National Park Service Submerged Resources Center

While a government shutdown may pause our work for a bit, we couldn’t let it pass without recognizing our 2025 NPS / Our World Underwater Scholarship Society intern, Larkin, who just completed her final park rotation at Yellowstone National Park. Her professionalism, curiosity, and commitment to the mission have set a high bar — truly one of the best we’ve had in over 15 years of hosting these incredible interns.

https://blog.owuscholarship.org/2025/10/yellowstone-my-100th-dive-in-the-first-and-oldest-national-park/

Our World Underwater Scholarship Society, National Park Service, Fourth Element, Yellowstone National Park

From the caves of North Florida to the Channel Islands of Southern California, Larkin’s journey hasn’t been without setbacks. But at last, she’s about to experience the dive she’s dreamed of since her internship began.

"I'm convinced that I've had the most perfect dive ever, and nothing will top it."

https://blog.owuscholarship.org/2025/09/channel-islands-a-dreamland-forest/

Our World Underwater Scholarship Society National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

"If there is one place in the world I absolutely don’t want to be, it’s in a cave. Specifically, an underwater cave."

So when Larkin traveled from Hawaii to North Florida to join NPS divers for a series of cave diving classes, you knew the story was going to be good.

https://blog.owuscholarship.org/2025/09/cave-diving-mastering-the-mind/

Our World Underwater Scholarship Society, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, Fourth Element, Subgravity

At KKalaupapa National Historical Park, Larkin discovered her groove and a kindred park—babysitting monk seals, conducting stream surveys, and experiencing the true dedication of the NPS.

https://blog.owuscholarship.org/2025/09/kalaupapa-why-id-make-a-great-monk-seal/

OOur World Underwater Scholarship SocietyNNational Park ServiceUU.S. Department of the Interior

Summiting the tallest mountain in the world, babysitting endangered monk seals, diving with tiger sharks, and immersing herself in Hawaiian culture — it’s hard to imagine so much could fit into a single week, but somehow Larkin managed.

https://blog.owuscholarship.org/2025/08/kaloko-honokohau-shrimp-are-super-cute/

National Park Service, Our World Underwater Scholarship Society, U.S. Department of the Interior, Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park Hawaii

On her first trip to Hawai‘i, Larkin explored Oʻahu’s crystal-blue waters with former OWUSS alumni and joined NPS Pearl Harbor National Memorial Diving Officer Andy Tandberg for the rare privilege of diving USS Arizona.

https://blog.owuscholarship.org/2025/08/pearl-harbor-the-farthest-west-ive-ever-been/

Our World Underwater Scholarship Society, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior,

Larkin wraps up her time at Biscayne National Park with sea turtle rescues, trap removal, and shipwreck mapping alongside the Junior Scientists of the Sea

https://blog.owuscholarship.org/2025/08/biscayne-week-3/

Our World Underwater Scholarship Society, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior

BISCAYNE WEEK 2 - NO TRAP LEFT BEHIND

Larkin continues her work at Biscayne National Park, assisting with marine debris cleanup and the removal of derelict traps. After hauling out more than 85 abandoned traps and over 5,300 pounds of debris, the team gets a welcome dose of good news — signs of reef recovery on a small patch reef offer a glimpse of hope beneath the surface.

https://blog.owuscholarship.org/2025/07/biscayne-week-2-no-trap-left-behind/

National Park Service, Our World Underwater Scholarship Society, U.S. Department of the Interior

Larkin kicks off her internship at Biscayne National Park by diving in—recovering derelict traps, wrestling stone crabs, and honing her newly discovered underwater photography skills.

Along the way, she’s getting an up-close look at nesting sea turtles, the impacts of marine debris, and the ongoing challenges of protecting our ocean parks.

https://blog.owuscholarship.org/2025/07/biscayne-week-1-eat-or-be-eaten/

Our World Underwater Scholarship Society, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior

https://blog.owuscholarship.org/2025/07/diving-into-denver/

🌊 Meet Larkin Garden, the 2025 National Park Service – Our World Underwater Scholarship Society Diving Research Intern!

A recent graduate of Catawba College with a B.S. in Environment and Sustainability and a concentration in Natural Resource Management, Larkin is already diving into her journey with the NPS.

Her internship began in New York City and continued to Denver, where she joined the Submerged Resources Center to gear up, complete NPS Dive Training, and get a crash course in all things National Park Service.

We’re thrilled to have Larkin on board and can’t wait to follow her travels and work throughout the NPS this year. Stay tuned! 🌎🤿📷

Buoys. As part of its operational capacity, the SRC provides support to NPS units for a wide range of services - both on and beneath the surface.

Over the past week, SRC members have concluded a multi-year mooring replacement effort at Isle Royale National Park including the installation of shipwreck, no wake, and hazard buoys for the summer season.

National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior