ECO Diving Programs - Gap Year and Internship Specials.

We have courses and programs to suit all levels of diving. Gap Year Students will find our courses ideally suited to their mid-year break or seeking career development and future employability through our thorough Eco-Internships as part of all our ecodiver programs. Our programs are suitable for:

* Recreational divers interested in increasing their own knowledge of the marine environment

* Gap Year students and anyone interested in possible internship opportunites in the marine conservation field

* Dive professionals looking to enhance their own personal development and improve the environmental quality of their training

* Dive managers and Marine Organisation leaders

* Marine Protected area operators and field leaders

Eco internships are increasingly important for divers looking to gain employ in the diving community and looks impressive on your resume. As and Eco-Intern you’ll be involved in the day to day operations of Eco Koh Tao putting your training into practice in any number of ways.
Your eco internship will be tailored to your level of training, experience and general level of confidence.

Some sample activities include:

1. Build additions to our own in-house artificial reef.
2. Conduct Project Aware Coralwatch surveys on Selected sights
3. Assist on subsequent eco courses
4. Conduct Reef Check Surveys
5. Input data pertaining to numerous research projects including…
   • Reef Check Data
   • Coralwatch Data
   • Green Fins Reef Watch Data
   • Whale Shark Sightings
   • Turtle Sightings
6. Respond to environmental emergencies. Eg Fishing nets, grounded boats etc
7. Replace and repair mooring buoys and roped off snorkelling areas.
8. Plant giant clams when ready on surrounding reefs from our Giant Clam nursery
9. Transplant artificially propagated coral colonies to natural reefs

AWARE Coral Reef Conservation

The coral reef conservation specialty course is designed to educate divers and non-divers to the plight of the worlds coral reefs. The course develops an inimate understanding of the reef ecosystem and why it is so vital for its conservation. Using Coralwatch, a Project Aware initiative in conjunction with Queensland University, AUS, you will contribute directly to the conservation of local reefs.

*PADI Materials Included: PADI AWARE: Our World Our Water Specialty Manual
*Brochure - Ten Ways Divers Can Protect the Underwater Environment
*Brochure - Go Eco
*Brochure - Protect the Living Reef
*Coralwatch Coral Health Chart

Price: 3,900 Th.Baht (2 Dives/Snorkel)

PROJECT AWARE FISH IDENTIFICATION SPECIALTY COURSE On a dive around Koh Tao you can see hundreds of fish. This two dive specialty is designed to enable you to identify a wide variety of fish throughout different diving environments. We provide you with the tools to develop an intimate knowledge and awareness of the aquatic animals with which we share the underwater world. This course combines ideally with Underwater Photography and Project Aware specialties.

Price: 4,400 Th.Baht (2 Dives)
Price: 3,000 Th.Baht (1 Dives)

UNDERWATER NATURALIST SPECIALTY COURSE This Specialty course is designed to create a substantial understanding of the aquatic ecosystem. We also endeavor to develop an awareness of the intricate balance of life within reef systems, to evoke a sense of responsibility and to expand your knowledge of aquatic life.

Price: 4,400 Th.Baht (2 Dives)
Price: 3,000 Th.Baht (1 Dives)

Project Aware's Coralwatch
Worldwide aquatic ecosystems are in constant decline and without detailed information into their current health nothing can be done to preserve them.  Project Aware’s Coralwatch program is a very simple coral reef monitoring system which can be undertaken by anyone our for a dive. Learn about the local environment whilst making a valuable contribution to science.
Program is free in conjunction with fun dives at resort upon request.

Reef Check is both a methodology (coral reef monitoring, data recording and submission) and an organisation. Reef Check has introduced two courses which concerned divers can take:Ecodiver & Discover Ecodiver.

The ECODIVER course will open your eyes to the underwater world and you will see it in a whole different light.  Following completion of this 4-day course you will be certified to join surveys and survey teams around the globe and submit data to their Team scientists who will then forward that data to Reef Check as part of their worldwide database.

Dual Certification results from the PADI Project Aware Specialty Course to introduce divers to the plight of worldwide aquatic ecosystems and to describe what they can do to help protect them.  In addition you’ll receive instruction in Project Aware’s Coralwatch Program in conjunction with Queensland University, Australia.

The Ecodiver course is a 4 day program that allows divers to participate in Reefcheck surveys and submit data to Reefcheck scientists in preparation for submission to the Reefcheck Database. this data can be accessed by any concerned individual although it is mostly used by national governments & large organisations like the UN or EU.

Duration: 4 Days*
Inclusions:
- Reef Check Ecodiver Kit
- Project Aware Manual (Digital Version)
- Reef Check Ecodiver Certification
- Project Aware Specialty Certification
- Copy of Tropical Reef Fish and Invertebrates Books (Digital Versions)
Prerequisites: PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certified AND Peak Performance Buoyancy Specialist*
Price: 11,900 thb pp
Note*: PPB training requirement will be assessed based on divers experience level.
Booking: 10% deposit required to secure your reservation

The Discover Ecodiver program introduces divers to the world of coral reef monitoring and data recording. The 1-day program allows divers to experience the dynamics of reef monitoring and provides a foundation for the full Ecodiver Certification course.

It will show you the aquatic environment in an entirely different light. We’ll also introduce you to PADI’s Coralwatch Program in conjunction with Queensland University, Australia.

Price: 1000 thb

MARINE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (MRM) is an in-depth professional development program designed to provide dive leaders with a background in coral reef ecology and other marine resource management issues which affect divers and the diving industry.

Prerequisites include the Reef Check Ecodiver Certification is 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.

Learn about reef restoration techniques - Biorock, Coral Nurseries, Artificial Reefs and their role in preserving our marine environments.

Price: 15,000thb (or in combination with the Reef Check Ecodiver Course - 25,000thb. Save 1900 thb!!)

Research Support varies from those individuals who need full dive training to those people who are already certified and adequately trained in ecological issues. To find out more about these courses, please click here