Reef Check EcoDiver Course

Reef Check EcoDiver Course

Please note that you are required to attend ALL sessions in order to complete your course.

You will be trained to perform Reef Check surveys in all Indo-Pacific region. Therefore, you will be able to join the Reef Check UAE team every month as well as joining other Reef Check teams in other countries. To look for a specific place go click here.

The Reef Check EcoDiver training generally involves 2 and a half days of classroom theory, tests and reef monitoring practices. During this training you will learn the necessary species identification and survey methodology needed to complete a Reef Check United Arab Emirates survey. All trainees will have access to comprehensive training materials including the electronic Reef Check EcoDiver training manual, species identification underwater cards, species identification flash cards, and all equipment needed to perform surveys (transect line, underwater slate, etc.). You will become very familiar with many of Indo-Pacific's marine species of fish, invertebrates and will be trained to identify different kinds of substrate types such as corals and sponges. Field procedures will be rehearsed over 1 to 2 dives in a selected location (to be confirmed), depending on the weather conditions, consisting of buoyancy exercises, one underwater exam and a practice survey dive. Lunch on second and third day, boat costs and the renewal or sign-up fee of Emirates Diving Association (EDA) membership are included in the training price. All scuba and dive equipment is to be provided by you the volunteer. 

Note: We conduct female only courses also!

Please get in touch with us to find out when our next course will be held.

Testing and Certification: PowerPoint ID test (80%) and field test (90% to pass) to obtain regional certification card (Indo-Pacific). Certification card qualifies holder to participate in Reef Check surveys in the region and to submit their data to the global database.

Pre-requisites

To take part in a Reef Check United Arab Emirates training course you must be qualified to Advanced Open Water Diver level or equivalent and have a minimum of 25 logged dives. You must also supply your own diving equipment (excluding tank & weights). Your dive kit must also include a dive knife, dive computer, whistle and inflatable safety sausage. You must be able to understand and communicate in verbal and written English.

In order to be eligible to take training, you must meet the following course prerequisites: 

• Proof of minimum dive certification: Advanced Open Water diver or equivalent
• Minimum of 25 logged lifetime dives
• Minimum of 12 years of age

General Schedual:

Day 1:  6pm - 9pm Course Introduction and Invertebrates Theory Session

Day 2: 9am – 5pm In-water Assessment, Impacts and Substrate Theory Session, Invertebrates Exam

Day 3: 9am – 5pm In-water Exams and Practice Survey, Substrate and Impacts Exams and Graduation Ceremony 

 Price:

The total training price is 1680 AED (Dhs100 will go towards EDA membership). Reef Check is a nonprofit organization, so the price for the training will go for the expenses of 2018 Reef Check training.  Price subject to change, please register early to avoid any disappointments.

IMPORTANT

We will only take a maximum of 8 students for this course, so book your place as soon as possible! Please make sure you read the above requirements carefully to ensure you meet all pre-requisites.

About Reef Check

Reef Check is a coral reef monitoring protocol that uses standard and simple methodology to collect robust scientific data. Although its main objective is the study of coral reefs health, it also looks to educate the public about coral reef crisis, to induce local community action in order to protect remaining healthy corals and to contribute to economically sustainable solutions.

This methodology was implemented in 1997 by Reef Check Foundation, a non-profit international marine conservation organization. With the need to understand the global conditions of our coral reefs, it was mandatory by that time to establish a methodology that could be used all around the world, by divers with varying backgrounds, not only marine biologists.

After thorough training, divers are able to collect data that is used in the creation of global and regional/local reports regarding the status’s of the coral reefs. Reef Check team collect four types of data for each dive site:

1.       A description of each reef site based on 30 measures of environmental and socio-economic conditions and ratings of human impacts;

2.       A measure of the percentage coverage of different substrate types, including live and dead coral;

3.       Invertebrates indicator species counts;

4.       Fish indicator species counts.

Reef Check in Abu Dhabi

By joining our Reef Check monitoring team, you can help monitor and track the world’s reefs. Reefs, both tropical and temperate, are in a state of crisis; today they look vastly different from what they did only 30 years ago. Big fish are scarce and many species have disappeared completely. Over 45% of the world’s reefs are severely threatened by human activities including overfishing, pollution and global warming. By becoming a certified Reef Check EcoDiver, you can help track the health of our reefs by participating in monitoring surveys and conservation worldwide. Sites already surveyed include Al Dhabiyah and Sadiyaat Reef. Other sites we would like to survey include Ras Ghanada, Ras Ghurab, Dalma Island, Al Yasat and Marawah biosphere.

Until now, Al Mahara has trained more than 20 divers with Reef Check methodology, and it intends to train many more in 2018, the third International Year of the Reef! Teams have been surveying a number of sites in the Arabian Gulf, with particular attention being paid to sites with the potential of becoming Marine Protected Areas. By collecting data every month, Al Mahara and its volunteers will be capable of submitting the data and summary reports for the Status of Coral Reefs of Abu Dhabi report. This report will make us understand the principal threats that our marine environment is facing at the moment and the actions that need to be implemented in order to re-establish a healthy marine ecosystem in the area.

For more information on Reef Check please visit www.reefcheck.org