Marine Conservation Expedition with PADI training

Get your PADI Advanced Open Water and PADI Coral Reef Research Diver qualifications as a member of an expedition team working on critical marine conservation Highlights • Earning your PADI Advanced Open Water and PADI Coral Reef Research Diver certificates • Learning how to identify fish and coral in the Indian Ocean. • Exploring different dive sites among the tropical islands of the Seychelles, searching for the incredible ‘mega-fauna’ in the area, such as sharks, rays, and dolphins. • Sharpen your skills, take other extra dive courses with local dive shops. • Developing the techniques needed to survey coral reefs. Travel to the crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean as a member of an expedition team and work on critical marine conservation projects amongst the beautiful islands of the Seychelles. You will contribute towards various conservation-related surveys aimed at providing data to the local government on coral reef research, fish, and invertebrate surveys and assist with the development of an environmental education and awareness program as well as marine plastic pollution cleanups and surveys. You will spend the majority of your time on this expedition scuba diving and as such you need to be qualified to at least PADI Open Water, or equivalent. For non-divers wishing to attend, we can recommend local dive centers that will help you qualify before your intended start date. For all participants in Mahe you will receive the following training: Coral Watch This is a global coral monitoring methodology all volunteers can get involved with. It is separate to our main study focus with Seychelles National Parks Authority, SNPA. It is not required training but an additional presentation offered to volunteers and interns who stay for longer and have more time available. Crown-of-Thorns Star Fish Removal This is a species of starfish that is harmful to both humans and coral. You will learn how to remove these from the reef safely. It is not required training but an additional presentation offered to volunteers and interns who stay for longer and have more time available. Plastic Pollution & other Trash Learn about the effect of waste on the ocean and what we can do about it. It is not required training but an additional presentation offered to volunteers and interns who stay for longer and have more time available. Hazards of the Reef Learn which creatures pose a risk while in the water, best practices to avoid injury, and what to do if injured. Introduction to Coral Watch Includes an explanation of what a coral reef is, its importance, how it is formed, and how this ecosystem works. Threats to the Reef Learn what are the natural and man-made issues threatening the survival of the reefs. Megafauna Learn to identify different types of megafauna, larger sea creatures, you might see on a dive near Mahe. You will be asked to also monitor their numbers on your dives. Coral, Fish, or Invertebrates Workshops A few weeks before arrival on the base, you will be assigned to monitoring either coral, fish, or invertebrates. This includes several presentations to introduce you to the specific species. Species Specific Marine Survey Once participants are comfortable with identifying the species on site, they will be trained on the different techniques used to monitor these species underwater. PADI Advanced Open Water Certification (AOW) 5 specialised dives are required to gain this qualification, those we offer include the Boat Dive, Underwater Navigation, Underwater Naturalist, Deep Diver, and Peak Performance Buoyancy. A knowledge review is also required. PADI Coral Reef Research Diver Distinctive Specialty This is a distinctive specialty unique only to GVI, created in collaboration with PADI. It provides instruction on the different types of reef monitoring available, along with certain skills which are needed to ensure that you are comfortable using monitoring equipment such as tape measures and quadrats and that there is no damage done to the reef while you navigate around the site. Survey Specific Buoyancy Training Learning how to control your buoyancy to ensure that you do not accidentally damage the reef while conducting research. Emergency Oxygen Therapy Orientation All volunteers are taught how to provide oxygen to divers in varying states on consciousness.