PORT ORFORD, Ore. - Scientific and recreational scuba divers wanting to study or explore the rocky, subtidal reefs of the southern Oregon coast will be able to breathe a little easier with the opening this month of a scuba fill station at Oregon State University's Port Orford Field Station.

Divers can call the field station at 541-366-2500 to arrange an air fill, and a dive flag will fly during hours of operation to alert divers when the fill service is available. The station is located at 444 Jackson St. in Port Orford.

The work to secure a scuba fill station to help support research and ecotourism was coordinated by Tyson Rasor, coordinator for the Redfish Rocks Community Team, in partnership with OSU and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's Marine Reserves Program. The project was funded primarily through a grant from Travel Oregon, with support from ODFW and the Wild Rivers Coast Alliance.

Funds to maintain the fill station are expected to come largely from donations collected for cylinder fills, according to Kevin L. Buch, the diving and small boat safety officer with OSU's Research Office.

"Scuba fills will be available to approved scientific divers and to recreational divers with proof of certification, valid identification, and a cylinder meeting appropriate industry standards," Buch said. "Advance notice of fill needs is appreciated, since staff members are often in the field."

The fill station, from Syphers of Lummi Island, Washington, is operated under the auspices of the OSU Scientific Diving Program, and administered by Port Orford Field Station manager Tom Calvanese. The station produces certified air up to 3,500 pounds per square inch, and features a four-whip, DIN-compatible fill panel and more than 2,000 cubic feet of gas storage.

Staffing the station will be Oregon State University employees and volunteers from OSU, Redfish Rocks Community Team, and Oregon Coast Aquarium. All operators are certified in high-pressure cylinder HAZMAT and fill station operations.

More information is available by emailing [email protected], or by calling 541-737-6893.

Source: 

Kevin Buch, 541-737-6893, [email protected];

Tom Calvanese, 541-366-2500, [email protected]

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