Academic Diving Program
Underwater Science Faculty and Staff
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Director: Charles
D. Beeker has been directing the Academic Diving Program since 1984 and the
Underwater Science Program since 1991. Mr. Beeker, a Registered Profesional Archaeologist, has been a faculty member with the School of Health Physical
Education and Recreation (HPER) since 1980 and has lead numerous underwater
research projects throughout the United States and Caribbean.
- Research Associate: Ania Budziak has received Master Degrees in Environmental Policy and Environmental Science from the School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA) and assists in all aspects of program management and development. As a PADI Assistant Instructor, Ania assists in teaching scuba related courses as well as in design and implementation of underwater field projects.
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Diving Safety Officer: Nicole Wiegand
is a graduate student at the IU School of Education. As a PADI instructor,
Nicole teaches scuba certification courses and is responsible for the
administration of the Academic Diving Program. As an undergraduate,
Nicole was among the first IU students to obtain the Underwater Resource
Management Certificate, and has participated in numerous IU research
projects.
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Undergraduate Research Assistants
- Laura Burke is currently majoring in Therapeutic Recreation through the
School of HPER, working towards her undergraduate certificate
in Underwater Resource Management. Last summer she conducted field work in the Florida Keys, where she dove various shipwrecks,
including USS Spiegel Grove, and documented changes to artificial reefs. As a certified PADI divemaster, she is now working towards her AI certification.
In the future she hopes to be a professional dive instructor, teaching people with disabilities how to dive.
- Haley Merritt is currently
working towards her major in Psychology through the College of Arts and Sciences and
minoring in animal behavior, while working on a certificate in Underwater Resource
Management. She also assists Charles Beeker with the conservation and
restoration of various archeological artifacts. She is a certified PADI diver pursuing her Advanced
Certification and Scientific Diver Speciality Certification.

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Program
URL: http://www.indiana.edu/~scuba/academic/staff.html
Last updated: January 18, 2006
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Diving Program
Copyright 2006,
The Trustees of Indiana University.