PADI / Project AWARE Manatee Specialist Course?

[StormyWildcat]

Since I am planning on learning scuba in the next year, I have been looking around at many dive shops in the central Florida area as much as possible. I came across one that actually offers a "Manatee Diver" through their Manatee Specialty class. It appears to be through PADI and project AWARE. They claim they are the only ones who offer it and are listed as 5 Star IDC and National Geographic location. I have never seen anything about it mentioned on PADI's website and thought it was very interesting. Just wondering if anyone else had looked into it or done it.


See the Manatee Specialty page

 

[divad]

Since I am planning on learning scuba in the next year, I have been looking around at many dive shops in the central Florida area as much as possible. I came across one that actually offers a "Manatee Diver" through their Manatee Specialty class. It appears to be through PADI and project AWARE. They claim they are the only ones who offer it and are listed as 5 Star IDC and National Geographic location. I have never seen anything about it mentioned on PADI's website and thought it was very interesting. Just wondering if anyone else had looked into it or done it.


See the Manatee Specialty page

They may be misdirecting you.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

If it's with American Pro diving center you'd better do some research. Start with this thread:
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/fl...582-manatee-abuse-harassment-caught-tape.html

 

[StormyWildcat]

Thank you for pointing me in the direction of that thread. It always helps to research things and I appreciate the input of others. I will be looking into this some more and help do what I can to protect these amazing animals.

 

[StormyWildcat]

OK, at first I was excited. They advertise a specialty diver certification. I never saw it on PADI's site and decided to ask on here. I am very glad I was pointed to this thread. Now after reading the whole thread and watching the videos I am not interested at all in this "certification" and actually think that if PADI really is issuing a card for it they need to take a closer look at it. Does PADI still approve this? They are issuing a specialty dive certification after a one hour "course" (which is just a tourist trip to harass the manatees!) that can then even be applied to master diver status??!!!

I think if PADI and Project AWARE really want a manatee cert it should be done with a lot more knowledge about manatees and their habitats and most importantly the protection and awareness of them. I think Project AWARE is great and think that manatee specialty could be done very well and fit in well to the program, unfortunately this is not the way to do it. I would love to get more involved with AWARE once I get certified. Maybe one day they can shut down this tourist tour sham and create a real certification.

I think tourist viewing of manatees is bad all around. It only really serves the people selling it. A true manatee tour should be a lot more educational and learning and not just a profitable sham. It kills me seeing these beautiful animals treated this way. I have had the opportunity to see manatees in the wild and will never forget it, but it was a true encounter, not something I paid to do, not something with people bothering them, just them in the water. Then again this was almost 20 years ago now.

I wanted to bump this thread because I think it is important and hate to see it die off. It might be over three years since it started and almost a year since anyone posted but it doesn't mean it is lost! Long live the manatees! I hope to be able to enjoy seeing them in our waters for years to come.

Note: Yes, I did copy this from my response on that thread. If people find this thread I hope they read the other too. Thank you for pointing me in that direction, Jim.