Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) is renowned as one of the leading two-year community colleges in California and the nation. The quality of its teaching faculty, academic and occupational programs, student services and modern facilities on a scenic seaside campus provide an environment in which learning thrives. SBCC offers much to its students —convenience, affordable cost, career and counseling services, quality instruction, and diverse curriculum.
      SBCC a firm believer in marine technical training, has invested significant resources to enhance an already well established program to meet future needs. The applied hands-on-curriculum has been enhanced greatly to bring new technologies into the program. SBCC currently enrolls approximately 120 students in the Marine Diving Technology (MDT) program—established in 1968—which has traditionally been primarily focused on entry level commercial diving/technician training.
     The department has four full time tenured instructors and six part-time faculty members to run the program. Two of the faculty, program Director Don Barthelmess and instructor Dan Vasey, have extensive operational backgrounds with undersea vehicles prior to coming to SBCC to teach. They have a combined experience of more than 30 years.
      In 1998, the department was recognized with the "Exemplary Program Award" from the State of California chancellor's office. Only two such awards given amongst the entire group of 107 community colleges in California. SBCC recently built a new 5,000 square foot state-of-the-art welding facility as an extension to the existing marine technology facility with new welding and fabrication stations.
     In addition, SBCC's MDT also received a first-time award for academic excellence and contributions to the Marine Technology Society (MTS) and remote operations vehicle (ROV) industry.

Reprinted from Sea Technology