The AWARE Distinctive Citizen Science Diver specialty course is designed to engage students in citizen science diving opportunities and projects by developing their science diving knowledge and skills. The course is aimed at scuba divers interested in learning how to contribute meaningful, accurate and usable data for such initiatives. This course directly supports the PADI Blueprint for Ocean Action by training volunteer divers to contribute data that scientists, conservation organizations and management agencies can use with confidence. By contributing data, divers can directly add to our understanding of aquatic biology, underwater cultural resources, maritime heritage and other branches of science.

This course has three dives with each dive supporting a different Citizen Science project:

1 – REEF Volunteer Fish Survey Project

Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) is an international marine conservation organization that implements hands-on programs to involve local communities in conservation-focused activities. REEF was founded in 1990 and is based in Key Largo, Florida, with additional staff in Illinois, California, Washington, Colorado, New Jersey, and North Carolina. Its mission is to protect biodiversity and ocean life by actively engaging and inspiring the public through citizen science, education, and partnerships with the scientific community. 

2 – PADI Shark & Ray Conservation

Through the AWARE Global Shark & Ray Census-the first initiative of its kind-divers are trained to conduct standardized survey dives, collecting and reporting data in a way that directly supports scientists and conservation leaders. You’ll learn how to identify key species, apply survey protocols, and record sightings (and even absences), turning every dive into meaningful data that contributes to global protection efforts.

3 - PADI Dive Against Debris

During the Dive Against Debris^® Dive, you’ll learn how ocean plastic and trash cleanups not only keep your local dive sites healthier, but also how to contribute to a global database that documents our planet’s marine debris problem. Under the guidance of your instructor, you’ll participate in a Dive Against Debris survey and turn your passion for the underwater world into real action.

The PADI materials for this course are included in the class tuition. Please make sure you enroll using the same email address as your PADI account.

From this course, you’ll receive 4 PADI certifications:

• PADI AWARE
• AWARE Dive Against Debris
• AWARE Shark & Ray Conservation
• AWARE Citizen Science Diver

These can be applied towards the 5 specialty certifications needed to achieve a PADI Master Scuba Diver rating.

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