Spotlighting 75 Years of Scientific Diving at Scripps

For more than a century, researchers at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography have explored the ocean in pursuit of scientific discovery, from global seafaring expeditions to observations along the San Diego coast.

Ships, small boats and piers have all played a role in advancing ocean science, as have snorkels and surface-supplied diving equipment. But the invention of modern scuba equipment in the 1940s, and its adoption by Scripps Oceanography scientists in 1951, ushered in a new era of underwater exploration. It was during this time that Scripps researchers helped establish the practices and safety standards that came to shape scientific diving, with ripples across the University of California system and beyond.

To mark 75 years of leadership in scientific diving, Scripps Oceanography hosted the annual American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS) Diving for Science Symposium from Oct. 5-10, 2026. Held on the Scripps campus and across La Jolla, the program covered the past, present and future of scientific diving through presentations, workshops and hands-on training activities.

Scripps Oceanography Director Meenakshi Wadhwa opened the Oct. 9 symposium session at the Scripps Seaside Forum, reflecting on the progress made across more than seven decades of scientific diving.