Advanced Explorer

TIDES Advanced Explorer

In TIDES Advanced Explorer, students will build on their newfound understanding of the marine environment and safe scuba practices while completing two core requirements needed for all fieldwork and research projects. The experience begins with Ocean First Education’s Marine Ecology course, which leads students on an exploration of both the biotic and abiotic parts of the ocean as they dive into different ecosystems and learning about their community structure, anthropogenic impacts, management, and conservation. Students will then complete the Nitrox and Perfect Buoyancy SCUBA specialties, which will prepare them for working with scientists in fragile ecosystems in the field.

Prerequisites

Inclusions

SSI Courses

Ecology Courses

Summer Camp Inclusions:

Summer Program Cost: $2,199/student

Deposit: $700 due Upon Enrollment

Second Payment: $750 due May 1st, 2023

Third Payment: $749 due June 1st, 2023

The Advanced Explorer Summer Camp culminates in an expedition to Marine Lab in Key Largo, Florida where students will dive coral reefs, snorkel in the mangrove forests and seagrass beds, and begin to view the world through the lens of a marine scientist by creating their very own Florida species field guide!

Program Inclusions:

• Rental Scuba Equipment

• Dorm-style lodging at MarineLab

• All meals on-site

• TIDES T-shirt

• Review of in-water Scuba Skills

• Certifications in Perfect Buoyancy, Nitrox, and Marine Ecology

• 6 open water scuba dives (ocean boat dives pending weather)

• Shorty wetsuit rentals

• MarineLab Activities:

  • 2 Labs on Zooplankton Identification and Invertebrate Diversity

  • Lectures on Florida Keys Habitats, Coral Reef Ecology, and Seagrass/Mangrove Ecology

  • 3 Boat Field Trips to Rodriguez Key, seining at Nest Key, and snorkeling the seagrass and mangroves

  • Night Snorkel in MarineLab (Jules) Lagoon

Not Included:

• Personal snorkel gear: mask, fins, snorkel

• Personal Dive Accident Insurance

• Roundtrip airfare and transport from FL airport to Key Largo not included in Summer Camp option (transport from FL airport to Key Largo can be added on for an additional fee)

Upcoming Course Dates

1 spot left!

Advanced Explorer Summer Camp @ Ocean First Key Largo, FL:

Virtual Course Dates: June 30th - July 7th, 2023

Trip to Key Largo, FL: July 10th - 14th, 2023

Friday 6/30: Orientation, 6:30-7:30pm

Monday 7/3: Perfect Buoyancy, 1-2pm

Wednesday 7/5: Nitrox, 1-3pm

Thursday 7/6: Marine Eco Part 1, 1-2:30pm

Friday 7/7: Marine Ecology Part 2, 1-2:30pm

Enrollment Ends: June 26th, 2023