Shark Ecology
Sharks have been swimming in our oceans for over 400 million years, yet we are still just beginning to understand these majestic creatures. This program explores the biology, behavior, and the often-misunderstood relationship between sharks and humans. This is your chance to learn what makes a shark a shark, explore the diversity of over 500 unique species, and understand their critical role in the ocean ecosystem.
By participating in the Shark Ecology program, you will gain the knowledge to contribute to the conservation of these incredible animals. You'll understand their ecological importance and the threats they currently face.
What you will learn
- The key characteristics that distinguish sharks from their flat relatives, skates, and rays.
- How to identify and classify a wide range of common and bizarre shark species.
- The fascinating behavior of sharks, including their diverse feeding strategies and mating rituals.
- The ecological and economic value of sharks and the threats they face from human activities.
- Best practices for responsible and safe interaction with sharks in their natural habitat.
- How conservation efforts like marine sanctuaries are helping to protect global shark populations.
Prerequisites
- Available for ages 6+
- No scuba certification necessary
- Note: All course paperwork will be sent via email to be filled out online before the start date.
What's Included
- Shark Ecology Speciality
- Includes eLearning (US$ 90)
- Instructor-led knowledge review session.
- Upon completion, you will earn the industry recognized Shark Ecology specialty certification.
What's Not Included
- Dive or Snorkel Trip
- Dive rental gear
- Nitrox tanks
- Gratuities
Recommended Add-Ons
Apply your new knowledge with our most popular East End snorkel trip or join us as a certified diver on a search for those elasmobranchs!
FAQ
We commonly see Nurse sharks (Ginglymostoma cirratum) and Caribbean Reef sharks (Ginglymostoma cirratum). Occasionally we see Great Hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna mokarran).
No, this is a dry course facilitated with online learning. After completing the course, we recommend booking some dive or snorkel trips to have the chance to apply your new marine knowledge.
The online course content for the Shark Ecology speciality should take a student between 3 and 6 hours to complete. This can be done on a desktop or mobile device.