In an effort to learn more about conservation diving, I did the Ecological Monitoring Program course with Black Turtle Dive in Koh Tao, Thailand. Was it worth it? This is my experience.
From the very first time I donned a regulator and BCD and started my open water scuba diving journey in Honduras way back in 2011, I knew I wanted to spend as much time as possible in the sea.
I’ve always been fascinated by the beauty and diversity of the underwater world, and seeing it from the depths for an hour at a time was a life changing experience.
It led me on a path to protect the world’s oceans, and from the day on I took action on minimising my personal waste consumption and joined beach clean-ups to do my part.
Now that I live on the Great Barrier Reef, that passion for the oceans has only grown.
But how could I take my love of diving and the ocean to new levels and become an active part of conservation?
If you’re like me, I assumed the only way forward was to dedicate years of my life to marine biology.
That was until my most recent trip to Koh Tao, Thailand.
I was on a campaign with the tourism board to document the conservation and sustainability efforts being undertaken in the country, and having focused my previous trips on wildlife and community-based tourism, it was time to turn my energy to the sea.
On my first visit to Koh Tao in 2014 I completed my PADI Rescue Course, along with my Wreck and Enriched Air (Nitrox) specialties to further advance my skills.
Now with around 100 dives under my belt, I returned in 2023 to dive as much as possible and document my experiences as I stepped into the world of conservation.
It’s no secret that I love Koh Tao, and it was a real pleasure to be returning to the place that almost became home and start to give back to the reefs.
READ MORE: Check out my guide on the top activities and attractions in Koh Tao!
The majority of my time on this gorgeous island was dedicated to doing the Koh Tao Ecological Monitoring Program (EMP) course with Black Turtle Dive, and it proved to be one of my most transformative experiences since first getting certified as a scuba diver more than a decade ago.
Finally I began to understand the importance of marine conservation with firsthand experience, and how I could make a meaningful difference.
In this blog post, I’ll share my experience with the EMP course in Koh Tao, what I learned, and how it changed my perspective as a diver…
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