Times of the Islands Winter 2023/24

green pages newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources
Benefits of teaching
scuba diving
1. Cultural pride and preservation:
Scuba diving education instils a sense
of cultural pride among young people
as they connect with their heritage
and the marine resources that have
sustained our communities for generations.
It allows people to see their
cultural practices and knowledge as
valuable assets in marine sciences,
fostering a sense of identity and
empowerment.
2. Environmental stewardship:
Diving nurtures a deep sense of
responsibility and stewardship
towards the marine environment.
By experiencing the wonders of the
underwater world firsthand, it is
almost impossible not to develop
a personal connection and a vested
interest in preserving the fragile ecosystems
that surround these Islands.
3. Career opportunities: Equipping
our youth with scuba diving skills
opens doors to diverse career opportunities,
not only within the marine
sciences but in tourism as well. As
a country we import most of our
dive instructors—early access to diving
is how we start to change that.
By nurturing talent and passion, we
can create a pathway for people to
contribute to the sustainable development
of their own communities
and economies.
We can enable people to become
active participants in scientific
research. Sharks4Kids (www.sharks4kids.com)
is a perfect example of
this, as well as active involvement
in conservation efforts. Several of
our volunteers have been employed
to work on projects with TCRF as
well as with the TC National Trust
(@tcnationaltrust_ on Instagram).
The possibilities with dive tourism,
marine resource management, and
other related fields are endless.
Above: Local artist Wellington Williams helps tend to the Reef Fund’s coral nursery.
Top right: Mitch Agenor has just completed his first open water dive!
Bottom right: Janisa Outten is getting ready to take the plunge with Dive Provo.
Times of the Islands Winter 2023/24 39