Who... Leigh Ann Wilson Reynar

Big Blue SCUBA Diving International A PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Center, BIG BLUE Diving is Shanghai's Premiere Dive Facility providing Diving training, Adventure tours, Retail dive Equipment and team-building services Big Blue has trained more than one thousand students in mainland China sharing our Passion, eye for Safety and Quality Education that will only improve. Big Blue has over 3000 members from all over the world, we offer up to date information via our newsletters and website. We have three language editions for BIG BLUE website, Chinese, Japanese and English. BIG BLUE distributes 2 newsletters a month which covers updates, travel and courses with new members added daily.

This course; Project aware PADI Naturalist spciality Coral Reef Concervation – Coral Watch project.

No big barriers to the sections or between the course. Study sections with Quizes, Knowledge reviews and Practical sections. Hint if its in bold and underlined its definatley worth writing down. End of the course with PADI specialities and information and hopefully having enjoyed it.

“We want to feel that our children, their children and generations to come will be able to enjoy the underwater world that has given us so much. There are many significant problems facing mankind, but this is truly our cause. If divers do not take an active role in preserving the aquatic realm, who will?” – John J. Cronin, CEO, PADI

Water is life

Project A.W.A.R.E PADI launched Project AWARE (Aquatic World Awareness, Responsibility and Education) as an environmental ethic campaign in Project AWARE Foundation was registered as a non profit organization Project AWARE introduced the Project AWARE Specialty course. The only requirement is an interest in learning more about the 70 % of the earth covered with water.

Project AWARE Foundation’s Mission and Purpose Project AWARE Foundation is dedicated to conserving underwater environments through education, advocacy and action. Project AWARE partners with divers and water enthusiasts to protect underwater environments around the world. To strengthen and reinforce a widespread commitment to the aquatic environment, Project AWARE has joined forces, built alliances and formed partnerships with like-minded civic and governmental organizations. The Foundation also funds and assists in conservation projects, distributing more than $300,000 US annually through its grant programs. Individuals and organizations apply for grants to fund efforts ranging from local dive site cleanups to long-term research projects.

What steps is Project AWARE taking in partnership with PADI to protect the aquatic world? – Emphasizing environmentally sound approaches to dive practices including: l Mooring buoy use l Responsible boating practices l Buoyancy control l Proper underwater photography techniques and equipment placment l Responsible wreck diving guidelines l Dive training programs (including this course) l Diving participation in concertation activities and data collection (including global clean ups, coral reef monitoring, shark sightings and identification)

Project AWARE They are also … – Implementing initiatives to expand participation in underwater cleanups, coral reef monitoring, shark identification and sightings, education and advocacy – Empowering children to get involved through the AWARE Kids program – Increasing implementation of sustainable business practices and expanding financial support for projects and research

Why are divers and snorkelers natural ambassadors for aquatic environments? – Divers and snorkelers notice both short and long- term changes. – They care about aquatic environments supporting conservation programs and initiatives such as: l Volunteer monitoring l Underwater and beach cleanups l Marine parks and protected areas l Legislative actions to support sustainable fisheries and protect endangered habitats and species.

Over the last decade, Project AWARE Foundation has contributed to the success of numerous environmental efforts. A few noteworthy contributions include: International Cleanup Day. Each September tens of thousands of divers and non-divers clean above and below the water at local shorelines as part of a global effort. Cleanup organizers record the amount and types of trash they recover. This data is compiled by the Ocean Conservancy, Project AWARE partner, and used to monitor improvements in certain areas or decline in others. Dive For Earth Day. On Earth Day, 22 April, Project AWARE supporters around the world organize and conduct special environmental projects and events. These efforts include underwater cleanups, mooring buoy installations, reef survey projects, fish counts or other ecological programs that educate divers and encourage positive interaction with the aquatic environment.

Artificial Reefs and Wrecks. Since the early 1990s, the Foundation has helped turn several ships into artificial reefs off the Canadian, Mexican and US coasts, and in the North American Great Lakes. Organizers thoroughly clean the ships and open many passageways to make them appealing to marine life as habitat and safer for visiting divers before they go down. These artificial reefs help take pressure off of natural reefs that are in decline. Mooring Buoy Program. With the Foundation’s help, hundreds of mooring buoys now float over many of the world’s most popular dive sites, eliminating or reducing the need for dive boats to anchor. Anchor damage has stopped in some areas and is greatly minimized in others. Interested dive operators may receive complete instructions, consultation and financial support for installing buoys at local dive sites Through the Foundation’s program.

Water covers more than 70 %, or 365,656,200 square km/141,180,000 square miles of the globe. The Pacific Ocean alone is 25% larger than all land areas combined. By volume, the ocean contains 1350 million cubic kilometres/324 million cubic miles of water. The Ocean accounts for 99 % of all living space on earth.

All water on earth is ultimately connected. All aquatic systems — fresh and saltwater – are linked. Before humanity knew much about earth geography we named the areas of the ocean -Pacific, Atlantic, Antarctic, Arctic and Indian. Now this is convenient way to identify different areas of one ocean.