As dive professionals, we are not only the ambassadors of the ocean, but we are also the role models our divers look up to. That gives us the ability to positively impact our divers’ behaviour, especially underwater. You can call it the dive pros’ superpower if you want to! However, we weren’t born with this power but instead worked hard for it. Keeping up to date with the latest safety skills and environmental knowledge will keep us being superheroes.
To help you stay super, the team behind Green Fins has the perfect course for you! The Green Fins Dive Guide e-Course can help dive pros like you build on your existing SCUBA diving knowledge and stay up to date with the latest industry knowledge about environmental best practices.
Why take the course?
Studies show that 70% of divers contact the reef while diving and 36% are unaware that they did so. We all know that diving related damage to the sensitive marine ecosystems, including coral reefs, is an issue. Such damage makes them less likely to survive other local and wider stressors, such as overfishing or run-off from land containing pollutants and plastic debris and the effects of climate change such as rising sea temperatures.
By taking the course, you are taking the first steps towards helping protect our seas and ocean. This course will provide you with the skills and confidence to conduct more environmentally friendly diving trips. Reinforcing good diver behaviour is the most effective way to reduce contact with the reef. If you can manage your divers and prevent them from causing damage, which is not inevitable, then you are helping to protect coral reefs, one dive at a time.
Who (and what) will benefit from the course?
While the Green Fins Dive Guide e-Course is designed for dive professionals, you will not be the only ones that benefit from the course. When you share the knowledge that you’ve learnt from the course with your divers, you will help them be more aware of environmental issues and give them the skills to be better divers on their future dives. That will, in turn benefit the health of the marine ecosystems, including coral reefs. Talk about a positive ripple effect! Everyone working together to protect what we all love, the ocean.
What will you learn from the course?
There are three easy-to-follow modules in the course:
Module 1 – Gives you an introduction to coral reef biology, the Green Fins approach, why we must protect coral reefs, and how you can use the free Green Fins resources; such as posters and guidelines, to support your day to day work.Module 2 – Provides tips and advice concerning best practice above water and on the boat; such as preparing and planning an environmentally friendly dive. This includes how to provide an effective environmental pre-dive briefing to encourage your guests to limit their environmental impact.Module 3 – Concentrates on what you can do below water and how to manage yourself and your divers. It will help you confidently lead a dive using positive role model behaviour and making underwater corrections such as adjusting buoyancy, followed by an explanation and positive reinforcement once the dive is over.
At the end of each module, there is a short test on which you must obtain a score of 100% to pass this course. Since the course is online and saves your progress as you go, you can complete the course at your own pace (we know multiple dives a day can be tiring!).
How much does the course cost?
You can take the course for FREE! There is an option to purchase a personalised electronic certificate for $25, which you can show to your guests to inform them that you are aware of how to reduce the environmental impacts associated with diving. 100% of the proceeds go towards the development and growth of Green Fins internationally, directly supporting dive centres and diver professionals like yourself.
More and more divers now expect and demand environmentally aware dive operators and guides to dive with. So, being a positive role model not only protects the underwater world but also makes you more employable and possibly get more tips too!
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