Eco Koh Tao | Marine Resource Management and Conservation

Marine Resource Management for Dive Professionals is acedemically one of the most robust course curriculums PADI produces. The course is a 5-day program involving daily class room and in water training.

For years, marine resource managers and dive industry experts alike have seen the need to improve the environmental awareness of divers and snorkelers who visit coral reefs. All divers need specialized knowledge and accurate information about the plight of coral reefs.

More importantly, they need the ability to apply this knowledge in a way that results in improved low-impact diving behavior among their clients. Unfortunately, few, if any, training programs for professionals have existed to address these issues in a comprehensive and real-world context...until now.

At Eco Koh Tao have endeavoured to develop an academically strong and interactive program to provide students with theoretical learning backed up with practical experience.

This program is not a series of lectures. Rather, It has been designed to be highly interactive, spark lively discussions and incorporate the personal experiences and insights of participants.

In addition to the theoretical nature of this course – Data collection, reef restoration techniques, developing education and awareness campaigns.

The Marine Resource Management Program goes deeper into the ecology & biology of the coral reef ecosystem and uses a fantastic manual from the University of Queensland as its guide – Coral Reefs & Climate Change – which you get as part of the program.

We personally designed much of the program and like the Reef Check Program it is focused on providing a very good theoretical base and lots of practical application involved with our many research projects.

During the practical elements we want to provide potential Resource Managers with practical experience in some of the key tools available for managing reef resources and restoration efforts.

We'll introduce you to the coral nurseries, Biorock technology and other reef restoration projects that need constant attention. This is where you would come in during the internship phase, putting the training over the previous two weeks into practice.

The course is built around the framework of four unifying themes:
1) the functional ecology of coral reefs;
2) the worldwide state of reefs and problems they face;
3) relevant marine resource management issues; and
4) how to turn theory into practice. No special prerequisites are required to enroll in the program except a desire to learn innovative ways to make better divers, more satisfied divers and more ecologically-friendly divers.

COURSE TIMETABLE

Day 1: Orientation & Introduction

Morning: Unit #1 - Ecology & Biology of Coral Reefs

An Introduction to Ecology
Corals: Animal, Vegetable or Mineral?
Why Coral Reefs Are Important
The Origin and Characteristics of Coral Reefs
Distribution/Limiting Factors, Zonation and Diversity
Differences Between Atlantic And Indo-Pacific Reefs
Coral Anatomy and Biology
Ecology and Species Interactions
Reef Structure and Associated Organisms
Ecology of Coral Reef Fishes
Associated Ecosystems: Mangroves and Seagrass Beds

Afternoon: Unit #1 - Introduction to Coral Watch including practical application.

Day 2:

Morning: Observatory Dives to local dive sites.
Afternoon: Unit #2 - Status & Outlook for Coral Reefs

A Report on the State of the Reefs
“Vanishing Treasures”: Global Threats to Coral Reefs
Challenges for Coral Reef Management: What Can Be Done?

Day 3:

Unit #3 - Marine Resource Management: The Dive Industry's Perspective

What is Marine Resource Management?
The Impact of Marine Tourism
What Science Says About Diver Impact on Coral Reefs
The Role and Management of Marine Protected Areas
Mooring Buoy Systems as Management Tools
Diver Carrying Capacity: How Much is Too Much?
The Role of Education in Protecting Coral Reefs

Unit #4 - Promoting Sustainable Diving Practices

Instilling a Responsible Environmental Ethic
Guidelines for Responsible Wildlife Interaction
How to Encourage and Supervise Low-Impact Divers
Creative Approaches to Buoyancy Control and Diver Competence
How to Really Teach Coral Reef Ecology

Day 4:

Morning: Artificial Reefs & Coral Nurseries incl Biorock – Lecture/Classroom presentations
Afternoon: Practical Application – Reef/Biorock Surveying

Day 5:

Morning: Biorock Lecture and Introduction
Afternoon: Dive Koh Tao's Hin Fai Biorock - Research & Data Collection

Practical Activities/Observations will include
.Coral Nurseries, Artificial Reefs, Biorock
.Coralwatch Reef Health Surveys
.Night Dive, Deep Dive

Course Price: 15,000 THB - Contact / Book Now

Background

It's no secret that coral reefs are in serious trouble. One respected source contends that more than 10 percent of these precious resources-some 35 million acres-are already degraded beyond recovery; and if something isn't done to turn the tide soon, we'll lose another 70 percent by the middle of this century (Wilkinson, 1992).

This perilous state of affairs has spawned a great deal of research in recent years in an attempt to identify the causes of such a dramatic decline. Not all, but some of the problems confronting coral reefs involve tourism. While much of the tourism issue centers around coastal development and poor land-use practices, damage to reefs caused by recreational divers and snorkelers is receiving increased attention.

In fact, from the diving industry's perspective, two key areas of research are: 1) the impact divers have on coral reefs and 2)establishing diver carrying capacities on coral reefs, especially within Marine Protected Areas. Largely based on this research, politicians and government administrators are now making important decisions about the management of coral reefs with respect to diving and snorkeling.