The PADI Research Diver Distinctive Specialty Course.

Learn about many amazing and wonderful life forms. This course covers the secret  life of sea creatures, their survival secrets, how they feed, breathe grow and die. Your eyes will be opened to the extraordinary and sensational world of marine life..... Nature is more imaginative than a thousand science fiction authors. You will see the predators and monsters of science fiction have all been invented by nature, millions of years ago.

Sponges are the untapped biochemical lab of the sea. They have used chemical warfare for a billion years! Do sponges hold the key to conquering cancer or aids? Do they contain hidden secrets as to how multi cellular life got it all together? Are the clues there, within the sponge, to the great mystery of how life-forms rose from the simple to the complexities of humans? Sponges use currents in clever ways. They invented the chimney principle a billion years before Bernoulli explained how it worked! We examine the spicules of sponges under the microscope. They are beautiful.

Protozoa micro world of marine life, where the the struggle for life begins. Most life on the planet occurs at the microscopic level. We really see very little of the real life on earth. Countless billions of microscopic animals and plants surround us on every dive.

Tunicates sea-squirts and Salps are our relatives, they have the dream lifestyle..... Lying about in the sun, drifting about in the sea, never having to work! These relatives of mankind have a kind of spinal cord and gills. We too have gill slits in the embryonic stage. This amazing life form is explained simply and clearly.

Bryozoans lace corals are beautiful living fossils.

Marine worms Annelids, Flat worms, Spoon worms. Undersea flowers of deadly beauty.

Sea spiders have hollow legs into which their stomachs go and the male carries the eggs.

Echinoderms... Sea stars, Feather stars, Sea urchins. Weird synthesis of mechanics and living flesh. A bizarre Phylum of animals that  defy credibility when you look closely at their anatomy. How can an animal have ball and socket joints, articulating joints and hydraulic hoses operating its body? 

Marine plants ... sea weeds and marine flowering plants. These plants are neglected but they are worth a close look because they are the beginning of life in the sea. Do you know that many plants are made of cement? Marine plants can turn you on!

Hydroids, Jellies, Anemones, Zooanthids, Corals. Corals are complex and fascinating. Can you identify corals? I will show you how to simplify and master coral identification.  Impress yourself next time you see corals with your mastery. Coral reefs come alive when you can identify different types of coral.

Molluscs ... Clams to Cowries to Cuttlefish. The cloaked masters of the sea. Sea shells make a fascinating topic. Learn about the fascinating world of sea slugs, octopi and clams.

Crustaceans ... from Barnacles to Lobsters. Look at the amazing world of the Crustaceans. Which one has the longest penis of the animal kingdom? Why is the crab's shell a perfect chastity belt?

Practical: Five scuba dives including one night dive.

use of underwater slates to identify life underwater.

Personally guided underwater identification.

Underwater examination of species

Microscopic examination of samples collected will open you eyes to the richness of the sea.

Note:  All lectures are supported by notes and audiovisuals of the highest quality.
This course uses 7 learning techniques to improve your understanding of marine biology . I have many glowing testimonials from past students.

Graduate with the PADI Research Diver certification and a much better appreciation of the sea.
 
price: 12 000 Baht