Love diving? Love the ocean? Are you fascinated by all the incredible life forms you see underwater, and finding yourself wondering about the world beneath the waves? Why not give yourself the opportunity to learn about our ocean and its creatures in greater depth by taking a marine biology course right here on Koh Lanta – with the Andaman Sea right at our fingertips, its the ideal way to learn!

Take advantage of the plentiful marine life and stunning diversity to be found underwater, and dive in for some up close and personal learning experiences. All our courses include both classroom and open water dive components, so you will literally get the best of both worlds. Take an overview of life in tropical waters with our Marine Biology of Tropical Coral Reefs, or get intimate with some interesting specialties including Sharks and Rays, Hard or Soft Corals, and Tropical Reef Fish. Each course offers you an in-depth study of the biology and ecology of the chosen organism, and you will be diving at dive sites specially chosen to maximize your chances of an encounter.

Equipment rental, hotel transfer, insurance, and breakfast and lunch on the boat are included in the course fees. Students will also be offered use of an underwater slate to enhance and facilitate your underwater learning.

Marine Biology of Tropical Coral Reefs

2 Day Course Outline

Course Overview

This course is designed to be an introduction to Marine Biology in Tropical Coral Reefs and to help the student diver develop the skills necessary for identifying the species that inhabit them

Prerequisites

To qualify for the Marine Biology of Tropical Reefs course, an individual must:
1. Be certified as a PADI Open Water Diver or have a qualifying certification from another training organization.

Academic Topics

- Basic overview of the tropical marine environment
- What are coral reefs?
- Ecology and biodiversity
- Reef biogeography
- Reef types
- Reef zonation

Factors affecting coral reefs

- Environmental variables
- The influence of man

Tropical reef species

- Fish behaviour
- Fish families identification
- Local fish species of interest
- Basic coral forms
- Local invertebrates of interest

Considerations for training

The first day of the Marine Biology of Tropical Reefs course is spent in the classroom learning about the biology and ecology of reef species. The second day includes three open water training dives. The first two dives allow divers to practice invertebrate and coral species identification techniques. The third dive allows divers to practice fish identification techniques.

Open Water Sessions

Dive 1 Coral identification

Objectives: By the end of the Open Water training session you will be able to...
- Distinguish between Acropora and Non-acropora corals
- Recognise different coral life forms
- Identify five coral species

Dive 2 Invertebrate Identification and Fish Identification

Objectives: By the end of the Open Water training session you will be able to...
- Recognise different invertebrate groups
- Identify five invertebrate species

Objectives: By the end of the Open Water training session you will be able to:
- Recognise different fish families and common characteristics
- Identify ten fish species

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Speciality Course - Hard Corals Course Outline
1 Day – 2 Dives

Course Overview

This course is designed to be an introduction to Hard Corals identification and to help the student diver develop an understanding of the biology and ecology of these organisms.

Prerequisites

To qualify for the Hard Corals Specialty course, an individual must:
Be certified as a PADI Open Water Diver or have a qualifying certification from another training organization.

Academic Topics

- What are coral reefs?
- Introduction to Hard Corals
- Zooxanthellae and photosynthesis
- Reproduction
- Acropora/non-acropora
- Life forms
- Coral identification

Considerations for training

The Hard Corals specialty course involves two dives and educational learning to and from the dive sites.

Open Water Sessions

Both dives will be situated at a specially chosen dive site where it is hoped we will encounter as many of the target species as possible. Slates will be provided for student divers to record information.

Post Dive Briefing

After each dive there will be opportunity for further learning as well as discussion regarding the dive.

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Speciality Course - Sharks and Rays Course Outline
1 Day – 2 Dives

Course Overview

This 1 day course is designed to be an introduction to Elasmobranch biology and to help the student diver develop an understanding of the biology and ecology of these organisms.

Prerequisites

To qualify for the Sharks and Rays Specialty course, an individual must:
Be certified as a PADI Open Water Diver or have a qualifying certification from another training organization.

Academic Topics

- Introduction to Elasmobranchs
- Shark Biology
- Blacktip reef sharks
- Leopard sharks
- Grey reef sharks
- Whale sharks
- Nurse sharks
- Brown-banded bamboo shark
- Ray Biology
- Bluespotted Fantail stingray
- Manta ray

Considerations for training

The Sharks and Rays specialty course involves two dives and educational learning to and from the dive sites.

Open Water Sessions

Both dives will be situated at a specially chosen dive site where it is hoped we may encounter some elasmobranch species. Slates will be provided for student divers to record information.

Post Dive Briefing

After each dive there will be opportunity for further learning as well as discussion regarding any sightings.

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Specility Course - Soft Corals and Invertebrates Course Outline
1 Day – 2 Dives

Course Overview

This course is designed to be an introduction to Soft Coral and Invertebrate identification, while helping the student diver develop a better understanding of the biology and ecology of these organisms.

Prerequisites

To qualify for the Marine Biology of Tropical Reefs course, an individual must:
Be certified as a PADI Open Water Diver or have a qualifying certification from another training organization.

Academic Topics

- Soft Coral biology and identification
- Sponge biology and identification
- Crustacean biology and identification
- Mollusc biology and identification
- Cephalopod biology and identification
- Tunicates and other groups of interest

Considerations for training

The Soft Corals and Invertebrates speciality course involves two dives and educational learning to and from the dive sites.

Open Water Sessions

Both dives will be situated at a specially chosen dive site where it is hoped we may encounter some of the target species. Slates will be provided for student divers to record information.

Post Dive Briefing

After each dive there will be opportunity for further learning as well as discussion regarding any sightings.

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Speciality Course Tropical Reef Fish Course Outline
2 Days - 2 Dives

Course Overview

This 2 day course is designed to be an introduction to Tropical reef fish identification and to help the student diver develop an understanding of the biology and ecology of these organisms.

Prerequisites

To qualify for the Tropical Reef Fish Specialty course, an individual must:
Be certified as a PADI Open Water Diver or have a qualifying certification from another training organization.

Academic Topics

- What are coral reefs?
- Introduction to Fish
- Fish Biology
- Fish Ecology
- Fish Anatomy
- Fish Families
- Fish Species Identification

Considerations for training

The Tropical Reef Fish specialty course involves 1 day classroom learning and 1 day diving (2 dives).

Open Water Sessions

Both dives will be situated at a specially chosen dive site where it is hoped we may encounter as many fish species as possible. Slates will be provided for student divers to record information.

Post Dive Briefing

After each dive there will be opportunity for further learning as well as discussion regarding any sightings.

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Speciality Course - Tropical Reef Species Monitoring
2 Days - 2 Dives

Course Overview

The 2 day course is designed to be an introduction to Tropical coral reef monitoring and survey techniques and to help the student diver develop an understanding of the biology and ecology of reef systems.

Prerequisites

To qualify for the Tropical Reef Fish Specialty course, an individual must:
Be certified as a PADI Open Water Diver or have a qualifying certification from another training organization.

Academic Topics

- What are coral reefs?
- Reef biodiversity
- Factors affectin coral reefs
- Data collection and seurvey techniques
- Fish Species Identification
- Coral Identification
- Invertebrate Identification

Considerations for training

The Tropical Reef Reef Species Monitoring specialty course involves 1 day classroom learning and 1 day diving (2 dives).

Open Water Sessions

Both dives will be situated at a specially chosen dive site where it is hoped we may encounter as diverse a reef environment as possible. Slates and other equipment will be provided for student divers to record information.

Post Dive Briefing

After each dive there will be opportunity for further learning as well as discussion regarding data collected.

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