The marine conservation research is progressing well this summer, with many key species being logged – such as this lovely Posidonia pipefish:

Posidonia pipefish by Gaynor Rosier of Kenna Eco Diving, L'Escala, Costa Brava, Spain

Volunteer divers are always needed to help with marine conservation research projects on the Costa Brava with Kenna Eco Diving. 

If you’re not a qualified diver yet, you can come and learn to dive with us, taking the PADI Open Water Course with native English-speaking instructors, and then join in with the Eco Diving to gain more underwater experience.

We love to have the participation of divers who care about protecting marine ecosystems. It is a wonderful way to enjoy Mediterranean diving whilst helping to conserve the marine environment, and gives budding marine biologists lots of underwater fieldwork experience.

Volunteers tends to come for anything from a few weeks to a couple of months, during April to October. To help volunteers’ budgets, the subsidised cost structure provides the best value for longer stays. The subsidised cost for Eco Dive volunteers starts from €148 per week, which includes all transfers, shared bunkhouse accommodation, and all volunteer Eco Diving. There are options for subsidised food, towel, linen/sleeping bag hire and dive equipment hire available (see: Booking Info page )

Volunteers usually do 2 dives per weekday, staying underwater for around an hour per dive (depending on air consumption) as the research sites are quite shallow. There is always plenty of time for underwater fun, exploration, underwater photography as well as collecting key species data.

Volunteers have the weekends off from Eco Diving to do other optional coastal dives, to visit the famous Medes Islands Marine Reserve, which is always a wonderful experience,  to do tourist stuff or just have a rest and enjoy L’Escala.

Come and get some sun and join in the scuba diving fun!

Email: eco@kennaecodiving.net NOW to check availability for this summer.

Here is a link to the English language version of the report:

SILMAR Project 2009 Report (English language)

Volunteers please note that all our marine conservation work is carried out in English.

SILMAR Project Report of Marine Conservation Activity by Eco Dive Volunteers during 2009

Online Publishing from Yudu

Come and enjoy a Mediterranean diving trip at a fraction of the normal cost by volunteering as an Eco Diver

Eco Dive volunteer

Eco Divers are needed each year from April to October to help gather data on Mediterranean key species and habitats. This data is essential for conservation planning and coastal management.  Volunteers enjoy unlimited  warm water diving whilst volunteering and holidaying in the Mediterranean at subsidised rates starting from ONLY 148 Euros per week.

We carry out marine reseach in Cala Montgo, near L’Escala, on the Catalan coast,  as voluntary coodinators for the SILMAR Project, and conduct regular clean up activities for Project Aware.

Eco Divers

This is a great opportunity to build up your log book, practice your bouyancy and underwater photography skills, learn about marine ecology and gain fieldwork experience.

Visit our Eco Divers’ website for more information and to book your place.

I’m so glad that we EcoDivers aren’t searching for seahorses this small!!!

Museum Victoria / Photo by Rudie Kuiter

This tiny seahorse, Hippocampus satomiae, grows no bigger than a pea, with a length of just over half an inch (13.8mm) and an approximate height of 0.45ins(11.5mm). This pygmy species was found near Derawan island off Kalimantan in Indonesia and is named after the diver, Satomi Onishi, who collected the samples.

Come and join the Seahorse Race in the Mediterranean Sea. There are just a few places left for this summer! Just follow the Marine Biology & EcoDiving link on the left.

Which Eco Diver will win the race to find the most seahorses and pipefish during 2010?

Bring your dive gear and join the race – starting April 2010!

See the website for more info on becoming an ecodive volunteer. Where else can you get free unlimited warm water diving?

1. Dive carefully to protect fragile aquatic ecosystems
Many aquatic organisms are delicate and can be harmed by the swipe of a fin or even the gentle touch of a hand. Some aquatic organisms like corals and Neptune grass grow very slowly and breaking even a small piece can destroy decades of growth. You can prevent long-term damage to magnificent dive sites by diving carefully.

Fragile mediterranean corals

2. Be aware of your equipment placement
You can do your part and prevent injury to aquatic life every time you dive by ensuring that your gauges and alternate air source are secured so they don’t drag across the reef or other vital habitat. Keep control your buoyancy, taking care not to touch fragile organisms with your body or equipment.
3. Keep your dive skills sharp through continuing education
Before heading to open water seek bottom time with a certified professional in a pool or other environment that won’t be damaged. You can also refresh your skills and knowledge with a PADI Scuba Review, PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course or Project AWARE Specialty course such as Peak Performance Buoyancy.
4. Consider how your interactions affect aquatic life
Avoid touching, handling, feeding or riding on aquatic life. These actions stress the animal, may interrupt feeding and mating behavior or provoke aggressive behavior in normally nonaggressive species.
5. Understand and respect underwater life
Playing with animals or using them as food for other species can leave a trail of destruction, disrupt local ecosystems and rob other divers of their experiences with these creatures. Consider enrolling in an Ecology course to better understand impacts on the ecosystem.

Delicate Costa Brava anemones

6. Be an ecotourist
Make informed decisions when selecting a destination and choose operators that contribute to marine research and conservation activities. Obey all local laws and regulations and understand your effect on the environment. Don’t collect souvenirs like corals or shells. Take underwater photos as a memory of your trip.
7. Respect underwater cultural heritage
Divers are privileged to access dive sites that are part of our cultural heritage and maritime history. Wrecks can also serve as important habitats for fish and other aquatic life. Help preserve these sites for future generations by obeying local laws, diving responsibly and treating wrecks with respect.
8. Report environmental disturbances or destruction
As a diver, you’re in a unique position to monitor the health of local waters. If you notice unusual depletion of aquatic life, injury to aquatic animals or strange substances in the water, report these observations to responsible authorities in your area.
9. Be a role model for other divers and nondivers when interacting with the environment
As a diver, you see the underwater results of carelessness and neglect. Set a good example in your own interactions so that others can learn from you.
10. Get involved in environmental activities and issues
There are plenty of opportunities to support healthy aquatic environments including Project AWARE conservation activities like beach and underwater cleanups and data collection such as the SILMAR coastal monitoring project. You can support environmental legislative issues by joining organisations like Shark Alliance, attend public hearings on local water resources, conserve water or make responsible choices about purchasing seafood and shopping bags.

Eco Dive Volunteers Help to Map the Pipefish Habitat

Posidonia pipefish, Costa Brava  (Click to view video)

The home of this pipefish is the seagrass Posidonia oceanica, which is unique to the Mediterranean Sea and one of the key species being studied by Eco Dive Volunteers.

Posidonia oceanica became locked in the Mediterranean millions of years ago when the tectonic plates moved to leave only the small gateway to the Atlanitic. Other Posidonia species grow around southern Australia.

The Posidonia pipefish is perfectly adapted to its habitat, with a flattened head that resembles a Posidonia leaf. Although it is a protected species, Posidonia oceanica faces many threat to its survival due to the growing pressures placed upon Mediterranean coastal ecosystems.

There’s more info on Posidonia oceanica on my website.

I have also written in-depth articles on Posidonia oceanica for the MARBEF Wiki:

http://www.marbef.org/wiki/Mediterranean_seagrass_ecosystem

http://www.marbef.org/wiki/Posidonia_oceanica_%28Linnaeus%29_Delile

Divers Needed for Marine Conservation

Kenna Eco Diving is the local cooordinator for the SILMAR Project, carrying out marine conservation and research into Mediterranean coastal habitats. We need the assistance of Eco Dive Volunteers each year to gather underwater data on key species and will give you free training.

Volunteers only need to be qualified Open Water divers (or can take the PADI Open Water course in the Mediterranean with us). No prior marine biology knowledge is required as volunteers will be taught all they need to know to take part in the project.

This project presents a fantastic opportunity for marine biology students, or those considering this career, to gain invaluable fieldwork experience and to learn about the key Mediterranean species that influence EU conservation policy decisions. However, it is open to anyone with a keen interest in studying and preserving Mediterranean Sea life.

Gorgonian corals are a key Mediterranean species

This is a unique opportunity to enjoy unlimited Mediterranean scuba diving as an Eco Dive Volunteer. All necessary marine research training is also provided free of charge. 

Please see the website for further details: http://marinebiology.kennaecodiving.net and contact us a.s.a.p. to book your place. As usual, slots are filling up quickly.

We met at the Barcelona Boat Show last autumn where Fundaciomar, a Catalan marine research and conservation center, was giving a presentation about their projects and activities – past, present and future. When I found that they too are working to protect the Posidonia oceanica seagrass habitat, I knew that we could achieve great things via co-working.

Fundaciomar has gained EU funding to carry out a huge project, which they have called the SILMAR Project. It involves mapping the coastal habitats and recording associated key species present around the whole of the Iberian peninsular, including Portugal, with the assistance of volunteer divers.

I am really excited to have become one of SILMAR project’s local coordinators on the Costa Brava and call upon past and future EcoDivers to come and help with this fascinating work…

A key Mediterranean species

We will be starting soon so take a look at the dedicated subdomain for more info on becoming an EcoDiver and making your diving count whilst enjoying some time in the marvellous Mediterranean Sea.