2 week Volunteer Marine Conservation Program

PADI Scuba Diving Courses + Reef Check Training

Overview

Tropical coral reefs are a wonder of nature, and yield an incredible diversity of aquatic species.  If you’ve ever tried diving or snorkeling over a tropical reef, I’m sure you were amazed by the vivid colors and masses of marine life from tiny macroscopic species to colorful reef fish, moray eels, sting rays and turtles.

Yet, as the world becomes increasingly developed, these fragile eco-systems are at ever-increasing risk. Now more than ever it’s critical that we are aware of what’s happening and take the necessary steps to protect our natural resources.

This is especially true for the tropical reefs surrounding the island of Koh Tao, Thailand.

Over the past 20 years, diving tourism has put Koh Tao on the tourist map, generating a lot of revenue for the local area. Each year, the island receives more and more visitors, eager to experience the tropical island paradise.

But the expansions of resorts, increasing numbers of tourists, and high volume of divers puts a lot of stress on our corals reefs. Combined with the continual industrialization of the Gulf of Thailand, a number of factors now threaten the healthiness of the reefs and marine life around the island.

It’s of paramount importance that we monitor the condition of the reefs around Koh Tao, and act accordingly based on our findings.

Founded in 1996, the Reef Check Foundation has developed an internationally recognized standard format for collecting data, with findings reported back to a centralized database which allows scientists to appreciate the big picture.

Based in L.A. the Reef Check Foundation now integrates data collected by volunteers in more than 90 countries, with the collective findings leading to beneficial solutions for coral reefs across the globe. Reef Check studies are used by both the United Nations and European Union amongst others.

This program combines PADI diving courses and Reef Check training, allowing you to become an active participant in preserving our tropical coral reefs.

Structure

This program is setup in two steps.

First we’ll proceed through PADI scuba diving courses in sequence, teaching you to dive and developing your scuba skills and knowledge so that you become an environmentally responsible diver.

Then we move into the marine conservation course, where you’ll learn and practice the skills to conduct reef surveys, submit data and contribute to the worldwide Reef Check Database.

Let’s look in detail at exactly what’s included and involved.

Part 2: Marine Conservation training

This program trains you participate in a Reef Check surveys and gives you the opportunity to practice those skills on the tropical coral reefs around Koh Tao.

Each day, we’ll run through theory work in the morning, teaching you proper procedures and improving your ability to identify different coral and marine life species.  We’ll focus on fish, invertebrates and substrates, with classroom sessions including interactive presentations and short quizzes to check your understanding.

Then each afternoon, we’ll be out diving, applying what you’ve learnt and collecting real data from the Koh Tao dive sites.

The final day of the course covers how to report your findings, with data entry into the Reef Check database. You’ll receive certifications from PADI’s Project Aware [in conjunction with the University of Queensland, Australia] and the Reef Check Ecodiver certification.

Materials and Certifications

Included in the cost of the program is absolutely all the course materials you’ll need. Specifically you’ll get:

• PADI Open Water manual
• PADI Advenures in Diving manual
• Emergency First Response Manual
• PADI Rescue Diver Manual
• PADI Aware “Our World, Our Water” Specialty manual
• Log binder
• Reef Check CD Rom

Plus you’ll get certifications for each of the courses – PADI Open Water, PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy Specialty, PADI Advanced Open Water diver, Emergency First Responder, PADI Rescue Diver, Project Aware and Reef Check Ecodiver.