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SDI Marine Ecosystems Awareness

SDI MARINE ECO SYSTEMS AWARENESS DIVER

Divers have a vested interest in protecting the marine environment. In many cases, divers do not have environmental information about 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 diver’s play in protecting our marine resources.

SDI Marine Ecosystems awareness hydrocorals macro

Who this course is for:

The certified diver looking for more information to about the underwater world and the impact of divers as well as others have on the environment. How we can preserve the underwater world for generations to come

Course prerequisites

SDI Open Water Scuba Diver, SDI Junior Open Water Diver, or equivalent
Minimum age 18, 10 with parental consent

What you can expect to learn:

The SDI Marine Eco Systems Awareness Diver course takes an in-depth look at all of the following and more:

Physical attributes
Temperature and thermoclines
Salinity and halocline
Dissolved gases
Nutrient circulation
Waves and tides
Currents and nutrient cycling
Topographical features
Marine organisms
Plankton
Aquatic plants
Aquatic animals
Specific local animals
Aquatic food webs
Behavioral changes due to daily cycle
Ecosystems
Tropical reef
Temperate
Freshwater
Environmentally friendly diving techniques
Buoyancy control
Kick technique
Local considerations
Issues facing marine ecosystems
Issues of local interest
Global habitat destruction and pollution
Over fishing
Coral bleaching
Diver animal interactions
Intrusive
Non-intrusive
Feeding
Treating marine life injuries
Observation Techniques
Grids
Passive observation
Collection Methods

Some of the required skills you will have to demonstrate include:

At various sites complete the following:

Maintain good buoyancy control
Make general observations
Location
Bottom composition
Marine life
Special characteristics
Indications of human impact
Grid observations
Make two separate sets of grid observations during each dive
Describe all marine life for later identification
Record behavior
Log Dives
Compare and contrast the dive sites
Discuss the effect of human impacts
Discuss ways to minimize human impact

What’s in it for you:

Upon successful completion of this course, graduates may engage in diving activities without direct supervision of the SDI Instructor* so long as the following limits are adhered to:

Conduct open water dives in conditions similar to their training
The areas of activities approximate those of training
Environmental conditions approximate those of training

*Note: Junior divers (ages 10-14) must participate in diving activities with a parent, guardian, or dive professional.

Also, the SDI Marine Eco Systems Awareness Diver certification counts towards a single specialty rating to achieve the SDI Advanced Diver Development Program.