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,[email protected]$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 [email protected] to register yourinterestortoaskanyquestionsyouhaveabouttheprogram.