The final SEP assessment for FY2001 has been made at a cost of $355 per unit diver. All units will be assessed for divers in possession of equipment and/or personnel actively diving for the unit during FY2000. Units will be assessed half or all of this amount depending upon the length of time this gear was held by the diver or unit and/or the diving activity of the diver. These monies go towards the replacement of diving gear and the purchase of new gear to be issued to newly certified divers. This amount is a $15 increase over the FY2000 assessment. This increase is due in part to a general increase in all equipment costs and to the continued efforts to replace drysuit stocks.

If you have not submitted your “NOAA DIVING PROGRAM ANNUAL REPORT INFORMATION” to your Line Office Diving Officer or, for the ships, NDC..... you’re late !!! Please submit this report yesterday, or as soon as possible. It was mailed out to all units and is also available online. The LODO’s prepare a report based upon submissions from units in their line offices and forward it to NDC. The Dive Center then prepares a final program wide report based on the forms submitted from the ships and the reports submitted from the LODO’s. And, if it hasn’t been painfully obvious as of late, remember...every vote, errr...report counts! You have my promise that all reports will be hand counted upon receipt at NDC.

The January 2001 Working Diver and Divemaster courses are full (overflowing in fact). No new applications are being accepted for this course. In order to maintain a requested slot, units must ensure that NDC promptly receives required materials for enrolled candidates. Failure to submit required information in a timely manner may result in the loss of a slot . Forms required are available either by request or by visiting our website: http://www.ndc.noaa.gov/uds/forms.htm. May classes in Seattle are also filling fast . Please contact Laurie Barber if your unit has candidates for either May course.

The following training classes are currently scheduled for calendar year 2000:

Please note that the further ahead classes are projected the more tentative their dates. More information may be found on our website or contact Laurie Barber at NDC.