gap year PROGRAMS
Marine Conservation
Our Scientific Diver professional-level certification course is an intensive training program designed to meet all the competency standards of the European Scientific Diver qualification. The course is aimed towards anyone interested in working in the environmental consulting industry, for conservation NGO's, or working with marine parks.
Learn Scientific Diving Techniques and Participate in Research Diving Courses taught by Marine Biologists, PADI and CMAS Instructors.
INCLUDED:
4 week Scientific Diver Course
30 nights in our onsite 7 bed Dormitory
Return transfer from Bali
Materials
Standard SCUBA equipment
Required to purchase:
SMB and Reel
Dive Computer
Mask
This internship takes place at our beach-front dive centre and classroom. Dive sites during the program are within the Nusa Penida Marine Park.
This course complies with the European Scientific Diving Panel (ESDP) Common Practices for Recognition of European Competency Levels for Scientific Diving at Work and the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS) Standards for Scientific Diving
The Scientific Diving Course takes place over 4 weeks and consists of the following week-long modules:
Scientific Diving Fundamentals Module. This is the core week for students to meet performance requirements of the CMAS Scientific Diver certification. During this fundamentals week students go through safety standards for working underwater. Topics include advanced dive planning, dive accident management, risk assessment and use of specialized dive equipment. This week is heavy in diving theory with emphasis on decompression theory, physics and physiology of diving.
Coral Reef & Marine Ecology Module. The week starts with an in-depth "Introduction to Marine Ecology" lecture which ties in knowledge specific to the areas you will be diving in the Nusa Penida Marine Park. Each day then includes specific task-orientated diving and lectures in topics from coral health, marine invertebrates and tropical reef fish identification. This module in species identification is required to then follow on with the Reef Health Monitoring.
Reef Health Monitoring Week. In this week we will learn about several survey techniques used to monitor coral reef health. The Coral Watch Coral Health Chart to assess corals for bleaching. You will also learn to use standard Reef Check scientific survey techniques to monitor coral, fish and invertebrate species on a reef. We also practice several standardized survey techniques used by both the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority & Nusa Penida Marine Park's long term monitoring project.
Coral Restoration Week. This program is conducted as a workshop in which you take part in Blue Corner Marine Research's ongoing coral restoration project. During this week you will learn about the science of restoration ecology and how it applies to marine environments. You will also learn several techniques in coral propogation, monitor nursery corals and transplant corals onto modular reef structures. Taught by our in-house marine biologist and certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner.
Prerequisites: Rescue Diver (or higher) & 30 logged dives