Marine Conservation and Research Expedition Training, Examination and Certification Summary Introduction This document summarizes the current training schedule and materials being used at the two Marine programmes in Mexico, GVI Pez Maya and GVI Mahahual. The training has two key components which are described here, the theory (consisting of lectures, tutorials and self-study sessions) which then support and augment the practical (snorkel and SCUBA exercises). Volunteers are trained in one monitoring protocol over the course of a 5 or 10 week expedition: the Meso-American Barrier Reef System (MBRS) Synoptic Monitoring Program (SMP) protocol. Mahahual currently only takes volunteers who are already PADI Open Water qualified (or equivalent), whilst Pez Maya volunteers have the option to complete the PADI Open Water course on arrival. The marine training programs at both bases closely follow each other, with minor differences due to logistical needs. Theory At both bases the volunteers are assigned to coral or fish 8 weeks prior to arrival. The allocations are made with an approximate 3:2ratio (coral: fish) to accommodate monitoring needs. Both 5 and 10 weekers complete the monitoring training. For 10 weekers, there is scope to learn both fish and coral, if the volunteer is eager and capable, but the focus on one or the other is requested until they have reached monitoring standard. The first 2 weeks form an intense stage in the volunteers training, and as such there is a busy schedule of both theory and practical training sessions, alongside the dive training that most volunteers complete. The lecture series are presented by Expedition Staff according to the following schedule, with options to bring forward lectures in evening slots if the volunteers show a willingness and aptitude. Weeks 1 and 2 lectures are considered to be the core lectures, with completion required by all volunteers prior to taking part in monitoring dives. This system prioritizes the information that will assist in learning the target species that the individual needs to monitor effectively, and later rounds out their knowledge on subjects regarding tropical ecosystems and other subjects of related interest. Week 1 Goals of the Expedition 60 mins An overview of GVI and their in-country partners, and the goals of the Expedition base, and the current expedition. Summary of the science and community programs including a brief introduction to the MBRS Project and our achievements to date. Introduction to coral reefs 60 mins Introducing coral as an animal, it s basic anatomy, nutrition, growth and sexual/asexual reproduction. Coral reef location and limitations, reef classification theories, components of a reef ecosystem and their connectivity, and reef zonation. The lecture introduces some of the major coral families, and the socioeconomic importance of reefs is also discussed.
Introduction to Fish 40 mins Subjects include Habitat, adaptations, lifestyle, schooling, location on the reef, feeding and defence, cleaning symbiosis, and reproduction. Coral OR Fish I.D. 60 mins Introductory tutorial to the range of coral OR fish species monitored using the MBRS SMP. Focus is on scientific terminology used to describe key characteristics in the species observed, including revision and expansion of some of the topics seen in Introduction to Coral reefs and Introduction to Fish. For effective learning, volunteers only take part in the appropriate lecture, e.g. Coral volunteers in the Coral I.D. lecture, but there are opportunities later to receive the other I.D. Threats to the Reef 60 mins Current threats to the world s reefs and particularly those in the Caribbean. Global warming, ocean acidification, how anthropogenic activities are potentially causing and/or exacerbating these threats, at the local, regional and global scales. Hazards of the reef 20 mins A brief introduction to hazardous marine fish, coral and invertebrates found in the area prior to the volunteers first swim. Emphasis is on identification and what steps to take if an injury is sustained. Week 2 Classification and Taxonomy 30 mins Background/history of natural classification, classification structure. Monitoring Methods 90 mins Overview of SMP methodology, and its implementation within the GVI Mexico programs, followed by a practical dry run. Individual monitoring roles are explained, alongside site selection, transect deployment, and explanations of the indicators recorded. Marine Plants and algae 40 mins Anatomy, photosynthetic pigmentations and influence on adaptation and photic zone distribution. Discuss role as primary producer, reef-space competitor and symbiotic dinoflagellates, and introduction to the main phylums. Specific indicator species for the Mesoamerican region. Coral Diseases 40 mins History of coral disease and mortality including specific regional and global events. Anthropogenic and physical factors affecting its apparent proliferation in the Caribbean over recent years. An introduction to specific diseases, identification signs, their causes, where known, and coral predation and bleaching. Marine Turtles 40 mins General introduction to Marine turtles, identification of species found on the Mexican
coast, life cycles, nesting habits, conservation issues. General Oceanography 30 mins Physical and chemical oceanography, the oceans of the world. Distribution, global patterns, currents, waves, tides and habitats. There are also some additional lectures presented for those interested volunteers, these include mangrove ecology, Birds of Q. Roo and Fish and Coral I.D. repeat lectures for those interested. Alongside the lecture series, formal and informal tutorials are held with staff members. These greatly benefit the volunteers and are key in getting slower members of the group up to speed, in and out the water. The first official tutorial is the Coral or Fish I.D. lecture outlined above; several more are held in the first few weeks, pinpointing learning problems within the group and with individuals, and changing focus as the expedition members progress. Typically the scheduled tutorials will account for an extra 8 hours in the first 2 weeks, with additional and varying amounts of time spent studying in informal tutorials with staff and also self-study sessions, depending on the individual volunteers ability and needs. Testing As part of the theory training, volunteers are required to take computer tests with a pass mark of 95% needed, with retakes until the volunteer achieves this standard. The tests (Powerpoint slideshows) taken are as follows: Fish: Adult Fish 100 slides with identification required to species, common names Juvenile Fish 25 slides with identification required to species, common name (100% pass mark) Coral: Hard Corals 50 slides with identification required to species, latin names Other benthic cover and Coral Disease - 50 slides with identification within the MBRS Point Intercept group categories or correct identification of coral mortality cause Theory hours: 20.5 hrs (lectures 9.5 hrs, tutorials - 8 hrs, tests - 3 hrs)
Practical Training Running concurrently with the theory training, volunteers take part in a number of snorkel and dive exercises. All training dives and snorkels are taken with Staff Members, usually at a ratio of between 2-5 volunteers per staff member. The initial spot dives focus on the basic species as appropriate, i.e. either Adult Fish or Hard Corals, and involve the staff member pointing out target species and identifying them for the volunteers on an underwater slate. Later the volunteers identify them, and once a level of proficiency has been reached are tested in situ, with a pass mark of 100% required. If insufficient species diversity is seen during a single dive, tests may be carried across dives. Following on from the basic species training, volunteers undergo underwater training for other species identification and transect training required for the SMP. This involves the following: Fish: Juvenile fish spot dives and snorkels, with an in situ test (100% required) Transect practice in-water (with preliminary dry runs on land) Size estimation snorkels/dives Transect test: volunteer is accompanied on the transect by staff member recording, recordings reviewed (100% required) and feedback also given on transect deployment, speed, dive technique, etc. Typically, a volunteer assigned Fish will require 5-6 spot dives before they will have gained a 100% on sufficient basic species. With brief and debrief, this totals approximately 6 hours. For additional Juvenile species spots and tests a further 2-3 dives/snorkels are usually required, with brief/debrief approximately 3 hours. Transect practice and testing dives with brief/debrief will typically require another 3-4 dives, with brief/debrief approximately 4 hours. Total (fish) 13 hours. Coral: Benthic cover spot dives, with an in situ test (100% required) Transect practice in-water (with preliminary dry runs on land), recordings reviewed and feedback also given on transect deployment, speed, dive technique, etc. Coral boundary and mortality exercises, with an in situ test (100% required) Typically, a volunteer assigned Coral will require 5-6 spot dives before they will have gained a 100% on sufficient basic species. With brief and debrief, this totals approximately 6 hours. For additional Benthic cover spots and tests a further 3-4 dives/snorkels are usually required, with brief/debrief approximately 4 hours. Transect practice, coral boundary and mortality exercises and testing dives with brief/debrief will typically require another 4-5 dives, with brief/debrief approximately 5 hours. Total (coral) 15 hours.
Practical hours: From 13/15 hours for fish/coral respectively The times for both theory and practical can vary according for the individual, working within logistical constraints. These are also hours for structured or formal exercises and do not account for all of the additional hours spent on personal study time, informal tutorials etc. which would be required for more rapid progress of the above training outline. Practical exercises especially can vary widely according to the aptitude of the individual volunteer, though the times above generally represent the minimum required. Certifications The GVI Mexico Programmes offers different certifications throughout an volunteer s time in country. The certifications offered are as follows PADI Open Water Volunteers joining GVI Pez Maya may complete their PADI Open Water course during their stay if they do not already have it, or an equivalent certification. The course requires 6 hours approximately of Knowledge Development, in the form of a video, self-study, knowledge review and an exam (75% pass mark required). A further 6 hours, approximately, of in water exercises, with brief/debrief, are needed, plus 4 Open water dives of ~40 mins duration, plus brief/debrief. Total 16 hours PADI Advanced Open Water Due to the depths of some of the monitoring dive sites, all volunteers are required to be PADI Advanced Open Water or equivalent prior to monitoring. This course is conducted at both GVI Pez Maya and GVI Mahahual for those that require it. Dives conducted for the course are Deep, Navigation, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Boat, and Naturalist. The course requires a further 5 hours of Knowledge Development approximately, in the form of Self-study and Knowledge review time, with another 7.5 hours required for the dives, including brief/debrief time. Total 12.5 hours Emergency First Response This course is conducted for all volunteers not already qualified in Primary and Secondary Care or equivalent. The course is broken down into exercises for knowledge development, skill development and scenario practice. Total 8 hours Supervision of Biological Surveys BTEC (Level 3) This course is designed to give participants the skills required to supervise biological surveys. A broad spectrum of topics is covered, including; Coral Reef Ecology, health and safety, environmental mitigation techniques and community relations. Assessment takes the form of written assignments, a PowerPoint test and a full survey practical. Total 30 Hours. Specialities GVI Mahahual provides the PADI Underwater Photography Speciality course to all volunteers. The course requires 2 hours of knowledge development in the form of self-
study and knowledge review, and an additional 1.5 hours for the 1 additional dive required, including brief/debrief time. Total 3.5 hours Introduction to TEFL To assist with the effectiveness of the community teaching programs that the GVI Mahahual and GVI Pez Maya run and assist in, all volunteers interested in participating have some sessions where the staff give them advice on how to teach English, some information about classroom management, how to plan a lesson and how to create the resources to work with the students. Total 3 hours Conclusion In summary, before an volunteer takes part in a monitoring dive, they will have completed the following successfully: Fish: Lecture series (participation in core lectures) Computer target fish species test (95%+) In water adult fish species test (100%) Computer juvenile fish target species (100 %+) In water juvenile fish test (100%) Following the theory and practical sessions the volunteers will be highly proficient in the following: Minimum of 63 fish to species level from 46 families (potentially increasing to 168 species) 23 juvenile stage fish to species plus 2 invertebrate species MBRS Belt Transect methodology for adult and juvenile indicator species Coral: Lecture series (participation in core lectures) Computer target coral species test (95%+) In water coral species test (100%) Computer Coral disease or benthic organisms test (95%+) In water benthic cover spot or coral disease spot test (100%) Following the theory and practical sessions the volunteers will be highly proficient in the following: 49 hermatypic corals to species level from 13 families Other benthic organisms (to classify benthic cover into upwards from 18 categories), in addition to coral mortality diagnostic techniques MBRS Transect methodology for Coral Communities and Point Intercept With additional courses, the total hours a volunteer at GVI Pez Maya can expect to spend in structured training is from 118.5 or 123.5 hours for fish or coral
respectively, as outlined in this document. With additional courses, the total hours a volunteer at GVI Mahahual can expect to spend in structured training is from 106 or 108 hours for fish or coral respectively, as outlined in this document. Note: As mentioned previously, these figures are a minimum that can apply to the majority of volunteers. They do not account for the time spent on additional study, both formal and informal sessions with staff, often one-on-one, and selfstudy of the individual volunteer, as required.