Introduction

As divers, we have a vested interest in protecting the marine environment. In many cases, divers do not have environmental information about their own local sites. This specialty is designed to increase the Open Water Diver’s understanding of marine and freshwater environments, the problems facing these unique ecosystems, and the role that divers can play in protecting our marine resources.

Course Structure And Duration

Open Water execution:

1. Two (2) dives are required with complete briefs and debriefs by the Instructor.
2. Dive plan must include Surface interval, Max no-deco time, etc. to be figured out and logged.

Required Skill Performance And Graduation Requirements

Dives must be completed at two (2) different sites or at different times of the day. Students are required to successfully complete the following:

1. Open Water – Dive one (1)
a. Buoyancy Control.
b. Make General observations
I. Location.
II. Bottom Composition.
III. Marine Life.
IV. Special Characteristics.
V. Indications of Human Impact.
c. Grid Observations
I. Make two separate sets of grid observations during the dive.
II. Describe all Marine Life for later identification.
III. Record behavior.
2. Open Water – Dive (2) (Complete this dive at a different site or time of day than dive one (1))
a. General Observations
I. Same as Open water dive one (1).
b. Specific Observations
I. Same as Open water dive one (1).
3. Site Debrief
a. Compare and Contrast dive sites.
b. Discuss the effect of Human impacts.
c. Discuss ways to minimize human impact.

COST

$135.00