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Marine Conservation Volunteering
The first marine conservation education program for recreational divers in the Mediterranean Sea
Reef Alert Network (RAN) conservation diving workshop gives you the opportunity to learn about reef ecosystems and help protect, monitor and restore local dive sites by playing a part in marine citizen science projects, all while having a fun diving holiday.
- Portofinodivers team
Duration 5 days
from Monday to Friday
Up to 8 hours per day
including training and conservation activities
Daily boat trips
with 8 scientific dives in the Portofino MPA
Goal oriented diving
for capable and certified divers.
Life Below Water
Inspired by United Nations’
Sustainable Development Goal #14
Why RAN conservation education program ?
Reef Alert Network is a registered non-profit organization in Italy, founded by passionate divers, instructors and researchers, with the aim to establish a new generation of action oriented conservationists. RAN conservation diving education program is a citizen science workshop developed to support researchers in mitigating the effects of climate change by providing recreational scuba divers the skill sets to initiate action. Through its networks RAN helps local diving communities who want to make a difference to realize their goals.
Why take action ?
The ocean drives global systems that make the Earth habitable for humankind. Careful management of this essential global resource is a key feature of a sustainable future. At the current time there is a continuous deterioration of coastal waters owing to pollution, and ocean warming is having an adversarial effect on the functioning of ecosystems and biodiversity. Marine Protected Areas are among the most effective tools we have to mitigate these trends but they need to be adequately managed and well-resourced and regulations need to be put in place to reduce the impact of human-caused activities on threatened marine habitats.
Why do marine conservation volunteering in Portofino MPA ?
To design adequate protection strategies, it is essential to have constantly updated information on the state of conservation of marine ecosystems. Changes are occurring faster than the past and an extra-effort is required to correctly inform decision makers.
As a conservation volunteer diver you can contribute the protection of our temperate reefs assessing the health status of marine habitats and species, collecting data by scientific monitoring protocols.
You will contribute your time and skills to help collect vital data for researchers and help support critical marine conservation work.
For divers who wish to go beyond simply admiring the wonders of the Mediterranean Sea, exploring its biology and ecology while helping to protect such a unique and fragile ecosystem, the RAN Conservation Diver course offers an exceptional opportunity. This program provides practical knowledge applicable to citizen science, enabling participants to actively contribute to scientific research and join a network of conscious divers ready to make a difference.
Giorgia Sanna RAN volunteer conservation diver
The RAN Conservation Divers program allows the diver to learn and apply scientific methodologies tested and shared internationally. In practice it is like acquiring a universal language. Spreading this language through "Citizen Science" projects allows to create a network of volunteers able to contribute to the knowledge and protection of the marine environment and to collaborate with researchers and managers of protected marine areas by providing them with up-to-date and reliable data
Carlo Cerrano President of Reef Check Med
This program allows the volunteer to contribute concretely to protect submerged ecosystems, providing crucial support to diving center staff and marine biologists involved in conservation projects while immersed in the local community and culture.
Camilla Roveta Reef Check ECO Diver Trainer
The new frontier of scuba diving is to train conservation divers, underwater explorers more aware of the wonders that surround them, capable of helping science to monitor and recover the habitats most affected by climate change and anthropogenic activities.
Bruno Borelli RAN volunteer conservation diver
What you will learn
To observe and recognize marine species characterizing the coralligenous habitat of the Mediterranean Sea
To understand the ecological role of the most endangered species
To recognize the signs of disease of the organisms most sensitive to the effects of climate change
To collect density and health data of populations of different indicator species
To use standardized scientific protocols for monitoring the effects of climate change on biodiversity
To practise with techniques for the restoration of the most damaged habitats
To assess the impact caused by lost fishing gear and organize its removal
To use photogrammetry as an innovative tool to monitor habitat complexity and species patterns of growth
Who we address / requirements
Qualified Advanced Open Water divers or equivalent level of diving certification
Active divers who have dived in recent times
Capable divers with solid basic skills
For certified divers who do not meet the above requirements we can provide the necessary training and skills before the marine conservation workshop begins
Additional information
- April 30 - May 4, 2025
- May 31 - June 4, 2025
- October 4-8, 2025
Specific dates available upon request for a minimum of 3 candidates.
| MONDAY 14:30-18:30 ECO diver workshop |
LECTURE Reef Check training to monitor the submerged coastal environments of the Mediterranean Sea |
|---|---|
| TUESDAY 8:30-12:30 2 boat dives |
PRACTISE Two scientific dives for data collection through the use of the MAC Reef Check protocol |
| TUESDAY 14:30-18:30 MPA Engage workshop |
LECTURE European citizen science project - MPA Engage training |
| WEDNESDAY 8:30-12:30 2 boat dives |
PRACTISE Two scientific dives for data collections through the "Coral Alert " and "Climate Fish" monitoring protocols. |
| WEDNESDAY 14:30-18:30 Reef Restoration workshop |
LECTURE Intro to transplantation techniques for the restoration of the habitats most affected by climate change and human activities |
| THURSDAY 8:30-12:30 2 boat dives |
PRACTISE Two scientific dives to apply the most innovative techniques for reef restoration |
| THURSDAY 14:30-18:30 U/W photogrammetry workshop |
LECTURE The use of photogrammetry as a citizen science tool for monitoring marine ecosystems |
| FRIDAY 8:30-12:30 2 boat dives |
PRACTISE Two scientific dives to practise u/w photogrammetry and creation of 3D models of reef portions. |
| FRIDAY 14:30-18:30 Final considerations |
DISCUSSION How to play a role in marine conservation initiatives and support local diving communities. |
The schedule may vary due to adverse weather conditions
| Price per person | |
|---|---|
| RAN Conservation Diving Workshop | €890 |
Including:
- 5 days / 40 hours tuition
- 4 days of diving / 2 dives per day
- Tanks and weights
- Training materials
- RAN Conservation Diver wetnote and T-shirt
- Reef Check ECO Diver certification and T-shirt
Act locally, think globally.
