News
Ocean First Education Goes Global Through Exclusive Deal with SSI
Ocean First Education has announced a new partnership with Scuba Schools International (SSI) that will provide Ocean First Education curricula to divers and other marine science enthusiasts in some 3,000 SSI locations around the world.
Nine Ocean First Education courses will be featured to start—Sea Turtle Ecology, The Truth about Sharks, Marine Ecology, Indo-Pacific, Caribbean, and Red Sea Fish Identification, and Natural History of Indo-Pacific, Caribbean, and Red Sea Coral. The courses will be translated into multiple languages and featured on the SSI digital Education Management System.
“We are ecstatic about this partnership with Scuba Schools International,” said Ocean First Education founder Graham Casden. “Working together, we can reach millions of divers worldwide, many of whom have already demonstrated a genuine interest in the marine environment and are yearning to learn more. We’ve been dedicated to raising the level of science education within the dive industry for nine years and we couldn’t be happier that SSI shares this vision with us. Educating divers about the marine environment and helping them recognize the threats it faces today goes straight to the heart of what we do at Ocean First.”
Casden, who has about 1,000 dives under his belt, said the nine courses were chosen because the dive community loves turtles and sharks and most divers want to learn more about what they are seeing—particularly fish identification and building awareness around how corals develop.
The Ocean First Education courses will be listed on the SSI website as non-diving specialties, meaning that anyone can engage with the curricula — certified divers, casual snorkelers or anyone interested in learning about the marine environment, whether they dive or not.
“We are thrilled by this collaboration,” said Colin Davidson, director of product development for SSI. “Learning to dive safely and providing scuba diving certifications provides the passport to the marine environment, but all divers need to understand the world they are entering. Ocean First Education’s coursework provides precisely the kind of education that will enhance the dive experience.” Davidson added that the courses should be available through the SSI system by early June.
For more information about Ocean First Education courses, visit www.oceanfirsteducation.com/courses.
About Scuba Schools International
Since 1970, SSI has provided education materials, dive training and certification for divers, dive professionals, and dive centers and resorts around the world. With more than 30 international offices and training materials in over 30 languages, SSI certifications are globally available and accepted wherever you choose to dive. For more information, visit www.divessi.com.
About Ocean First Education
Founded in 2008 and based in Boulder, Colorado, Ocean First Education provides innovative and dynamic digital marine science curricula for K-12. Our team of educators, scientists, filmmakers, and explorers are committed to increasing awareness of marine environments and engaging students through interactive experiences. Ocean First Education is grounded in its mission to inspire our students, teachers and community to become stewards of the sea. For more information, visit www.OceanFirstEducation.com.
The Shark Trust is excited to announce that, for two more days only, all donations, large or small, will be doubled in the Big Give Green Match Fund!
Donate to Basking in Nature: Sighting Giants
The Shark Trust is hoping to raise £10k which will be doubled to £20k. This will go towards Basking in Nature: Sighting Giants. And they need YOUR help to reach they’re goal.
The Shark Trust’s citizen science project is to monitor and assess basking sharks through sightings; encouraging data collection, community engagement, and promoting nature accessibility. This initiative aims to enhance health and wellbeing by fostering a deeper connection with British Sharks.
Campaign Aims
- Increase citizen science reporting of Basking Sharks and other shark sightings to help inform shark and ray conservation.
- Provide educational talks about the diverse range of sharks and rays in British waters and accessible identification guides!
- Create engaging and fun information panels on how to ID the amazing sharks and rays we have on our doorstep! These can be used on coastal paths around the Southwest. With activities and information on how you can make a difference for sharks and rays!
- Promote mental wellbeing through increasing time in nature and discovering the wonders beneath the waves!
Donate, and double your impact. Click Here
Jake Davies boards Ghazala Explorer for an unforgettable Red Sea diving experience…
The Red Sea is known for its range of dives, from bright, colourful reefs with a diverse array of reef species to world-famous wrecks scattered along its numerous atolls. The reefs and wrecks of the North Red Sea are one of the best ways to experience many of these.
Organised by dive tour operator specialist Scuba Travel, Ghazala Explorer was going to be home for the week for this exciting trip, a 37m steel-hulled vessel with top-class reviews by previous guests.
Departing from Hurghada, the plans were to head north for the first couple of days, including check dives on Global reefs, before then heading to see a few of the wrecks at Abu Nuhas reef. Then we would head across the Gulf of Suez into Ras Mohammed National Park to see what are considered to be some of the best reef dives in the Red Sea. From there, we would head to the Strait of Tiran for a day, then head back south to dive the world-famous wreck and one of the trip’s highlights: the SS Thistlegorm. This would include a night dive prior to heading back for the final day’s diving around Hurghada before heading back to port.
Arriving from Gatwick into Hurghada late in the evening, the Scuba Travel rep was waiting for arrivals ready to take us all to the Ghazala Explorer, docked in Hurghada’s New Marina. Stepping onboard, the high-quality and spacious deck spaces and interior provided an instant sense of comfort. There was a friendly welcome by the crew and guides. After some food, it was time for the boat briefing, which was detailed and covered all the important safety aspects of the vessel and procedures. The kit was then set up in the allocated spaces, and the spacious tables in the interior provided the perfect place to build up my camera ahead of the week’s trip. As soon as everything was done, it was time to head to the cabin to get some rest before an early start for a check dive.
The northerly wind provided a chop, but it wasn’t felt as the steel hull of the vessel cut through each wave. By mid-morning, we were moored up at the reef at Gobal Island, sheltered from the chop on the other side. With Ahmed providing a detailed briefing, it was time to kit up and get in the water to explore some of the reefs below during the check dive. It’s always exciting to stand on the stern of the boat, looking into the clear blue water before taking a stride entry to enter the colourful coral scenery below.
Like most of the dives on coral reefs in the Red Sea, the colours and busyness of the reefs were great to see. It was great to be back on the reefs, taking the time to watch the many species which make up the Red Sea ecosystems before picking out a few to film and photograph. The time flies by as you are constantly engaged with the surroundings, and then before I knew it, it was time to head back onboard, where everyone coming back from the water had big smiles and were full of excitement and anticipation for the rest of the week.
The next two dives, which included the night dive, were on the wreck of the barge, where very little remains act as an artificial reef for many species, which included a few perfectly hidden large stonefish and a crocodile fish camouflaging on the sand beneath the hull. Looking up though was the highlight of the dive, as a squad of squid could be seen mid-water, dancing around. Ascending slowly and calmly, I was able to position myself amongst the squad for the opportunity to get a few close-ups of this great species. Shortly after, the squid were then accompanied by a shoal of halfbeaks just below the surface. Everywhere was just full of life!
After some afternoon snacks, and as part of the safety protocols of the vessel, it was time to practice an emergency drill to put the briefings into action. The fire alarm rang, and we then had to carry out a full drill of getting the life jackets and using the closest emergency exits to then gather at the muster point on top deck where we would then have a run-through of the life rafts. The drill was great to do and I thought it was a really important part of the boat’s safety, as it was an opportunity to use the emergency exits to ensure a safe and effective evacuation, while also convening at the muster station to go through different scenarios and become familiar with some of the kit used during these emergencies.
Check in for Part 2 from Jake tomorrow!
To find out more about the Northern Red Sea reef and wrecks itineraries aboard Ghazala Explorer, or to book, contact Scuba Travel now:
Email: dive@scubatravel.com
Tel: +44 (0)1483 411590
Photos: Jake Davies / Avalon.Red
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