Specialty Courses

AWARE Fish Identification Specialty Course

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If you’d like to take the AWARE – Fish Identification Diver program, you’ll need at least your PADI Open Water Diver (Junior Open Water Diver or equivalent) certification and be at least 12 years old.

During the AWARE – Fish Identification Diver program, you’ll go on two open water dives (which may be completed in one day). The first dive allows you to practice basic fish identification techniques, while the second dive prompts you to collect fish identification data for submission to the REEF Fish Survey Project (if appropriate). After the dives, you’re required to log the experience in your personal log book.

This program covers the knowledge and techniques for identifying fish common to your local area. The following is included in your PADI AWARE – Fish Identification Diver program:

1. The Project AWARE philosophy about protecting worldwide aquatic ecosystems.
2. Fish family groupings and common characteristics of fish species found in the local area.
3. Fish surveying techniques and strategies for collecting valid data.
4. The planning, organization, and procedures for identifying fish families and species while diving.

At the discretion of your instructor, the AWARE – Fish Identification elective dive from the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver or Advanced Plus program may count toward the certification requirements of this specialty program.

Contact Great Lakes Divecenter, Inc. for more information.