Marine Conservation Diver Program

Prerequisites

• N1 level or Open Water Diver certification
• Minimum of 10 logged dives
• Minimum age: 16 years
• Minimum of 4 participants

Program includes

• PADI Reef Rescue Diver certification
• PADI Coral Reef Conservation certification
• PADI AWARE Shark Conservation certification
• 1 refresh session / buoyancy work in shallow water
• 6 training dives focused on the marine environment
• 1 “Underwater Naturalist” snorkeling trip by boat
• 4 theoretical presentations: corals and reefs, sharks, fish, sea turtles

In Detail

We begin with a shallow water session to review basic scuba skills, check equipment, and work on buoyancy control. The better you master your buoyancy, the more comfortable you will feel and the less likely you are to touch the reef during your dives.

We also offer a guided snorkeling session to start learning how to identify the different living organisms found on shallow reefs.

Among the four presentations:

• A session based on the PADI Shark Conservation course, complemented by a deeper exploration of shark biology.
• A presentation linked to the PADI Coral Reef Conservation and Reef Rescue Diver courses, to learn more about corals and coral reefs, their importance, the threats they face, and how to assist with coral nursery maintenance.
• A presentation on coral reef fish, exploring their specific characteristics (behavior, reproduction) and learning how to identify the main families.
• A presentation on sea turtles, providing deeper insight into the seven species and highlighting their vulnerability.

Six dives are included in the program:

• Two dives as part of the Shark Conservation course (please note: although we frequently encounter sharks, sightings cannot be guaranteed. Shark observation is not mandatory for PADI certification; species identification will be conducted in all cases).
• Two dives at coral nurseries to participate in their maintenance.
• Two dives dedicated to species identification.

A sample schedule can be provided as an example (subject to change).

You are of course welcome to dive during your free time (additional cost).

Package Marine Biology Group Snorkelers (One Week)

Program includes

• 4 theoretical sessions on marine biology topics: Caribbean Reef Fish / Sharks / Sea Turtles / Corals and Coral Reefs
• One snorkeling session from 8:00 am to 10:00 am on a shallow reef
• One “Island Tour” boat excursion with 3 stops:
  • First snorkeling spot on a shallow reef
  • Second snorkeling spot above the wall, at one of our coral nursery sites
  • Third stop on the beach
• One “Discover Scuba Diving” program — It includes a briefing with the instructor, a shallow confined water session to master basic scuba diving skills, followed by one dive up to 12 m / 40 ft.

The program can be customized.

Package Marine Biology Group Students (One Week)

Program includes

• 4 theoretical sessions on marine biology topics: Caribbean Reef Fish / Sharks / Sea Turtles / Coral and Coral Reefs (including the PADI Coral Conservation certification)
• 1 theoretical training session on reef monitoring, based on the Reef Check protocol
• One snorkeling session from 8:00 am to 10:00 am on a shallow reef site
• One snorkeling session from 8:00 am to 10:00 am on a wall site at one of our coral nurseries
• 1 practical reef monitoring training session while snorkeling – based on the Reef Check protocol
• 1 PADI Scuba Diver course. Includes two shallow water training sessions with skills practice, and two training dives with skills. The course theory must be completed through PADI and purchased separately prior to your arrival.

The program can be adapted: for certified student divers, the first shallow water session is replaced by a Refresh, and three guided exploration dives replace the Scuba Diver course.