Additional information
| Minimum Age (years) | 12 |
|---|---|
| Minimum Prerequisite Certification | Open Water Diver |
| Available in (language) | Dutch, English, German |
| Materials | Excluding gear |
Dive Against Debris
€ 149.00
Do you want to make a difference on every dive but are not sure where to begin? Gain the knowledge and skills to activate your inner citizen scientist by taking the Dive Against Debris® Specialty. You’ll learn to complete Dive Against Debris surveys under the guidance of a PADI® Professional and help keep you your local dive sites healthier by removing trash. If you’re a PADI (Junior) Open Water Diver who is at least 12 years old, you can enroll in the Dive Against Debris Specialty course.
Every year tens of thousands of marine animals and seabirds die from eating or getting tangled up in marine debris – or trash in the ocean. Marine debris also damages habitats, makes coastal areas unattractive to visit and is expensive to remove. As much as seventy percent of the rubbish entering our ocean sinks to the seafloor; only divers have the skills to tackle underwater marine debris.
To make long-term improvements individuals, businesses and governments need to make changes that stop rubbish from entering the ocean. For the best results, these changes must be driven by an accurate picture of the extent of the marine debris problem. By completing Dive Against Debris® surveys you and your students help build that picture from an underwater perspective. The data you collect through Dive Against Debris® helps drive changes that protect marine life and marine environments.
Before we go diving, cleaning up, measure and properly dispose of, we are having a theory session first. We will cover how to properly organise a DAD dive to achieve an optimal outcome. The following topics will be discussed:
The Messy Problem of Marine Debris
Marine debris: the damage done, what it is, where it comes from and how divers are part of the solution.
- Describe the damage caused by marine debris to wildlife, habitats, and coastal environments
- Explain and define marine debris
- Describe the pathways taken by rubbish to the ocean
- Explain changes needed to stop rubbish from entering the ocean and how divers are driving change through Dive Against Debris®
Time to Dive Against Debris®
Establish a Dive Against Debris® survey: survey frequency, sites, profiles and equipment. Use of photography and knowing what to leave behind.
- Describe important attributes of a Dive Against Debris® survey
- Outline considerations for creating a survey dive profile
- Describe the use of photography in Dive Against Debris® surveys
- Identify criteria for deciding when objects should not be removed from underwater
Make Your Survey Count
The five easy steps to maximise the benefits to the environment of a Dive Against Debris® survey.
- Describe the five steps to record and report findings from a survey dive
Now It’s Your Turn!
Final thoughts on Dive Against Debris® and how to join the global Project AWAREmovement of scuba divers protecting our ocean planet.
- Outline additional Dive Against Debris® features
- Explain how to join the global movement of Project AWARE divers
Materials we will be using in this course
- Dive Against Debris® Survey Guide
- Dive Against Debris® Survey Lesson Guides
- Dive Against Debris® Data Card
- Dive Against Debris® Marine Debris Identification Guide
These materials will be handed out to you by your instrcutor during the course. They are also available online on the Project Aware webiste.
