Marine Life & Conservation
SSI joins up with junior scientific dive team
Beginning in June 2016, SSI has teamed up with the Junior Scientific Dive Team and Looe Key Dive Center in the Florida Keys to promote the Marine Sciences to the next generation of students.
The Junior Scientific Dive Program was developed by Kama Cannon, a doctoral student at University of North Carolina, Wilmington. Kama came to the Florida Keys to create a dive program for young people between the ages of 10-15 that makes a direct connection between education and the real world with an emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and math.
By combining the Next Generation Science Standards, Ocean Literacy Standards, and guidelines from the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS), Cannon developed a cross-curricular place-based Marine Science program that takes advantage of the local Florida Keys environment and resources.
Cannon contacted Will Fox, General Manager and SSI Instructor Trainer/Certifier, of Looe Key Dive Center to coordinate the logistics of the program. Looe Key Dive Center committed by donating classroom, pool, boat space, and rental equipment, and SSI providing the Training Materials.
The program started with a full class of 16 students. “What we found is that we had a mix of students who weren’t reaching their full potential in school because either they weren’t challenged or didn’t see a practical need for what they were learning in school,” stated Cannon. “What is also exciting is that the class is predominantly female, especially girls from culturally diverse backgrounds, which are significantly under-represented in the math and science fields at all levels of school and industry. By emphasizing the scuba humanities and environmental science aspects, females were much more interested in the program.”
Since its inception, this program has exploded into something very special. Marcella, age 13, is about ready to complete her 50th dive. “The math we do here is real physics and math. The problems I solve here is what keeps me and my buddies alive. And we are all doing scientific research, not just reading about it. I am just finishing 8th grade and I just found out I won a four year scholarship to any Florida state school! I was not sure of what I wanted to focus on but now I’m interested in Marine Science.”
All students are also continuing their diving education with SSI Specialty programs. As one of their goals, the group got to dive and map an actual ship wreck located in the Upper Keys, help MOTE Marine Lab with their Coral Bleach Watch program, and transplant baby corals with the Coral Restoration Foundation. Elizabeth, age 13, summed it up nicely – “That was the coolest thing I have ever done in my life!”
Validating her initial concept, Cannon found that the real-world relevancy of what the kids were learning positively impacted their motivation both in the program and in science classes at school. “Despite being time consuming, academically challenging, and physically demanding, the actual projects that the group did were perceived as more meaningful than just regular school work. Scuba diving is challenging and the kids are challenged,” explained Cannon.
All of the Junior Scientific Divers are quite proud of their accomplishments and their ratings as both scuba divers with an emphasis on the scientific side. Cheyenne, age 13 explained: “I enjoy having the ability to constantly use my brain, to problem solve and work with science diving tools. Our learning is interactive. Another thing I love is that we perform procedures underwater that some people have trouble with on land!”
The environment is important to all of us and to reach out to the youth of today and engage them in the marine environment and sciences is truly exciting,” states Jeff Saenger, SSI Director of Sales. “We at SSI are committed to educating people on the aquatic environment and there is no better place to start or to invest in than the youth of today.”
Cannon further summed it up: “As an educator, it’s been very rewarding to see the growth in maturity, self-confidence, and academic motivation, especially in the girls. This is a program that could work anywhere.”
“It’s been a team effort between the group leaders, SSI, and Looe Key Dive Center and its staff. And it’s a lot of work sometimes, but also a lot of fun,” added Fox. “Overall, it’s a great program and everybody involved has benefited. We’re already gearing up for the 2017 group.”
For more information about this program, contact Kama Cannon +1 910-686-0399 – kamaleecannon@gmail.com or Looe Key Dive Center at +1 305-872-2215.
After a two-year tour of UK art galleries, community spaces and aquariums, the Shark Trust’s acclaimed Oceanic31 exhibition takes its final bow at the Royal Geographical Society later this month. And the unique collection of artwork, depicting 31 species of oceanic sharks and rays, donated by 31 artists, is now open for bids from art lovers and shark enthusiasts. The online auction, launched today, will close on the 7th December at 8pm (BST). The money raised will support the Shark Trust Oceanics Programme.
People can now bid on 27 of the artworks by visiting this website:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction
It is a chance to own a beautiful piece of original art and to support the Shark Trust. The timing of the auction also means that these would make a very special Christmas gift for any shark-lover.
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- Bigeye Thresher Shark by Janina Rossiter
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- Carcharodon carcharias by Jimmy Higgs
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- Croc VR 2030 by Tom Mead
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- Oceanic Whitetip by ATM
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- Silky Street by ScapaJoe
The diversity of pieces mirrors that of the sharks and rays they represent. You can bid on paintings, digital creations, sculptures, mixed media and more. You can pick your favourite artist or species of shark. Or you can select the perfect artwork to make a statement in your home or office. Whichever you choose, you will be supporting the work to protect these amazing animals.
One of the pieces of art has been selected to be auctioned live by Steve Backshall at the For the Love of Sharks event at the Royal Geographical Society in London on the 29th November. In addition to this, two further pieces will be raffled at this event, giving people a chance to win an incredible piece of shark art. For the Love of Sharks is the Shark Trust’s flagship evening. A night to celebrate sharks. Steve Backshall is the headline speaker at this event that will see other prominent shark advocates join him on stage.
Tickets for the event can be snapped up here:
https://thesharktrust.org.uk/Event/flos24
Those that would like to see the Oceanic 31 exhibition have one final chance. It is being displayed at the Pavilion at the Royal Geographic Society from 26th November until the 7th December. Entry is free.
Find out more here:
https://www.rgs.org/events/upcoming-events/oceanic-31
Paul Cox, Shark Trust CEO, Said “This exhibition has given us the opportunity to reach out to a new audience. And inspire more people with the wonderful sharks and rays on which our Big Shark Pledge campaign is based. We are immensely grateful to the 31 artists who have worked so hard to create these works.”
Bid for your favourite Oceanic 31 artwork here:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction
Banner Image: Smooth Hammerhead by Alicia Hayden
Until 28 November, prizes worth a massive £10,000 – including experiences, products and tuition – feature in a line-up of items that can be won for £5 in an online prize draw to celebrate Bite-Back Shark & Marine Conservation’s 20th anniversary and help generate crucial funds for the future.
Top of the list of prizes is the chance to spend time with adventurer and wildlife expert Steve Backshall, a workout session with Nat Geo star Aldo Kane, a kayaking trip alongside white-water expert and diver Sal Montgomery and a Zoom call with ‘shark whisperer’ Cristina Zenato.
On top of that, some of the most admired companies in the diving and scuba industry have been quick to support the charity with fabulous prizes that make the £5 ticket price worth more than just a flutter.
Master Liveaboards, BSAC, Midlands Diving Chamber, Go Freediving and Blue Shark Snorkel have all generously donated experience prizes, while celebrated photographer Alex Mustard has donated a print and artists Scott Gleed and Olivier Leger have donated a sculpture and illustration to help boost the fundraising pot.
Fourth Element has donated Ocean Positive gear and LA watch company Nodus has gifted the charity a stunning dive watch. For land lovers, the charity has included a five star London hotel stay at Bankside Hotel plus a family visit to Longleat Safari Park in the roster of prizes.
Campaign director for Bite-Back, Graham Buckingham, said: “We’ve been overwhelmed with support from companies and individuals that we truly admire and who have supported us on our 20 year journey and we’re truly grateful to them all. While we feel incredibly proud of our achievements over the past two decades – and we are super excited about the next chapter – this prize draw isn’t a vanity project. It represents a real lifeline to our work and important advancements in the global protection of sharks. So we hope divers, dive clubs and even bargain hunters grab some tickets to make this a massive success.”
The charity hopes that the prize draw will generate crucial funds to launch a brand new, ground-breaking, campaign to enrol the public and increase support for the protection of sharks around the world.
To enter the competition visit www.bite-back.com/prizedraw. The prize winners will be announced on 1 December 2024.
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