Course Highlights
- Duration: Multi-day foundational certification in reef monitoring
- Dive Component: 8 scientific dives covering fish, invertebrate, and substrate surveys
- Certification: Conservation Diver Ecological Monitoring Program certification
- Field Practice: Real-time reef health assessment with data contribution
- Focus Area: Core reef ecology skills and underwater survey methods
Prerequisites
- Be a minimum of 12 years old
- PADI Advanced Open Water Diver (or equivalent certification/Contact us if you are Open Water certified or equivalent.)
- Good general health (have a look at this medical form to see if you are fit to dive)
- Interest in marine science, ecology, or data collection
What You Learn
- Ecology: Structure of coral reef ecosystems, trophic interactions, and biodiversity
- Species ID: How to identify indicator fish families, invertebrates, and coral substrates
- Survey Methods: Belt transects, roving surveys, data recording, and site mapping
- Threat Assessment: Coral bleaching, pollution, overfishing, invasive species impacts
- Scientific Diving: Planning and executing standardized reef monitoring dives using international EMP protocols
What Your Day Looks Like
Lectures & Workshops
Your EMP training begins with in-depth classroom sessions focused on the fundamentals of coral reef ecosystems. You'll learn how to identify key indicator species - corals, invertebrates, and fish - and understand their role in assessing reef health. We explore topics like coral anatomy, bleaching, reef degradation, and survey protocols developed for conservation science. Each day builds on the last, allowing you to expand your knowledge and apply it gradually underwater.
During your surface intervals, we review ID techniques and practice using field tools such as slates, transect tapes, and survey forms. You’ll work with reference guides to fine-tune your recognition of substrates, coral growth forms, reef fish families, and invertebrate species. Our team will simulate survey conditions on land to ensure your confidence before hitting the water.
Duration: 1-2 hours each
Dive
Each day includes at least one scientific dive where you conduct real underwater monitoring surveys. You’ll apply transect techniques, identify species in situ, and record data using international EMP standards. Your dives will rotate through invertebrate, fish, and substrate surveys, giving you comprehensive field training. These dives directly contribute to our ongoing reef health monitoring around the three Gili islands and help build your skills as a citizen scientist and conservation diver.
Duration: 8 dives, 2 each day
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