Issue 56 - January 2020
Experience New Depths with Ocean First
By Kevin Majoros
Situated over 1,000 miles from the nearest ocean shoreline, Ocean First is the #2 ranked Scuba Schools International (SSI) dive shop in the United States with 1,400 certifications in 2019.
Located in Boulder, Colorado, their mission is to create a powerful ecosystem where swimming, diving, adventure, education and preservation come together to form a unique community.
Ocean First launched in 2007 with a business model that was predicated on marine conservation and ocean education.
Scuba Diving Diver Coral Reef
Curriculum for Scuba Divers and Non-Divers in Marine Science
One thing that was determined in their first year of operation was that the dive industry was not educating divers on the marine environment.
“Most people were not learning about coral reef conservation or ocean ecology,” says Graham Casden, Founder & Chief Visionary Officer. “We wanted to create educated and passionate stewards to protect the environment.”
Faced with the daunting task of taking on an industry, Ocean First Education was spun off in 2008 to develop science courses that complimented the dive programs they were already offering.
Their science courses were created for both adults and youth divers along with non-diving speciality courses for those who do not scuba dive. On the youth side, Ocean First Education provides engaging digital marine science curricula for grades K-12.
Partnering with SSI on Ecology Courses
As a brick and mortar small dive shop, Ocean First was courted by Doug McNeese, President and CEO of SSI. He would become a mentor to Ocean First and worked with them to create ecology courses for the dive industry.
Six of the courses created by Ocean First have been adopted into the SSI model – Marine Ecology, Fish Identification, Natural History of Coral, Sea Turtle Ecology, Truth About Sharks and Manta & Ray Ecology.
Two more Ocean First courses will be added by SSI in 2020 – Marine Mammals and Invertebrates.
Blue is the New Green
Ocean First is incorporated as a Benefit Corporation and certified as a B Corp™. Certified B Corporations are leaders of a global movement of people using business as a force for good.
They meet the highest standards of overall social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability and aspire to use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems.
“We went through a six-month assessment with B Lab regarding our employees, workplace safety and energy use,” says Casden. “The certification is a powerful reflection of the ethos of our business model.”
Ocean First is a member of Eco-Cycle’s Green Star Business Program. Through this program, businesses are provided with comprehensive, long-term, customized sustainability consulting that helps to address waste reduction, water and energy conservation, sustainable purchasing, green building, alternative transportation and staff training.
Going a step further, Ocean First is also Blue Certified which is an eco-label for the dive industry. It provides dive operations with the tools to perform better for themselves, the environment, their local community and their customers.
The goal of the program is to provide dive operators and their employees with a clear path that leads to more efficient business practices and cost savings, all while benefiting the environment and strengthening marketing reach.
Ocean First’s TIDES Program Connects Youth to the Ocean
TIDES was developed collaboratively between Ocean First and Ocean First Education in 2009 to connect students to the ocean, regardless of where they live.
This immersive experiential program combines confidence-building scuba diving, classroom science, and fieldwork to give students an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experience that increases achievement and agency while creating a deeper connection with the natural world.
TIDES is either conducted through one of their partners, which include private, public, and charter schools, dive centers, and third-party organizations such as homeschool co-ops, or directly at Ocean First. They have developed six years of programming so students can start as young as 12 years old.
“We had noticed for years that the dive industry was looking to draw in youth, and we feel that our school program is the answer. It gets them excited about the sport and marine ecology,” says Casden. “TIDES is a good first experience for youth and meets their school’s needs on experiential and progressive programming.”
Of the 1,400 dive certifications achieved at Ocean First in 2019, 700 certifications were youth ranging in age from 12 to 18 years old.
The TIDES model has tremendous potential for growth and is currently being licensed to other dive shops in Arizona, Pennsylvania, California and Ohio.
Creating Educated and Impassioned Recreators
Whether you want to swim, dive, travel or educate yourself at Ocean First, you will be guided to develop a lifelong passion for the marine environment.
In order to share their scuba experiences with current and potential adventurers, Ocean First has filmed 360-degree virtual reality videos that can be viewed with virtual reality headsets at their shop.
Visitors can explore the RMS Rhone in the British Virgin Islands or cruise over the vibrant reefs of Indonesia. Additional videos have been recorded in Costa Rica and the Galápagos Islands.
“A lot of times, the dire straits of our ocean is ‘out of sight, out of mind’ for many people. We want to serve as a reminder that the ocean is the lifeline that connects us to life,” Casden says. “Our actions in Colorado will affect what goes on here and in coastal communities.”
Check out Ocean First Online and Instagram.
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Issue 56 - January 2020
SEVENSEAS Travel Magazine – January 2020 – Issue 56
Isla Mar Research Expeditions
Isla Mar Research Expeditions is a marine education company that coordinates and hosts field courses designed for university students and citizen scientists. The company was founded while both Chelsea & Evan Tuohy were in graduate school in Puerto Rico studying biological oceanography. Read more
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Go Mo Go Travel Blog: North Korea
I have this ongoing movie night with a couple of friends; Carlo and George. We watch a movie, eat fattening food, and gossip gayly. Carlo is a young doctor, who is often flown around the world to lecture on his specific field of research. Read more…
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Oxford-based data visualisation company appointed for Great White shark protection
Oxford-based Zegami, the data visualisation company helping businesses unlock their data potential, has been engaged by world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium, to strengthen its project to monitor and protect the Great White Shark Population in the Northeastern Pacific. Read more …
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SOI Maps a Million Km² of Seafloor and Joins Monumental Mapping Initiative
Schmidt Ocean Institute, a non-profit dedicated to advancing the world’s understanding of the ocean with cutting-edge science, reached a major milestone mapping more than one million square kilometres of the ocean floor and simultaneously made a commitment to The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project to help create a global map of the ocean floor. Read more …
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Rice University launches bold climate change initiative with Shell
Rice University has launched Carbon Hub, a major research initiative to create a zero-emissions future in which oil and natural gas provide both clean energy and advanced materials that help house, move, clothe and feed people. Read more…
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Antarctica, a Photo Series
Please enjoy this collection of photos I stumbled upon while putting together this month’s issue. See more…
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Experience New Depths with Ocean First
Situated over 1,000 miles from the nearest ocean shoreline, Ocean First is the #2 ranked Scuba Schools International (SSI) dive shop in the United States with 1,400 certifications in 2019. Read more…
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Fire urchins and their inhabitants – Zebra crab & Coleman shrimp – Jack’s January Underwater Photograph
Fire urchins are essentially slow, ball-shaped meals of protein and fat in a package that is easy to catch. Obviously, evolution had to do something about this, or fire urchins would have been extinct a couple of minutes after they evolved. Fire urchins did not get their name in a random draw of cool names for urchins. Read more …
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No harm no foul: Marine coating draws copper from seawater
Australian researchers are set to test a marine coating that can take up copper from seawater and release it using electrical pulses to prevent the growth of unwanted organisms on ship hulls. The $350,000 project will conduct a series of sea trials in the next 12 months and is being led by Flinders University in South Australia in collaboration with the University of South Australia, shipbuilder ASC and the Australian Department of Defence. Read more…
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SeaXplorer Sagres
Let us take you around the Costa Vicentina, the Southwestern Coast of Portugal. We invite you to experience unforgettable moments on our excursions like dolphin watching, Coastal trips, Fishing or boat charters. See more…
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Sarah Gauthier – Antarctica Feature
The underwater scene is completely different in Antarctica, to anywhere else in the world. Diving next to icebergs, observing unique animals and being so far away from anything else is unique to anything I’ve experienced before. The rational part of me was excited to find out what I was going to see. Read more…
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The largest man-made oyster reef system was completed when seven million oysters were released in South Australia
The largest man-made oyster reef system in the Southern Hemisphere is completed when seven million native oysters were released in South Australia. The wild release of the hatchery-raised Australian Flat Oysters marks the final stage of three years of work to reconstruct natural shellfish reefs in Gulf St Vincent, South Australia. Read more…
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Greta Thunberg: ‘They try so desperately to silence us’
Swedish activist Greta Thunberg said young people are “bringing change” to the Madrid climate talks and will not be silenced. She joined a march of 500,000 in Madrid and a conference of 30,000. At a news conference, Thunberg said that she hoped the negotiations would yield “something concrete.” Read more…
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Baker Institute-led group to develop a nationwide protocol for storing carbon
Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy has initiated a working group to develop a United States protocol for paying ranchers and farmers to store carbon in their soil. The current system for voluntary carbon transactions is broken and needs to be fixed, group founders said. Read more…
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SEVENSEAS FEATURED TRAVEL
Below are a few of our favorite tour centers and operators. Be sure to mention SEVENSEAS Media for special rates and discounts when making your inquiry.
Susan Bruce Travel
We’ve been traveling, advising clients, and planning trips across the globe for over 30 years. We help you explore amazing places and people — from mountain sanctuaries in Bhutan to the jungles of Peru. Learn more…
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Oceanic Society Expeditions.
A selection of expeditions and volunteer vacations for our travellers that will further the mission to conserve marine wildlife and habitats. More info.
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Alelí Tours Puerto Rico 
Alelí Tours is a small-scale ecotourism business located in La Parguera, southwest Puerto Rico. More info.
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Isla Mar Research Expeditions – Field Courses in Puerto Rico
A field course coordination company in Puerto Rico that specializes in organizing and hosting island ecology (marine/terrestrial) themed courses. More info.
Marine Megafauna Foundation
Our mission is to save threatened marine life using pioneering research, education, and sustainable conservation solutions, working towards a world where marine life and humans thrive together. Read more… More info.
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Bangkok Photo Tours.
We visit traditional sights but focus on markets, street art, and local food. All camera forward and environmentally sensitive. More info.
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Pangaea Ocean Sailing Expedition
Panex is opening up sailing expeditions for guest crew. This is an unique opportunity to go sailing, cross an ocean, and be a part of something bigger. More info.
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SEE Turtles
…protect endangered turtles throughout Latin America and the world by supporting community-based conservation efforts through ecotourism, education, and Billion Baby Turtles. More info.
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Ever dream of swimming with humpback whales? Now you can.
If you are interested in swimming with or photographing humpback whales Karim guides… More info.
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Loggerhead Marinelife Center.
Imagine roaming some of the world’s most beautiful ecosystems. Gorgeous vistas, affordable travel and amazing memories; immersing yourself in the sounds of nature. More info.
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Pete Oxford Expeditions.
We offer unique, small group expeditions for travelers and photographers to remote and pristine destinations and cultures around the world. More info.
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Alnitak Conservation in Action on Volunteer Expeditions
Alnitak is a grassroots marine science organization dedicated to the conservation of biodiversity in our oceans. From May through to October, we run expeditions to survey the rich waters in the Balearic Sea, inviting any ocean enthusiasts to join us on board. Our expeditions take place in the stunning Cabrera National Park and the Menorca Biosphere Reserve. Read more…
The FREE Weekly Conservation Post and Jobs List
Signing up for the free Weekly Newsletter & Jobs List will get you a round-up of upcoming events, webinars, meetings, reports, funding opportunities, photos of the week, and recent postings to the jobs list.
To sign up for our free subscription, please Click Here or email us Here.
Since 2004, SEVENSEAS Media has fostered an informal and non-partisan platform to promote understanding of key issues and challenges while building partnerships across an increasingly diverse group of marine conservation professionals and students.
Our mission is to promote communication and build partnerships across the global marine community and to identify and address gaps in the community’s work. SEVENSEAS Media achieves this through multimedia promotion and partnerships. The community consists of a diverse and growing group of participants, including non-governmental organizations, government agencies, foundations, bilateral and multilateral agencies, fellowship programs, independent consultants, and academia/students.
If you are interested in contributing or getting involved, email us Here.
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Conservation Photography
Antarctica, a Photo Series
Please enjoy this collection of photos I stumbled upon while putting together this month’s issue. PK
Photo Courtesy of Yuriy Rzhemovskiy
“The Earth is what we all have in common. It is what we are made of and what we live from, and we cannot damage it without damaging those with whom we share it.” — Wendell Berry
Adventure doesn’t get much purer and untouched than this. Photo Courtesy of James Eades
“It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living.” — David Attenborough
We can’t really realise on this picture the scale of these icebergs, but as tall as a building. It’s called “cemetery’s iceberg” because artic ice split when it melts and touches the ground and stay there as an unmoving iceberg. Photo Courtesy of Mathieu Perrier
Photo Courtesy of James Eades
“Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you” — Frank Lloyd Wright
Photo Courtesy of Cassie Matias
Photo Courtesy of James Eades
Photo Courtesy of Cassie Matias
“It appears to be a law that you cannot have a deep sympathy with both human and nature” — Henry David Thoreau
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Feature Destination
SeaXplorer Sagres
By Michel Wiese, Marine Biologist
Photo courtesy of Michel Wiese, Marine Biologist & SeaXplorer Sagre
Let us take you around the Costa Vicentina, the Southwestern Coast of Portugal. We invite you to experience unforgettable moments on our excursions like dolphin watching, Coastal trips, Fishing or boat charters. From the beauty of the coast with fascinating rock formations and outstanding beaches to the underwater world with its inhabitants, we offer a very special moment for everyone, your family and friends. All information, prices and duration on www.seaxplorersagres.com .
Photo courtesy of Irina Silva & SeaXplorer Sagre
All our tours are guided by one of our Marine Biologists, starting with an educational briefing about Marine animals and also the problems they face. These trips are on board of our Catamaran, a super stable, comfortable and fast boat with two 250HP outboard engines (see pictures).
Photo courtesy of Michel Wiese, Marine Biologist & SeaXplorer Sagre
The encounter with Cetaceans is a very special experience since you can closely observe them in their natural environment. As we deal with wild animals we cannot guarantee 100% sightings, yet our experienced crew finds them on almost every trip. On this experience, several species may be found, from dolphins to Whales, at times even Orcas, Hammerhead and Blue sharks.
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Mass Death of Magellanic Penguins Observed at Reserva Provincial Cabo Vírgenes
Feature Destination: A Conservationist’s Reflection on Family, Biodiversity, and Restoration in Costa Rica
Reefs of Time: What Fossils Reveal about Coral Survival
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