86 USTP Panaon BSMB students secure SCUBA Diving Professional License
By Charlemagne P. Recente, USTP Panaon BS Marine Biology Faculty
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From September 2023 to January 2024, a total of 86 third-year Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology (BSMB) students from the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP) in Panaon, Misamis Occidental, underwent training to secure their professional Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus (SCUBA) diving license.
Before receiving formal training for a SCUBA diving license, Commodore Gert Heyns, a 3-star SCUBA diving instructor certified by Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques (CMAS), conducted instructional lectures on SCUBA diving. These lectures aimed to provide a foundational understanding of the training, offering insights into basic information crucial for knowledge acquisition through the academic course.
According to Commodore Gert, mastering diving techniques becomes more accessible for students already engaged in fundamental activities. The certified diving instructor also guided the trainees in understanding essential aspects of SCUBA diving, including its benefits, the enjoyment derived from the experience, and the potential risks involved.
Several recreational scuba agencies provide diving courses, such as Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI), Scuba Schools International (SSI), Scuba Diving International (SDI), National Association of Scuba Diving Schools (NASDS), American Nitrox Divers International (ANDI), and Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques (CMAS).
These courses teach vital diving skills and foster a deeper appreciation and understanding of the marine environment. Many marine biologists discover that their love for diving and marine biology mutually enrich each other. Diving opens up immense possibilities for marine biology, offering a clearer understanding of the ocean and contributing to its protection and conservation.
For marine biology students, mastering SCUBA diving and earning a license enriches their learning experience and proves essential for their future endeavors in the field.
When embarking on your journey to become a marine biologist, consider adding a SCUBA diving license to your toolkit. It is not just about learning to dive; it is about diving into a greater understanding of the world beneath the waves. Charlemagne P. Recente, BSMB faculty, facilitated the SCUBA diving.
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