Reef Check with EDA

ECODIVER TRAINING FOR EDA MEMBERS

FEATURE RANIA SHAWKI MOSTAFA

I’ve always been fascinated by the underwater world, and after years of diving for fun, I wanted to take my passion to another level. I had memorised all the fish guide books and knew the names of most of the things I would see while diving. During one dive, I started to notice some bleached and damaged coral, and wanted to learn more. If anyone has seen bleached coral underwater, you know that it’s a very sad, sobering and scary sight. What made them bleach? Will they survive? Is there anything I can do about it?

EDA memories from our archives – Reef Check courses and surveys with Rita Bento from 2012.

Luckily, at that time, Rita Bento who was EDA’s marine biologist back in the day, was running the first Reef Check EcoDiver certification course and I signed up. Together with a few other EDA members, we learned how to identify the indicator fish which represent a healthy reef in the Indo-Pacific region. We also learned about corals, bleaching, and how to identify the different types of corals, substrates and invertebrates. I was impressed at how relatively easy it was to follow the methodology of Reef Check, not yet having a formal marine biology education, I could still contribute toward collecting the data for the survey. And it was really interesting to learn more about the underwater world.

EDA memories from our archives – Reef Check courses and surveys with Rita Bento from 2012.

After the theory part of the course, (and a really fun exam), we spent one day in Dibba, Fujairah to do our first underwater survey. Rita jumped in first and laid the transect, which is like a long measuring tape, along the dive site. We split into pairs and formed 3 teams: one group was counting the indicator fish which they saw (Fish Transect), the second pair was focused on any invertebrates along the transect (Invertebrates Transect), and the third was looking at the types of substrates along the line (Substrates Transect). We also recorded if we saw any damage from boats, fishing activity, or trash.We had slates to note what we saw during the dive, and at the end of the dive, we sat together and shared back the numbers and our observations. All the information we collected was then collated into a report which Rita prepared and sent to Reef Check as part of the global efforts to monitor coral reefs all over the world.

EDA memories from our archives – Reef Check courses and surveys with Rita Bento from 2012.

After participating in a few more surveys with Rita, she asked if I wanted to become a trainer and help others discover more about reefs. I thought, this is great! I can combine my experience as a trainer/facilitator, and my passion for diving to make a positive contribution to the community in the UAE, and to the environment.I also started to notice that I would see things on my dives about corals, and I would recognise the fish from what I had learned in the EcoDiver course. It gave me a different perspective on reefs, as if I was wearing a completely new mask. It also helped me practice my buoyancy underwater, and become a better diver!

As a Reef Check Trainer, I now get to train other divers and lead surveys together with you, our EDA members. Now that I’m back in Dubai, I’m really excited that we can offer more Reef Check EcoDiver sessions, and also to restart the monthly surveys in Fujairah.

WHAT CAN YOU DO NEXT?

If you were previously trained in Reef Check and would like a refresher to join one of our upcoming surveys, please reach out to us.We can arrange a virtual or in-person session to get you back into the water and ready to go. We’re looking forward to seeing you over, and under water!

EDA memories from our archives – Reef Check courses and surveys with Rita Bento from 2012.

Gordon T. Smith

EDA memories from our archives – Reef Check courses and surveys with Rita Bento from 2012.

Gordon T. Smith

ABOUT REEF CHECK

If you are interested in knowing more about our marine environment, collecting data from our local reefs and getting more out of your dives, this may be what you are looking for. When you join a Reef Check EcoDiver training, you will learn about our local ecosystems and you will be able to participate in our regular survey dives which will help us to understand the threats our corals are facing by providing important data.

By joining our Reef Check monitoring team, you can help monitor and track the world’s reefs. Reefs, both tropical and temperate, are in a state of crisis, today they look vastly different from what they did 30 years ago. Big fish are scarce and some marine creatures have disappeared completely. Over 45% of the world’s reefs are severely threatened by human activities including overfishing, pollution and global warming. By becoming a certified Reef Check diver, you can help track the health of our reefs by participating in monitoring surveys and conservation worldwide.

Until now, EDA has trained more than 100 divers with Reef Check methodology. By dividing the divers in different Reef Check teams, we are able to collect data at different sites in the UAE, with particular focus in the Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Dibba and Al Aqah, as well as in Abu Dhabi. By collecting data on a regular basis, EDA will be able to monitor the status of coral reefs in the UAE, which will help us understand the principal threats that our marine environment is facing at the moment, and the actions that need to be implemented in order to re-establish a healthy ecosystem in the area.

EDA memories from our archives – Reef Check courses and surveys with Rita Bento from 2012.

Gordon T. Smith

THE TRAINING

The training takes place over 4 sessions/days:

• There are three classroom sessions to cover. You will become familiar with many of the Indo-Pacific’s marine species of fish, invertebrates and will be trained to identify different kinds of substrates, such as corals and sponges.

• One day consists of one underwater exam, and three classroom exams.

INCLUDED

Training materials (manual, field guide flash cards,Reef Check ID certification) are included in the training price. For the underwater exam, only tanks will be provided, each student will have to arrange for their own dive gear.

QUALIFICATION

To join the Reef Check training, the following is required:

• 15+ years old

• Open Water diver (minimum)

• At least 25 logged dives, including 2 dives in the past 12 months

DATES AND SCHEDULE: To be confirmed

• 2-3 virtual evening classroom sessions during weekdays (6pm-9pm)

• 1 day over a weekend, including dive and exam in Fujairah with Divers Down.

Our East Coast diver training will be done with our Reef Check Partner, Divers Down located in the Miramar Al Aqah Beach Resort.

TAKE THE REEF CHECK CERTIFICATION COURSE

Reef Check Certification Course for

Valid EDA Members: AED800

(To renew or obtain EDA membership: www.emiratesdiving.com/membership-form/)

Diver Costs to Pay Separately

Equipment Rental: AED40

Added Fun Dive: AED90

Monthly Reef Check Surveys

For certified Reef Check Divers: AED100

If you would like to join our upcoming sessions, please email Rania at: reefcheck@emiratesdiving.com

For more information, please visit:

www.reefcheck.org www.emiratesdiving.com/events/reefcheck