Connect with us
background

Blogs

Sea Scope Inc – Empowering Youth as Underwater Explorers

Published

on

Sea Scope Inc

By Allyson Brown

How my Adventure Began

I remember how devastated I was when my flight to Puerto Plata was canceled. COVID-19 shut down was not supposed to affect ME. I was thankful to have not lost any loved ones and thankful I was able to financially sustain myself, but what I did not anticipate was losing my “freedom.” Freedom, for me, was being able to hop on a plane and to do one of the most calming activities I’ve ever experienced…scuba diving.  Being in a landlocked state, I needed to travel to get to the ocean. Finally in 2020, I was able to return to Puerto Plata and dive! To my surprise one of my favorite SDI instructors asked me when I told him I was headed down the path of Master Diver, “why not teach?” Luke, owner of Superior Dive Sosua, had no idea that he had planted a seed. A seed that began to grow a few months later when I decided to become a Divemaster. Towards the end of my training I noticed something had changed within me. The 16 years of anxiety I had suffered was completely gone. I sat at Carlyle Bay beach, Barbados and this revelation came to me as well as a vision to develop a youth program in Indianapolis that would give black and brown kids the opportunity to become underwater explorers! A conservation focused program that combines science, aquatics, and water wellness therapy.  And so Sea Scope Inc was established in the summer of 2021.

Welcome New Planet Savers!

February 2022 was the beginning of this new adventure I decided to embark upon. An adventure that began with classroom workshops teaching youth about our ocean planet and watching kids’ faces light up during activities, such as taping all the single-use plastic I could find onto their mentor. These workshops concluded with a trip to the Oceans Exhibit and Dolphin show at the Indianapolis Zoo. One thing I know is that all of our youth participants will remember how land-based, plastic pollution affects our planet. My new adventure also continued with water safety, snorkeling, and intro to scuba diving (for those that qualified) classes. There is an indescribable joy these kids have when they have the opportunity to “play in the pool.” This component of the program is what interests most parents, especially since 65% of African Americans are unable to swim, with drowning disparities being significantly higher amongst African American youth than their white counterparts. And so far, this new adventure has resulted in our planet having 21 new ocean explorers: 14  [junior] open water scuba divers (ages 10 to 18), 3 supervised divers, 1 scuba diver, and 5 snorkelers.

The Freedom Water Brings

The youth Discoverers program not only gave our divers and snorkelers a new self confidence, but also new friendships, and for many an outlet for stress, anxiety, and trauma. Many of our participants understand that “water is therapeutic.” One of our participants who was faced with the death of their mother mid-programming stated that the water helped them “deal with fear and anger. It holds them in a way their mother no longer can.”  To see how happy and at peace these youth are when in the pool, and how they become “FREE” of their problems and situations is worth EVERY moment spent developing and maintaining our youth programs.

Everything New

Of our 21 Discoverers, two youth completed their certifications in a local quarry, while the others  completed their training in the Florida Keys! Several of the youth had never been on a plane,  seen the ocean, or a man-made beach for that matter. I get excited when I see their faces the moment they step onto the boat, the moment they first see the ocean, and the moment they take a giant stride into an experience they would have never imagined they’d experience.  From that first moment off the boat and after their first underwater adventure where they have seen nurse sharks, rays, a beautiful variety of reef fish and other aquatic life is the meaningful connection they need to desire to become planet savers and continue this Discoverers path!

We All Must Play Our Part

As I write this blog I am trying to fight back the tears. These aren’t tears of sadness but tears of joy. Our first AquaForce participant is beginning her 7 month training to become a Master Scuba Diver Trainer. She never imagined having a career before the age of 19 and has dreamed of studying our oceans since she was 3 years old.  Many of our other Discoverers will be trained as citizen scientists and scientific divers to help us combat this global crisis that requires the entire world’s help.  All youth from all backgrounds deserve every opportunity that will allow them to cultivate their talents and that connect them to a world that’s bigger than they could have known.  We are excited to make these opportunities available for Marion County and welcome this new breed of underwater adventurers into the conservation world.  As we gear up for their continued training and our new class of Discoverers, we stay true to the commitment we made in doing OUR part to saving our ocean plant. Won’t you join our efforts? Because the fate of our oceans depend on it!

Dr. Allyson Fisher Brown is an SDI Divemaster located in Indianapolis, Indiana. To keep up with a new wave of youth ocean discoverers, check out their website and follow them on Instagram and Facebook.

From its humble beginning in 1994 to today, the group of training agencies Scuba Diving International (SDI), Technical Diving International (TDI), and Emergency Response Diving International (ERDI) form one of the largest diving certification agencies in the World – International Training. With 24 Regional Offices servicing more than 100 countries, the company today far exceeds the original vision the founders had when they conceived the idea on a napkin, sitting at a kitchen table in the early 1990’s.

News

Filming 360 in The Bahamas

Published

on

In December 2024, the Shark Trust had a very special opportunity to film sharks and rays in The Bahamas. Frogfish Photography are the Bahamas Dive Ambassadors for the UK. And Caroline, Deputy Editor at Scubaverse, is the Marketing Manager at the Shark Trust. So, when the need arose to film footage of several species of shark and ray for a new Shark Trust project, The Bahamas seemed the perfect fit. A huge thank you is needed here to the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism. As they stepped in to fully support the trip both financially and practically. Ensuring that the filming expedition ran smoothly, and that we got as much time as possible in the water with sharks and rays, during the 10 day, 3 island trip.

The Bahamas is famous for its sharks and rays. Divers flock there to experience getting up close to a range of species. Our itinerary saw us visit Nassau, Bimini and Grand Bahama. It packed in as many in-water experiences as possible and had us dive, snorkel, and even take a submarine to experience them in a variety of different habitats and to capture them on film. We saw 148 sharks and rays from 8 different species (all of which have been logged on the Shark Trust Shark Log!).

But why were we there? The expedition was designed to fulfil the needs of two new projects being launched by the Shark Trust in 2025. The filming done underwater on this trip was the start of creating OneOcean360: A Shark Story. A new 360 immersive experience designed primarily for immersive domes and planetariums. The film will be the nearest experience to getting in the water with sharks and rays without getting wet! It will bring the world of sharks to an audience that may never get the chance to experience it first-hand. A Shark Story aims to deepen people’s understanding of sharks, uncovering and illustrating why they are so wonderful as well as being vital to marine ecosystems.

The film is being made in collaboration with Real Immersive. Also based in Plymouth, they have an immersive dome and are providing the technical expertise behind creating this unique experience. Reviewing the footage in the dome has been an invaluable part of the process. Both inspiring the team and allow us to refine the filming techniques to suit this immersive theatre.

You might imagine that we are using expensive cameras and even more expensive housings. But this is not the case. The entire project is being filmed using Insta360 X4 cameras. With only a few simple additions to the standard dive setup. The INON weight plate allowed us to attach this camera to a dive weight, set it down on sand or wreck, and then swim away and let the sharks be the stars. And the results are very exciting. The film will be ready this autumn. It will be accompanied by an educational pack for teachers to take away after school trips to see the film. Encouraging all those that see it to continue learning about these incredible animals.

You can support the creation of OneOcean360: A Shark Story by heading to the crowdfunder page and donating or selecting a reward.

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/a-shark-story


Read about the shark and ray dives we did on Nassau, Bimini and Grand Bahama in our next blog post coming soon on Scubaverse.

Continue Reading

Blogs

PADI Global Membership Contributes to Study That Indicates Revival of MPAs Would Bolster Billions for the Industry

Published

on

marine protected areas

Scientists, including those from National Geographic Pristine Seas, find scuba divers are willing to pay more to seek adventure in Marine Protected Areas, estimating an additional USD 2.7 billion spent per annum.

11 February 2025 – PADI®, the world’s largest scuba diving organisation, has been working with National Geographic Pristine Seas for the last three years to help identify the positive effects of protecting scuba diving sites around the world – which was recently published in new peer-reviewed research.

marine protected areas

PADI’s global membership of 6,600 PADI Dive Centres and Resorts in over 180 countries helped National Geographic Pristine Seas assemble a database that estimated the number of scuba dives annually, the extent to which protection would increase biomass and biodiversity in an area, and a scuba diver’s willingness to pay access fees to dive in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).

As a result, the study found that more fully protected dive sites would generate an estimated USD 2.7 billion in additional income globally for the scuba diving industry, most of which would come from access fees paid by divers directly to local communities. This additional protection would also help regenerate marine ecosystems and a new long-term income source for these coastal economies.

marine protected areas

“Bottom line, ocean protection benefits marine life, coastal communities and businesses,” remarked Enric Sala, founder of National Geographic Pristine Seas. “Protecting diving sites from fishing and other damaging activities can generate new streams of income and benefit more people. It’s increasingly clear that efforts to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030 are even more beneficial than we thought.”

marine protected areas

These research findings directly align with the goals of PADI’s Blueprint For Ocean Action– in which safeguarding recreational dive hotspots around the globe would deliver a host of benefits to tourists, local communities, and marine life. In 2022 PADI Iaunched an ambitious new initiative to establish the world’s largest network of conservation sites aimed at protecting ocean habitats and species threatened with extinction. Supported by Blancpain, founding partner of PADI’s MPA Program, the Adopt The Blue™ program activates a global network of dive sites across the planet to establish more Marine Protected Areas to regenerate local economies and coastlines.

marine protected areas

“By PADI joining forces with like-minded global partners such as National Geographic Pristine Seas, we will exponentially increase our positive impact for saving the ocean,” said Dr. Drew Richardson, President & CEO of PADI. “With more marine protected areas, we can reinvigorate the diver experience and regenerate hope for the ocean; and with that comes more people who are inspired to explore the ocean and become Torchbearers to further advocate for safeguarding its future.”

marine protected areas

Since 2008, National Geographic Pristine Seas has helped establish 29 of the largest MPAs in the world, covering a total area of 6.9 million square kilometers – more than twice the size of India. Their latest peer-reviewed research joins their resume of over 300 that have already been published.

marine protected areas

“If you protect a marine area, more recreational divers will show up and they’ll pay more for the privilege of seeing sensational underwater life,” said Reniel Cabral, a Senior Lecturer at James Cook University and the study’s lead author. “Communities and businesses are leaving money on the table by overlooking the benefits of marine sanctuaries.”

marine protected areas

Other key findings from the most recent study include:

  • Some 33 million dives take place in the ocean each year, but only 15% of dive sites are fully protected from fishing and other destructive activities
  • More MPAs estimated to increase the number of dives annually by 32% (10 million + more per year)
  • Egypt, Thailand, and the US host the most scuba diving annually (est. USD 3 million annually)
  • Indonesia, Egypt, and Australia host the most dives within MPA borders annually
  • The Philippines, the US, and Indonesia would benefit the most economically from designating sanctuaries in popular diving spots.
  • The Global South — host to some 62% of recreational dives — is poised to gain the most.

marine protected areas

“The potential for the recreational diver industry to create positive ocean change is unparalleled,” continues Richardson. “As the only global community to have the superhero skills to descend beneath the surface and both connect with and help the marine world directly, there is a massive opportunity to change the way we all seek adventure.  As the world’s largest scuba diving organisation, we can play a key part in reaching the global target of 30% protection by 2030 and enrich both ours and the ocean’s livelihood simultaneously.”

marine protected areas

To help PADI advocate for the establishment of more MPAs, visit padi.com/aware/AdoptTheBlue

National Geographic Pristine Seas

Pristine Seas works with Indigenous and local communities, governments, and other partners to help protect vital places in the ocean using a unique combination of research, community engagement, policy work, and filmmaking. Since 2008, our program has conducted more than 45 expeditions around the world and helped establish 29 marine reserves, spanning more than 6.9 million square kilometers of ocean.   Pristine Seas is part of the global non-profit, the National Geographic Society. Our mission is driven by science and filmmaking — we are fully independent from National Geographic publishing and its media arm.

About PADI 

PADI® (Professional Association of Diving Instructors®) is the largest purpose-driven diving organisation with a global network of 6,600 dive centres and resorts, 128,000 professional members, and more than 30 million certified divers to date. Committed to our blue planet, PADI makes the wonder of the underwater world accessible to all, empowering people around the world to experience, explore and take meaningful action, as Ocean TorchbearersTM, to protect the world beneath the surface. For over 50 years, PADI is undeniably The Way the World Learns to Dive®, setting the standard for the highest quality dive training, underwater safety and conservation initiatives while evolving the sport of diving into a passionate lifestyle. For divers by divers, PADI is obsessed with transforming lives and, with its global foundation, PADI AWARETM, creating positive ocean change. Seek Adventure. Save the Ocean.SM  www.padi.com

Continue Reading

E-Newsletter Sign up!

Instagram Feed

Shortcode field is empty!Shortcode field is empty!

Popular