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Divers renew certifications

PLANO, TEXAS (August 8, 2008)

During the week of August 4, members of the GMI Scientific Dive Team (Amy Whitt, Dr. Tamara Lunsman, Damien Edwards, Juan Levesque, Dr. Ken Deslarzes, and Pete Gehring) had their annual swim test and rescue diver refresher, and attended a scientific diving techniques training course.

GMI divers are required to pass an annual swim test which consists of a 25 yard underwater swim, a 550 yd surface swim without stopping, a 25 yd tow of another swimmer, and a 30 minute tread. The swimming is all done without swim aids.

The rescue diver refresher allows GMI divers to practice and sharpen their in-water rescuing skills. All GMI divers participating in fieldwork requiring SCUBA are rescue diver-certified.

Both the swim test and the rescue diver training are essential to the preparation and execution of safe field operations. The scientific diving training serves both as a review and introduction to state-of-the-art methods, and provides tools for effective communication, planning, and team work.

In addition to this annual training, members of the GMI Scientific Dive Team take part in quarterly dive training. The next session will take place in October.

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