SMCTP Training Program
Participation in the program is designed to be combined with study commitments at UniSey or SMA
The SMCTP program starts in April 2024
The SMCTP program will be tailored according to your university/SMA semester schedules with the aim to conduct one to three dives a week (weather permitting and depending on time availability).
During the first 4 months you receive PADI SCUBA diver training
in the following courses:
PADI Open Water Diver
This is the beginner’s course to learn basic diving theory, diving techniques, diver care, safe diving techniques, problem prevention and problem-solving skills.
PADI Advanced Open Water Diver
During this course you will be introduced to specialized knowledge in navigation, deep diving, search & recovery, fish identification, and underwater naturalist.
PADI AWARE Coral Reef Conservationist course
This is a course to learn coral reef monitoring & data collection skills and processing of the gathered data on software and online databases.
Emergency First Responder (First Aid & CPR)
This is an internationally recognized course in general first aid and CPR techniques.
PADI Rescue Diver
During the Rescue Diver course, you learn diving problem prevention & early recognition techniques and skills, and diver rescue techniques underwater and on the surface.
PADI Divemaster
During the PADI Divemaster course your will be trained to master in depth diving theory, learn diver safety and risk management, specialized skills for the supervision of diving activities & assisting divers, and awareness of the dive environment.
6 Month period to practice marine research techniques & processing collected data.
Followed by a 6-month period to extensively practice the various marine research techniques & methodologies for underwater data collection and coral reef monitoring. This will include line & quadrat and photo/video surveys, to name a few, and sharing the collected data on the various online platforms.
During the program you will conduct in total, a minimum of 40 monitoring dives each, with assistance from project partners and collaborators, to learn different monitoring techniques, and how to process gathered data and how to share your results and communicate your findings. During this program you will learn various SCUBA diving techniques to become a skilled and experienced diver qualified and confident to work as part of a team, or even to lead a team to conduct marine research on coral reefs anywhere, even in remote areas of the Seychelles.
Final month
During the final month data and information on the value of coral reefs and the health of these ecosystems is collated to be shared with relevant management agencies and government departments and to online platforms and repositories & local community members.
A dissemination workshop will be hosted, specifically targeted at management agencies, government representatives, other key NGOs, and marine practitioners to present the data and information collated during your training.
At the end of the program, you will have a deeper understanding and practical experience of the theory and methods needed to conduct a wide range of marine monitoring activities.
This program enables you to become a competent and qualified PADI Divemaster with the ability to plan, manage and conduct marine conservation and research as part of a team and to hopefully lead your own team one day.