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About This Course
Understand the world beneath the surface
In many cases, divers do not have environmental information about local sites. The SDI Marine Ecosystem Awareness specialty changes that, giving you the knowledge to recognise, respect, and protect the extraordinary habitats you dive through.
Did you know? Cuttlefish are plentiful in Cornwall and always bring much joy to divers. Studies have shown that cuttlefish can display an extraordinary high level of intelligence on par with octopuses, and yet despite this, they do not have the same levels of protection.
What You Will Learn
An in-depth look at the underwater world
The SDI Marine Ecosystems Awareness Diver course covers all of the following areas and more:
Physical Attributes
- Temperature & thermoclines
- Salinity & halocline
- Dissolved gases
- Light & photosynthesis
- Nutrient circulation
- Waves & tides
- Currents & cycling
- Topographical features
Marine Organisms
- Plankton
- Aquatic plants
- Aquatic animals
- Specific local animals
- Aquatic food webs
- Behavioural changes
Ecosystems
- Tropical reef
- Temperate
- Freshwater
Eco-Friendly Diving
- Buoyancy control
- Kick technique
- Local considerations
Issues & Threats
- Local issues of interest
- Global habitat destruction
- Pollution
- Overfishing
- Coral bleaching
Diver Interactions
- Intrusive vs. non-intrusive
- Feeding wildlife
- Treating marine life injuries
Observation Methods
- Grid observations
- Passive observation
- Collection methods
Photo
Required Skills
What you will demonstrate
- Maintain good buoyancy control at various sites
- Make general observations, location, bottom composition, marine life, special characteristics, indications of human impact
- Complete two separate sets of grid observations during each dive
- Describe all marine life observed for later identification
- Record behaviour and log all dives
- Compare and contrast dive sites, discuss human impacts and ways to minimise them