Spend a Semester Under The Sea

Spend one semester of your college experience exploring the sea learning with the peaceful Whale Sharks, Manta Rays, and Seahorses in the beautiful turquoise colored waters of the Andaman Sea in the midst of the culture, people, and beauty of Thailand.

Students learn basic through advanced scuba skills and then participate in underwater research projects. Coral Reef Institute students will participate in a minimum of 120 dives during their ‘Semester under the Sea’ while studying these subjects:

Underwater Naturalist	Coral Reef Conservation	Underwater Photographer
Fish Identification	Underwater Videography	Underwater Navigation
Rescue Diver	Night Diving	Wreck & Deep Diving
Search and Recovery Diver	Certification to PADI Master Scuba Diver…and more
Marine Science	Oceanography	Ecology
Environmental Study Programs: coral reef rebuilding, turtle protection…

Research projects: underwater photography and identification of species, conducting reef surveys, underwater mapping, documenting degradation of coral reefs, and underwater ecology in action.

You may be eligible for 12 college credit hours in one semester

PADI Courses Recommended for College Credit by the American Council on Education!

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Marine research projects are conducted by:

• Professor Henry Aruffo – Director of Environmental Studies
  Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society
  PADI IDC Staff Instructor
• Garth Schumann - Director of Operations
  PADI Course Director

Divers and non-divers are eligible to attend. Students from all fields of study are invited to attend. The semester Certificate Program in Underwater Research may be applicable to students in the following fields of interest and study; marine science, earth sciences, marine archaeology, history, research, education, photography, U/W video, search and recovery, exploration, oceanography, geography, marine biology, conservation, and many more .

CRI offers a unique, specialized hands-on educational experience with only 8 students accepted per semester.

Spend the semester learning about oceans and reefs and strategies to safeguard the beauty of the oceans and coral reefs.

Our underwater environmental education semester is designed for students that have interests in the following disciplines:

Aquatic Biology Coastal Management Ecology Ecological Tourism & Travel Environmental Planning Environmental Science Geography Marine Science Oceanography Underwater Exploration Underwater Video

Aquaculture Earth Science Ecological Anthropology Environmental Law, Advocacy, Justice Environmental Education Fisheries Science Geology Natural Resource Management Outdoor Education Underwater Photography and many other subjects!

Coral Reef Institute’s educational format allows students to focus on their specific fields of interest.

Coral Reef Institute trains proficient, environmentally sensitive scuba divers with skills necessary for diverse underwater research projects. The approach to education is holistic in nature. Students study and train in one of the top ten dive sites in the world and observe and photo-document its beauty and diversity. At Coral Reef Institute we believe that some students enhance their learning in a hands-on skill based educational system. Instead of only reading a textbook to explain a concept, you will be scuba diving to observe the concept come alive. Coral Reef Institute provides professional level field training, students swim with peaceful Whale Sharks, graceful Manta rays and seahorses versus sitting in a classroom looking at a photograph in a textbook.

Students document changes in coral reef systems with Reef Check methodology and non-intrusive photographic surveys. We will monitor the growth, health and the biodiversity of many sites in the Andaman Sea. We share results with visiting educators and the world’s leading coral reef scientists. Coral Reef Institute provides technical assistance to visiting scientists and educators in the course of doing research in the Thailand – Andaman Sea region.

• We provide a supportive student-centered environment.

• We encourage environmental stewardship in our students .

• We recognize and celebrate achievement.

• We have a commitment to provide a positive teaching - learning experience within a supportive environment.

• We encourage our faculty to enhance their skills and knowledge through a variety of professional training activities.

• We promote protection and restoration of the coral reefs and work to preserve this precious natural resource, and its beauty, for future generations.

• The goal of Coral Reef Institute is to maintain a high level of excellence in teaching, research, and environmental outreach to promote the vitality and health of the ocean ecosystem.

Coral Reef Institute is committed to maintaining an ongoing program of environmental awareness. We research ways to prevent pollution, reduce energy consumption, reduce waste and recycle, minimize environmental impacts, have an increased reliance on renewable resources, conserve water, and take only photos and leave only bubbles.