The Beautiful Oceans courses, 'Science diver' and 'Who eats who', are taught in the first week of volunteer arrivals and provide a solid foundation of essential coral reef ecology. Topics include the various physical structures of the reef itself to more complex food web dynamics of important reef creatures. The core elements learnt in these courses are closely linked to the research carried out at UCME. To find out more visit www.beautifuloceans.com.

On completion of these two courses, more specific lectures will be given by our researchers on their specific research and on how you will aid them in the proceeding weeks. You will be taught how to identify marine fauna and flora and various surveying and monitoring protocols.

The three guiding principles of Beautiful Oceans courses:

1. Science made simple - Beautiful Oceans science courses are complete and independent educational packages; by this, we mean that our courses are designed specially for people with no previous scientific training, and include both theoretical and applied components. Beautiful Oceans’ courses provide scientific information in an easy-to-understand format. Our instructors and course material make even the most complex scientific issues comprehensible, using simple terms and captivating illustrations and images. Beautiful Oceans’ course material has been painstakingly assembled from the latest scientific information by our team of highly trained marine biologists. This course material is updated on a regular basis to keep pace with the latest scientific discoveries.
   
   
2. Applied learning - Each Beautiful Oceans course is designed, written and continuously updated with the recreational SCUBA diver and snorkeler in mind. Great care has been taken to link online courses and land-based tutorials with optional discovery dives and snorkel tours. The knowledge and experience you gain after successful completion of a Beautiful Oceans science course will provide a whole new appreciation for coral reefs. You will see things you have never seen before, discover and understand behaviours that you never knew existed and gain great insight into the processes that shape the living reef and the lives of coral reef organisms.
   
   
3. Fun! - The Beautiful Oceans experience is fun. Each course was created by our team of highly trained marine biologists, who are avid divers and snorkelers like you. Our courses are written in a refreshing, easy-to-understand style that will no doubt awaken your desire to take to the water. After completion of one of our online courses, visit a Beautiful Oceans Science Dive & Snorkel Center, which are specially chosen for their pristine diving and environmentally responsible attitude.