ACCelerating Equity & Success in SCUBA Diving

For many UCSC undergraduates, SCUBA diving isn’t just an adventure, it’s a gateway to becoming future marine scientists and ocean advocates. ACCESSdiving removes financial and cultural barriers so that any student, regardless of background, can experience diving and begin to imagine themselves as part of the next generation of ocean stewards.

This spring, we’ll bring students together for a day they’ll never forget. They’ll learn to use dive gear, breathe underwater for the first time, and connect them with mentors and future colleagues. These experiences build confidence, self-efficacy, and a deep sense of belonging while helping students explore research pathways and become part of UCSC’s vibrant diving community.

Your gift directly funds the Spring 2026 SCUBA Experience, covering gear, instruction, and safety costs, so that more students can take their first breath underwater and their first steps toward becoming marine scientists. In its first year, ACCESSdiving reached nearly 70 students and distributed over $10,000 in donated gear. With your support, we’ll ensure that 30+ new students can safely dive, learn, and find belonging in the world of underwater science.

Check out some of our ACCESSdiving alumni statements:

• “I feel very capable of getting SCUBA certified. [Participating in the SCUBA Experience] made me realize that I want to pursue this outside of UCSC.” (BIOE 20F 2024, SCUBA Experience)
• “I didn’t think grad school was something for me, but after talking to the ACCESS team, I felt it was something I could do.” (ACCESS Spring 2025 Cohort)
• “I learned how to use fins, felt a lot better about snorkeling, and learned how to use a BCD and stabilize in the water. I feel a lot more confident now in my ability to successfully complete SCUBA certification. Also, because I don’t have a lot of free weekends to get officially certified, this experience was super available...” (ACCESS Alumni, 2024–25)

Together, we are shaping a new generation of marine leaders.

For more information about ACCESSdiving, please visit our website.