SCUBA Diving & Snorkeling Info
SCUBA diving & snorkeling are key features of this course that provide incredible opportunities for tropical marine research. There is no prior SCUBA diving or snorkeling experience required. All diving & snorkeling is beginner level and there is ample review of skills & safety by highly qualified EcoFS staff. Students must be comfortable in ocean water for up to 1 hour at a time and be proficient swimmers. Students choose whether to do a SCUBA & snorkel option or a Snorkel-only option (the Snorkel-only option is $700 less). The two options are identical in course content and experience and both are incredible at Xpu-Ha. The snorkel option allows students who are unable to get certified, or have physical concerns regarding SCUBA, to participate in the course. Additionally snorkelers will have an opportunity to try a Discover SCUBA Dive course for an additional fee,
The Caribbean EcoFS course is an excellent opportunity to gain experience with SCUBA or snorkeling. SCUBA dives & snorkels are conducted with short (5-10 minute) boat rides or easy walk-in entries at one of many spectacular locations of the Xpu-Ha coral reef. Dives are shallow (30- 60 feet), slow-paced, & typically without strong currents. For the boat rides we hire boats and captains from our course partner La Playa Xpu-Ha Beach Club. Each dive/snorkel has up to 6 students and 2 staff and with a scientific observation focus. Students can expect to complete 10-12 total class dives including a night dive, plus up to 10-12 optional, independent research dives (conditions permitting). Student divers holding an Advanced certification or higher will have opportunities for deeper dives. EcoFS is a professional member of NAUI (National Association of Underwater Instructors) and partner to their Green Diver Initiative.
The required personal snorkel equipment for all
students is mask, snorkel & fins. All students are provided an underwater writing slate, underwater camera for research, light, & safety signal. The included equipment rental for the SCUBA option is for Scubapro buoyancy control device (BCD), Scubapro regulator with computer & compass, tank & weights/belt. Snorkelers & SCUBA divers will both have opportunity to learn and apply basic free-diving techniques.
SCUBA CERTIFICATION INFO
Students choosing the SCUBA/snorkel option for the course must have a valid, current “Open Water” or “Basic” SCUBA diver certification by the time the class begins. If you are not certified, do not worry as it is an easy & straightforward process conducted by many different training organizations, typically through a local dive shop or university. There are 3 components to an Open Water or Basic SCUBA certification to complete; classroom, pool (confined water) & open water. It is possible do the “classroom” component or “Elearning” online. Here are links to websites of the 3 most common & respected SCUBA training organizations: PADI, NAUI, SSI. They list locations of SCUBA training and also offer on-line classroom components.
SCUBA training option in Xpu-Ha prior to the course!
EcoFS is pleased to offer a certification option for students of the upcoming Caribbean EcoFS course. This will take place directly prior to the course in Xpu-Ha. We offer a 3-day certification May 18-20 so students must arrive on May 17. Xpu-ha is a great place to obtain SCUBA certification.
Students must have completed the classroom/elearning component before arrival.
Our training includes the confined water dive component and 4 open ocean dives. The confined water dives are fun shore dives off Xpu-Ha beach and the open water dives are short boat road dives along the spectacular coral reef.
The cost of the certifications which includes airport shuttle to Xpu-Ha, 3 night accommodations in bungalow rooms and all equipment is 750.
Please note that meals are not included in this cost and are on your own. There are restaurant options next to the bungalows and students will have opportunity to buy groceries on their way to Xpu-Ha from the airport.
Email Steve Johnson, Course Director, at steve@ecofs.org if interested in this certification option. Space is limited.
@ecosystemfieldstudies Gain incredible SCUBA 🐠 skills while studying on the Caribbean coral reef! #ecofs #environmentalscience #fieldcourses #coralreef #environmentalstudies #snorkel #biologymajor #fieldresearch #marinebiology #marinescience #snorkeling #scubadiving #scubadiver
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