Get involved - make your dives count with Reef Check!

[laurel7]

Hi Divers,

Some of you may be familiar with Reef Check California (RCCA). Very briefly, we rely on specially trained volunteer divers from around the state to assist with unbiased scientific data collection of California’s rocky reefs. We then pass along this data to resource managers so they can determine the best methods of managing our ocean resources. (To find out more about our sites or our data, please check out Reef Check California - Saving Reefs Worldwide.) We have recently announced our 2011 training dates and we are looking for dedicated divers to join the Reef Check team to help us accomplish our ambitious 2011 survey goals.

To date, Reef Check California has trained and certified over 700 volunteer divers comprised of a diverse group of ocean users including recreational divers, commercial urchin fishermen, lifeguards, marine educators, police divers and university students. Since 2005, RCCA divers have completed 304 surveys along the coast, from Humboldt County to San Diego County.

If you are interested in collecting data on our local rocky reefs and getting more out of your dives, this may be the perfect fit for you. Participants will learn about our local ecosystems, will meet like-minded divers and will be able to participate in our regular survey dives which will ultimately help improve marine management by providing much needed data.

2011 Southern California Training dates:

· Santa Barbara Training: April 9/10 (classroom and pool) and April 16/17 (boat dives)

· Los Angeles Training: May 14/15 (classroom and pool) and May 21/22 (boat dives)

· Orange County Training: June 11/12 (classroom and pool) and June 25/26 (boat dives)


To sign up for a training, please check out this page: Reef Check California Training Schedule.

The trainings take place over two weekends: The first weekend consists of classroom and pool activities. The second weekend consists of 6 dives over two days. You will become very familiar with many of California’s marine species of fish, invertebrates and seaweed. All training materials (transect, data slate, compass, calipers, manual, field guide flash cards), boat costs and NAUI specialty certification cards are included in the training. Survey dives take place statewide throughout the year, with local dives taking place a few times per month. Prospective divers do need to have over 30 lifetime dives with 15 dives taking place in California or other locations with water temps under 68° F.

If you have any questions about the project or need more details about the training, please don’t hesitate to contact me. You can check our website for more information on course specifics, prerequisites and exactly what’s included in the training here: Reef Check California Training Course Outline Spring-Summer 2008. Also, if you’d like to know what it’s like to be a Reef Check volunteer diver, I can put you in touch with a local volunteer or two and they can tell you about their experiences. I have heard from several volunteers that their diving has never been the same after becoming a Reef Check volunteer!


Thanks again and safe diving,

Laurel Fink
SoCal Volunteer Coordinator
Reef Check California

 

[Teamcasa]

.... Prospective divers do need to have over 30 lifetime dives with 15 dives taking place in California or other locations with water temps under 68° F.

Is there a minimum certification level associated? OW AOW Rescue ect? What sort of cost (estimated) can be expected?

This is something my wife and I would love to get involved with.

 

[Rainer]

Dave, I should hardly answer (I'm not RC certified), but my wife went through this training last year. She is just OW certified. I believe her costs were $300, which included the materials, tools, pool and classroom training, and two day (one night) training trip on the Peace.

She found the experience (both training and helping on some of the shore and boat surveys) to be rewarding.

 

[fisheater]

ReefCheck training will make you a better diver.

ReefCheck training will make you a more knowledgable diver.

ReefCheck training will make you a more responsible diver.

Plus, the training is excellent, you'll meet more great divers, and it's really fun diving in a coordinated team with specific goals to accomplish.

Join in. Improve your diving. Make a difference for the world we love.

The minimum prerequisites are:

* Proof of dive certification
* Minimum of 30 logged lifetime dives
* Minimum of 15 logged dives in California or other temperate region with water temp below 68° F
* Minimum of 6 dives within the last year
* Completion of liability release
* Completed reading of Reef Check California training manual