The New Cephalopod Speciality course ...Whats its all about?
What is the new PADI Cephalopod Speciality course that we’ve been talking about recently and what does it involve?
Because we are so fascinated by Octopus and all things cephalopod we are always reading articles and books, watching tv shows and documentaries to satisfy our curiosity about these unusual animals. These true aliens of the sea are so wildly different from anything else that we encounter while diving here in region of Murcia we wanted to know as much as possible about them and become experts when asked questions by our always curious customers. As enthusiastic divers and dive instructors eager to find more and more information we struggled to find something that was suitable to use as a teaching tool, with so much information from so many different sources. So we thought we would make a collection of our findings and write a PADI distinctive speciality about it so we can share what we have been learning, present it in a format that divers are familiar with and incorporate actual diving within in too, so we can get in the water and try to interact with these wonderful creatures. Who doesn’t like seeing an octopus climbing around the reef!
We teamed up with marine scientist Gemma Cosson (who actually learned to dive with us a few years ago) to develop a diving course that would educate us and our divers about cephalopods, with a basis on learning about the different species, their biology, lifestyle, how they live their lives and what makes them unique. This formed the main outline of the speciality and is now the detailed presentation that is offered in the first part of the course. There is so much to learn and discuss on this course that we are always adding content and updating our presentations to keep them as fresh as ever. As you probably know there only a few places doing active research on cephalopods so new findings are always fascinating and being made all of the time. The presentation is a collection of this very cool information, with photos, diagrams, images and an assortment of amazing facts and figures.
The second part of the course consists of 2 dives, where you will focus on diving techniques, identification of habitats and cephalopod species, and then diving to find and interact with the animals themselves (where possible!). These dives are to inform divers about how they can interact with these animals in a safe and impact free way. Firstly by ensuring each diver has the skills and techniques to dive in a way that has minimal impact to the animals. By improving buoyancy control, fining techniques and spacial awareness, we can ensure a low impact and stress free dive. Also by improving awareness of the diving environment each diver can interact with these animals is a low impact way, enabling a better experience and an animal encounter that can be sustained and enjoyed for longer getting the most out of your Octopus activity in one dive!
The third part of the course is the collection of data during these dives, recording it so it can be analysed in the future. By keeping records of our findings we can monitor health and growth, individual differences, any negative impacts or declines and any changes of the animals and their environment through time.
The course can be completed in 1 day, with the presentation taking about 1 and a half hours and then 2 dives at our local dives sites - but you will have a lifetime of questions at the end of it! Diving with cephalopods is an amazing experience and we hope to share our passion with every diver that comes to Scuba Murcia, showing off the incredible marine life we have to offer here.
If you sign up to this certification, you will be part of a very exclusive group of divers. No one else can provide this PADI speciality course so you will be one of kind. Just like the cephalopods!
If you’re still curious and want to know more about these wonderful but weird creatures, contact us and ask us about our next availability on the PADI cephalopod Speciality Course.
Click here for some more information on the course or contact us via email - scuba.murcia@outlook.com
Ed Smith is a TDI, PADI & PSAI Technical and recreational diving instructor with over 25 years of experience in the water. The views expressed in these blog posts are personal opinions based on many years of diving experience and teaching, however they may differ from other instructors or professionals. These blog posts are for information only and nothing should replace proper, professional training.
Dive safe.
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