ECO PRO continued to your instruction. I’ve listed some of my favorites below. The links are available in the resource list, which can be downloaded from the QR code at the end of the article. Best of all, every one of these resources is available for free . Cities Under the Sea: An Introduction to Coral Reef ▪ Ecology is a comprehensive 17-lesson course that ex- plores how coral reefs function, emphasizing the roles both invertebrates and fish play, the problems reefs face in the modern world, and what can be done to conserve reefs for future generations. (In the interest of full disclosure, this is a course that I created based
a much higher price. The modules include: Module 1: an introduction to coral reef biology, ▪ global and local threats to the marine environment, and the Green Fins approach. Module 2: management techniques for environmen- ▪ tally friendly dive trips, including how to prepare and plan your trip from booking at home to best practices on the boat and caring for your equipment after the dive. Module 3: applying best diving practices underwater ▪ during every dive, learning tips for minimizing envi- ronmental impact while diving, and enhancing marine life in- teractions. It also covers how to be an environmentally respon- sible underwater photographer. Finally, it suggests ways divers can apply the best practices they have learned and contribute to citizen science projects. To support development and administrative costs, the course fee is $25. The proceeds help fund the non-profit Reef-World Foundation’s efforts to implement the Green Fins program worldwide. Upon completion, students re- ceive a personalized electronic certificate, valid for two years, which is a nice bonus in addition to their C-card. The course content is regularly updated with the latest industry knowl- edge on environmental best practices, so students are en- couraged to retake the course after two years to refresh and update their knowledge. Scuba instructors have a unique opportunity to shape how new divers perceive and engage with the ocean. By using hybrid and flipped learning methods, you can in- tegrate the ecological content already included in agency curricula—supplemented with resources discussed herein— to enhance your impact without completely overhauling your course structure. Your students come to you to learn how to dive, so give them more than just skills. Provide them with insight, responsibility, and a reason to care. When you teach divers to love the ocean and understand its fragility, you don’t just
on Section Two of my book, Beneath the Blue Planet: A Diver’s Guide to the Ocean.) The Khaled bin Sultan ▪ Living Ocean Foundation Education Portal offers
fourteen award-winning, custom-designed modules that can be easily integrated into any hybrid course. Ocean First Institute offers thirteen short courses de- ▪ signed to provide an overview of a wide variety of ma- rine species and ecosystems. REEF (Reef Environmental Education Foundation) ▪ offers fish identification training, citizen science pro- grams, and webinars. NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program provides ▪ detailed, accessible information about coral reefs, threats, and restoration efforts. The Ocean Agency offers immersive visuals and sto- ▪ ries about coral reefs through virtual dives. Great for visual learners. The MarineBio Conservation Society offers compre- ▪ hensive coverage of marine species and ecosystems, complete with photos and videos. Exceptional Training and Recognition In addition to the free resources listed above, there is another program available at a modest cost that may be the best option: the Green Fin Diver e-Course. More than just providing information, the course emphasizes diver at- titudes and behaviors. It consists of three modules with easy-to-follow content on a user-friendly platform. Each module is followed by a short quiz that divers must pass to complete each module. Integrating this into your Open Water course as a required component could be an excellent way to differentiate your program from the norm and justify
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create better divers—you create ocean advo- cates. Don’t just teach diving; inspire steward- ship. This is how we can preserve the blue planet—one student at a time.
Alex’s links
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