SEASFiREMX2March2018

2 SEASFIRE

IntroductionSEASFiRE organizes citizen science, marine education, and adventure programswhich enable you toexplore nature,discover theworld around you, and createmedia documenting it, publishing articles, photos, videos, and podcasts, on adedicatedwebsite.Wemixscubadivingwithscienceeducation,conservation,digitalanddesignskillstocraftauniqueexpeditionthatallowsyoutoexperienceamazingenvironmentsandexpressyourselfinwaysyouneverthoughtpossible.Wehelpyoureachyourpotentialthroughexperientiallearning,groupactivities,andindividualprojects.Ourexpeditionsallowyoutoexperiencetherealitiesofclimatechange,andtocontributetoourunderstandingofitsimpactonthemostvulnerableecosystemsonearth.

Werunpositiveexperiencesfortheparticipantandtheplanet.Conservationisattheheart ofwhatwe do, but the program is predicated on teamwork and enormousamountsoffun.

SEASFIRE 3MX2SEASFiREMX2isnowopenforregistration.Theprogramwillrunfrom3to11March2018,andwillbehostedatthefive-starIberostarCozumel.Divinglogisticswillbeprovidedbyourlocalapproveddivecentrepartner.Ifyouareinterested,oremailcontact@seasfire.orgformoreinformation.Theprogramcosts$2,250willincorporate:

• PADIdive training, includingall equipmentandcertifications–wewillusebestendeavourstohaveallstudentscompletedivecertifications

• Conservation training – students will learn about coral reefs and theirimportance;allSEASFiREdivesincorporatesomeaspectofconservation

• Marine science – students will learn about marine biodiversity and willparticipate indocumentingcoralhealth,submittingdatatoaninternationalbody

• Underwaterphotography–wewillprovidedetailedunderwaterphotographyinstructionandbuoyancytraining

• Newmedia–youwillblog,photographandvideotheactiononthesurfaceandunderwater,publishingyouroutputontheSEASFiREwebsite.

• Teamwork–studentsworkinbuddyteamsthroughouttheprogram,duringdivetraining,classroomsessions,andproductionactivities

• Accommodation, food and drinks as included at the five-star IberostarCozumelresort.

DiveTrainingAllSEASFiREdivetrainingiscompletedto PADI standards. PADI is the largestdive certification organization in theworld. Participants who do not knowhow to dive will be taught the OpenWater course, after which they will becertifiedtodivewithabuddytoamaximumdepthof18meters(12mifunder12yearsold)anywhereontheplanet.Ifyouarealreadyacertifiedscubadiver,youwillcompletefurtherdivecertificationsthatsupportthelearninggoalsoftheprogram.

DraftScheduleBelowisadraftschedulefortheprogram,includingactivitiesfornewandcertifieddivers.Theprogramincludes:• Alldivetraininganddiveequipmentrequired, includingPADIcertificationsandtrainingmaterials.

• AirportpickupandtransferbetweenCancunAirportandIberostarCozumelresortifgrouptraveltogether.

• AllSEASFiREmaterials,classroomsessionsandscheduledinstruction.• Allrequiredmedia,includingwebsite,hosting,cameras,etc.

4 SEASFIRE

Notincluded:• Sundryspendinginshopsatdestinationorenroute.• Exclusionsfrompackageatguestresort• FlightstoandfromCancun.

SCHEDULE1:NEW(STUDYINGOPENWATER)DIVERSDate Morning Afternoon Evening

Sat3Mar ArrivePDCTeamMeeting(SEASFiREmodule–What’stheProblem?)

DiveTheorySun4Mar ConfinedWater1&2 DiveTheory SEASFiRE Module –

Introduction toBlogging

Mon5Mar ConfinedWater3-5 DiveTheory DiveTheoryTue6Mar BuoyancyTraining OpenWaterdives

1&2SEASFiRE Module -UnderwaterPhotography(UWP)

Wed7Mar Buoyancy & CameraTraininginPool

OpenWaterdives3&4

SEASFiRE Module –Coral Reef InteractionsPart 1 – Marine LifeIdentification

Thurs 8Mar

2 dives – Fun DiveWithCamera,CreatureFeatureDive.

Upload creaturefeatureinformationto SEASFiRE’smarine lifedatabase

SEASFiRE Module –Coral Reef InteractionsPart 2 – Coral & CoralReefs

Fri9Mar SEASFiRE Module –CoralReefInteractionsPart 3 – Marine LifeInteractions

2 dives – CoralHealth Check,MarineInteractionsSurvey

Review marine lifesurveyanduploadcoralhealthcheckdata;blog

Sat10Mar 2 Dives – TrophicLevelsSurvey,ArtDive

Review marine lifesurvey and trophiclevel survey data;blog

SEASFiRE Module –MarineDebris

Sun11Mar BeachPlasticsSurvey,Beachcleanup(iftime)DepartPlayadelCarmen

SEASFIRE 5SCHEDULE2:CERTIFIEDDIVERS

Date Morning Afternoon EveningSat3Mar ArrivePDC

TeamMeeting(SEASFiREmodule–What’stheProblem?)DiveTheory

Sun4Mar CheckDive&FunDive Dive Theory –AWARE SharkConservationSpecialty

SEASFiRE Module –Introduction toBlogging

Mon5Mar Shark ConservationSpecialtyDives1&2

DiveTheory–PeakPerformanceBuoyancy

Blogging

Tue6Mar BuoyancyTraining PADI PeakPerformanceBuoyancySpecialty

SEASFiRE Module -UnderwaterPhotography(UWP)

Wed7Mar Buoyancy & CameraTraininginPool

2 UnderwaterPhotographyDives

SEASFiRE Module –Coral Reef InteractionsPart 1 – Marine LifeIdentification

Thurs 8Mar

2 dives – Fun DiveWithCamera,CreatureFeatureDive

Upload creaturefeatureinformationto SEASFiRE’smarine lifedatabase

SEASFiRE Module –Coral Reef InteractionsPart 2 – Coral & CoralReefs

Fri9Mar SEASFiRE Module –CoralReefInteractionsPart 3 – Marine LifeInteractions

2 dives – CoralHealth Check,MarineInteractionsSurvey

Review marine lifesurveyanduploadcoralhealthcheckdata;blog

Sat10Mar 2 Dives – TrophicLevelsSurvey,ArtDive

Review marine lifesurvey and trophiclevel survey data;blog

SEASFiRE Module –MarineDebris

Sun11Mar BeachPlasticsSurvey,Beachcleanup(iftime)DepartPlayadelCarmen

SEASFiREModulesThe program includes a number of SEASFiREmoduleswhich cover conservation,marine science, and media production. By participating in the program you willbecomepublishedmarineconservationistsbytheendoftheweek!

What’stheProblem?An introductory module that sets out the environmental challenges facing theunderwaterworld,fromglobalwarmingtomarinedebris.Asweexploretheissues,wetalkabouttheactionsyoutakeduringtheprogramandbeyondwillimpactupontheenvironment.

6 SEASFIREIntroductiontoBloggingAll SEASFiRE participants blog about their experience. You will write expeditiondiaries, report on themodules you complete, andpublishmediaon the SEASFiREwebsite.Inthismodule,weintroducetheconceptsandgoodpracticesofblogging,andhelpyoutopostyourfirstblogandimagesonthewebsite.

UnderwaterPhotographyAs well as being essential to the documentation of marine life, underwaterphotographyisalsooneofthemostexcitingskillsyoucanlearnunderwater.Asmostbeginnerssoonrealise,it’salsoadifficultonetomaster!ThisisabespokeSEASFiREmodulethatismorerigorousthananyotherunderwaterphotographytrainingwehaveseen.

Picture:IrinaBernard,SEASFiRE@SummerReeftoRainforestProgram,Sabah,Malaysia2017

CoralReefInteractionsUnderstandingtherelationshipsbetweenorganismsoncoralreefsisvitaltoknowinghowdelicatelybalancedthereefecosystemis.Thismodulewillenableyoutoidentifyorganismsonthereef,andtoidentifytheroletheyplayintheecosystem,andtheirresultinginteractionswithothermarineorganisms.Youwillbeabletoapplythelearningsinthismoduleacrossanumberofdivesduringtheprogramme,andafterwards,willfindyouhavebecomeakeenenthusiastforspottingnewandinterestingcrittersunderwater.

MarineDebris6milliontonsoftrashfindsitswayintotheoceaneachyear.Plasticsmakeupatleasthalfofthedebrisfoundinourseas.Wewillexplorethecausesofthispollution,itsimpactsontheunderwaterworld,potentialsolutions,andtheimplicationsforhumansifthiscontinues.

SEASFIRE 7PADICertificationsIfyouarenotalreadyacertifieddiver,youwillbeenrolledinthePADIOpenWatercourse.Certifieddiverswill engage in theAWARESharkAwarenessSpecialty andPADI’sPeakPerformanceBuoyancyspecialty.

PADIOpenWaterCourseOver the first fourdaysof theprogram,youwillbe taken through the theoryandpracticeofbecominganenvironmentally-consciousscubadiver.ThroughKnowledgeDevelopment,youwilllearnabouttheequipmentyouwilluse,andhowtodivesafely.Youwill learn the skills required in apool (ConfinedWater)with your instructorbeforeundertakingfourOpenWaterdives,duringwhichyouwilldemonstrateyourgrowingskillsbeforebecomingcertifiedtodivewithabuddyanywhereintheworld!

AWARESharkConservationDiverSharksarearguablythemostmisunderstoodcreaturesintheocean.Theyarevitaltoa healthy marine environment, but their numbers are in rapid decline. We willexplorethecausesofthisdeclineandthevalueofsharkstothemarineenvironmentandtohumaneconomicactivitiesaswell.

PADIPeakPerformanceBuoyancySpecialtyThemostimportantskilladivercanmasterisbuoyancycontrol.Acrosspoolsessionsandduringtwoopenwaterdives,wewillhelpyouhoneyourbuoyancysothatyouarecorrectlyweightedduringyourdives,youconsumelessair,uselessenergy,andcanfocusontheactivitiesduringthediveslaterintheweekwithconfidence.

8 SEASFIREDivesIncludedTheprogrammeincludesanumberofdiveswhichsupportthelearningandconservationgoalsoftheprogram.

MarineLifeSurveysTomeasurethehealthofthecoralreefsweexplore,wewillrecordthefishandotherorganismslivingonthereef,andtherolestheyplaywithintheecosystem.Wewillperform different surveys during the program, looking at interactions betweenmarine species, the presence of different organisms, andwhat thismeans for thehealthofthereef.WewilldocumentspeciesweencounterintheSEASFiREMarineLifeDatabase.

CoralHealthCheckCoralbleachingisoneofthemostdramaticillustrationsofenvironmentalpressuresonacoralcolony.Coral’scolorisagoodproxyformoregeneralcoralhealth.AlldatacollectedissubmittedtoCoralWatch,aninternationalbodycollectingcoraldatafromaroundtheglobeattheUniversityofQueensland.

ArtDiveOne of the highlights of the dive expedition is a truly unique experience – theSEASFiREartdive.Wetaketheparticipantstoashallowreefandaskthemtodrawthecoralsandfishtheysee.No-oneelseintheworldoffersthisexperience,anditisalwaysoneofthemostfunandmemorablepartsoftheexpedition.

SEASFIRE 9OtherActivities

PlasticBeachSurveyPlasticwastedominatesthe6milliontonsoftrashthatfindsitswayintotheseaeachyear.Wewillcompleteasurveyofplasticwasteonabeach.Thissurveywillbeconductedalongtransectsandshouldallowustocreateanestimateofplasticwashedashoreontheadjacentcoastlinebasedonthissample.

BeachCleanupWe will remove trash that has washed ashore on the island, preventing furtherdamagetotheecosystem.Wewilleithercompleteabeachcleanuporwewillsnorkeltoalessaccessiblespotandcleanthetrashfromthere.WewilldocumentthetrashweremovesothatwecanenterthisintotheSEASFiREmarinewastedatabase.

ConclusionTheSEASFiREMX2programexposesyou to scubadiving, environmental activismand conservation science. It’s an amazing, rewarding and fun experience thatwilldevelopyourskillsandopenyoureyesabouthowyoucanhelppreservethebeautyof theunderwaterworld. Please email us at contact@seasfire.org to register yourinterestortoaskanyquestionsyouhaveabouttheprogram.