Roger and Elizabeth Sippl Diver Training Facility
The scientific diver classes at BML are possible due to the Roger and Elizabeth Sippl Diver Training Facility. The pool not only allows on-site formal training, but is also used for diver refresher sessions (dry suit, rescue, general skills), dive class staff workshops, and equipment testing. This 280,000 gallon concrete pond, required to provide additional fire suppression for the Laboratory expansion, was specifically designed to provide daily service for diver training.
A generous gift from Roger and Elizabeth Sippl, two of the Laboratory’s strongest supporters and avid divers themselves, has allowed us to name the facility in their honor.
BML Enriched Air "Nitrox" (EANx) Facility
The BML SCUBA Fill Station serves field operations for resident and visiting sub-tidal researchers. The importance of providing high quality SCUBA tank fills for air and nitrox is critical for research diving and life support. The facility provides service and training to research projects and scientific divers. The facility consists of a continuous EANx blending system, a Rix 3KB 28cfm oil free compressor, oxygen cleaned air purification system, six cascade banks (three each of air and EANx) and a six cylinder control manifold built by Nitrox Solutions, Inc.
‘Fort Fastenau’ Boating & Diving Safety Classroom
The Diving and Boating Safety Programs now have a dedicated classroom facility. ‘Fort Fastenau' appropriately named as a tribute to longtime dive officer Henry Fastenau, provides expanded training opportunities for divers and boaters and offers a wet/dry learning environment for aquatic safety and emergency care training. The classroom also serves as a space for hosting project planning meetings, public education, pre-college outreach programs, and graduate studies for visiting universities.
