By contributing to Project Baseline, you are joining a global team of concerned and invested citizens who share underwater observations, normally inaccessible to the public, with divers and non-divers alike. We welcome volunteer participation from all divers whether you’re an advanced technical diver, a beginning scuba diver, a free diver, or a snorkeler.
How to Get Involved?
There are a number of ways to get involved and support Project Baseline. We are a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization that relies heavily on membership, donations and volunteer support to fulfill our mission. We hope that you will find an option below that best suites your generous contribution to our program
Engagement Steps:
There are a variety of ways to get involved with Project Baseline. Here are five simple engagement steps anyone can use as focus to begin their journey of conservation and help protect, preserve, and restore our precious underwater ecosystems.
- CHOOSE
- Choose to get involved then choose where you want to contribute.
- CONTRIBUTE
- Go diving, record what you see, share that with the world through the Project Baseline Database.
- ENGAGE
- Engage with your community. Learn about the threats to your environment. Tailor your efforts accordingly. Build a team of divers to define baselines for your environment.
- COLLABORATE
- Identify the research, management, and/or conservation efforts underway in your environment. Help them achieve their objectives.
- SPEAK OUT
- Speak up for your environment. Engage with your community and your legislators to advocate for the protection of your environment.
Notice for all Project Baseline volunteers:
Project Baseline does not support diving activities that are beyond your certification/experience level or outside of your comfort zone. When diving to engage in Project Baseline activities, do so in the same manner as if you were diving with friends. If you have doubts about any aspect of a Project Baseline dive, your diving partner(s) or team, choose not to participate until your concerns are satisfactorily addressed.
Project Managers
Project Managers take on the primary responsibilities of managing a Project Baseline area. Responsibilities and qualifications typically include:
- Current certification of any level from any SCUBA agency
- Recruit and manage volunteers who support your Project Area
- Establish the overall goals, objectives and diving schedule for your Project and team
- Manage Data Uploads to the Project Baseline database using the web-based interface
- Maintain communication with Program Manager
- Participate in remote monthly Project Manager Council Meetings
- Establish and maintain local community connections with the public as well as appropriate local and regional environmental regulating agencies
- Manage Public Relations material for web and print media
- Participate in outreach events by hosting or attending informal socials, events, public forums and meetings
To initiate your own Project area, please contact our Program Manager or visit the Project Standards page for more details.
Site Managers
Site Managers report to the Project Manager and oversee a specific Site within a large Project area. Responsibilities and qualifications typically include:
- Current certification of any level from any SCUBA agency
- Recruit and manage volunteers supporting your Site
- Establish Site specific goals, objectives and diving schedule for the teams tasked with managing a Site
- Coordinate with the Project Manager as needed to manage Data Uploads to the Project Baseline database using the web-based interface
- Maintain regular communication with Project manager
- Work with the Project manager to establish and maintain local community connections with the public as well as appropriate environmental regulating agencies
- Participate in outreach events by hosting or attending informal socials, events, public forums and meetings
Parties interested in becoming a volunteer Site manager should contact the nearest Project Manager. Visit the Project pages on www.projectbaseline.org for Project contacts. If no Project exists near your home, please contact the Program manager.
Support Divers
Support Divers assist the Project managers (and Site managers where applicable) with all aspects of Project area management. Responsibilities and qualifications typically include:
- Current certification of any level from any SCUBA agency
- Coordinates with Project manager to monitor stations and submit underwater observations collected at each Station to the Project Baseline database
- Maintain regular communication with Project (or Site) manager
- Assist Project manager with Public Relations and Outreach efforts
- Share unique skills sets and resources with team as Project needs demand
Community Supporters
Community Supporters assist the Project manager (and Site managers where applicable) and Support divers with many aspects of Project Baseline area management. Responsibilities typically include:
- Assist Project manager and Support divers with dive logistics
- Contribute surface or land-based observations to database
- Shares special skill sets with Project team (Information technology, web design/applications, encourage and expand community connections and networking, fundraising/event planning and coordination, scientific experience, data collection and processing)
- Not required to hold a SCUBA certification