculum is built to challenge students and help them grow into self-sufficient
scientists.
“We’ve had students come here who had never even seen the ocean,” Markis said in a Study Break video interview produced by the National Student Exchange. “By the end of the semester, they’re planning dives, driving boats and conducting research dives with little to no supervision. It’s a huge transformation—and it’s why we teach the course.”
In the final three weeks of the semester, students complete local internships conducting species surveys, assisting in harbor cleanups and photo-documenting marine habitats.
By the numbers:
- Eighth year of operation
- 13 academic credits
- More than 600 collective dives per season
- More than six certifications, including:
- AAUS scientific diver
- Advanced open water diver
- Dry suit diver
- DAN first aid, CPR and oxygen provider
Why Sitka?
Located on Baranof Island, Sitka is a maritime community with five working harbors,
seafood processors, an Alaska Department of Fish and Game office, and a regional aquaculture
association. Students learn in the heart of a working fishing town, gaining exposure
to Alaska’s commercial, sport and subsistence fisheries.
Outside of class, students connect with the community through events, natural history seminars and a vibrant downtown.
About the Sitka Campus:
Founded in 1962 asSitka Community College, the UAS Sitka Campus now offers programs
in fisheries technology, aquaculture, health information management and law enforcement.
Known for its robust distance learning options, the campus serves students statewide
while also providing place-based learning tied directly to the surrounding marine
ecosystem. Its coastal location and industry connections make it the ideal setting
for dive training and marine-focused careers.
The big picture:
Through rigorous fieldwork and real-world instruction, UAS is preparing the next generation
of scientific divers, marine scientists and fisheries professionals for careers that
support Alaska’s marine economy and environment.
Go Deeper:
Interview with Joel Markis, Alaska Dive Semester instructor
UAS Sitka Alaska Dive Semester video short - Spring 2018
UAS Alaska Dive Semester homepage
Students prepare for an ocean dive (UAS photo)