1. Before class, assign online modules covering topics such as coral reef ecosystems, marine food webs, and the im- pacts of climate change. However, as these topics are only addressed marginally—or not at all—on various training agency eLearning platforms, you’ll need addi- tional content to supplement your lessons. (More on this later.) 2. During class, instead of reviewing what they’ve just read, use the time together to discuss real-world scenarios. Pose ethical questions: “What would you do if you saw another diver touching coral or harassing marine life?” Share your own experiences and ethos. Include topics such as fish identification or coral bleaching. This shifts your role from lecturer to facilitator, guiding students in applying what they’ve learned. 3. During the dive, make the environment your classroom. Transform the standard “Open Water Training Dive X” into an ecological exploration. Encourage students to identify species, observe symbiotic relationships, and note signs of environmental stress. This hands-on learn- ing reinforces concepts and alters how students perceive the underwater world. 4. After the dive, encourage reflection. Don’t just have stu- dents “log their dives,” but begin treating their logbook as a journal to document their entire underwater experi- ence. Encourage group discussions on what they ob- served and how their behavior impacted the environment. Tie this back to the conservation themes covered previously. This strategy not only reinforces knowledge; it also creates emotionally resonant experiences. When students see the concepts come alive underwater, they remember them. More importantly, they internalize them. Some instructors worry that adding environmental topics could overload students or exceed course time limits. However, as I mentioned earlier, some elements of ecology and conservation are already incorporated into the curricu- lum. Your job is to add a few supplements to enhance stu- dent understanding. Too often, environmental content is treated as filler or relegated to the end of the course, often viewed as a side- note. Instead, elevate this discussion by addressing it early and often. And connect the discussion to practical diving skills. For example: Teaching buoyancy? Discuss its role in avoiding dam- ▪ age to coral and other fragile marine life. ECO PRO continued
Are you practicing navigation? Use it as an opportunity ▪ to identify environmental health indicators (such as the prevalence of macroalgae and percentage of hard coral coverage) as students swim a course bearing. Introducing dive planning? Factor in currents and tidal ▪ changes that affect the distribution and behavior of marine life, as well as environmental factors that may impact visibility. Remember, you don’t need to be a marine biologist; you just need to be curious, committed, and willing to try new approaches to learning. Expanding Your Hybrid Learning Toolkit The good news is that the quality and content of en- vironmental education in your entry-level course does not require reinventing the wheel. There is a wealth of outstand- ing resources online to support your marine education ef- forts. These can be easily incorporated into any hybrid course. Use these resources for assignments on pre-course reading, to facilitate flipped classroom discussions, or simply to keep yourself sharp. They add depth and lend credibility Dive into Dr. Alex Brylske’s Book: BENEATH THE BLUE PLANET
“An in-depth resource to indulge our passion for scuba diving.” – Wayne B. Brown, Owner & CEO, Aggressor Adventures
A fascinating look at our oceans, marine biology & more! Great for classrooms and every dive retailer’s library!
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