courses

CoralWatch is an organisation built on a research project at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, and is an integrated part of your Divemaster internship at Utila Dive Centre. The University researchers have developed a cheap, simple, non-invasive method for the monitoring of coral bleaching, and assessment of coral health which you will be trained and get to apply during your Divemaster course with UDC, to advance your understanding of coral reef systems and also to help contribute back to the understanding of Utila's reefs. The Coral Health Chart is basically a series of sample colours, with variation in brightness representing different stages of bleaching/recovery, based on controlled experiments.


Every week at UDC you will visit Utilas reefs and compare colours of corals with colours on the chart and record matching codes, then you'll upload the information to a scientific database. It is our goal at UDC to train you beyond a basic Divemaster and to give something back to Utila's reefs for the enjoyment we take from them. Also we aim to both provide a scientific tool and increase your awareness about global warming by demonstrating one of its devastating effects. We're fortunate at UDC to have the boats, tanks, staff and resource to offer such a program to your benefit and also to the reefs in the Bay Islands of Honduras.

Here is a sample of a bleached coral that you might record of corals seen in the Bay Islands;


The Coral Watch program at UDC makes monitoring coral reefs easy. The Coral Watch chart uses a series of colors representing different stages of bleaching and recovery. Just match the color of the coral with the corresponding color on the chart and record the color code along with the type of coral on the data sheet. Data collected from monitoring activities is then entered online and analyzed by scientists in Australia to answer questions on coral bleaching and recovery patterns, as well as the severity and duration of bleaching events.

During your 4 week Divemaster internship you will contribute valuable data to help scientists learn more about the condition of Utila's reefs and how the eco system functions.

This program at UDC makes it possible to measure small natural fluctuations in the coloration of healthy corals to immediately identify changes outside of the normal range. With your support it's also possible to monitor coral health on Utila throughout the year, not just during bleaching events, and help determine factors that influence coral health.

This is an additional service and educational program offered by UDC and by the end of your training you will have a better understanding of coral reefs and will have contributed back to the long term understanding of Utila's reefs.

We hope when you consider your Divemaster internship you also look at what you can give back during your training, in addition to the quality of education and opportunities you receive from your Instructors and facility.

If you want to continue your dive career and increase your potential, employment prospects and responsibilities, then read on to learn more about our PADI Scuba Instructor course.

If you'd like to join us for your Divemaster course please contact us to reserve your spot!

Call us +1-305-4205959 , we'll call right back for a personal discussion about your professional training goals, specific prices, requirements and other questions, or e-mail gopro@utiladivecenter.com

With your commitment, and our training and support, together we make a difference!

PADI Career Development Center since 2003

I wanted to let you know I had a great experience and appreciate the professionalism of your team.  In my dive career Angel is one of the most incredible Instructors/Course Director's I've had the fortune to meet.

Harley Milne (SSI Instructor chose PADI/ UDC)
USA

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Utila Dive Centre. Utila, Bay Islands 34201 Honduras, Central America.
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