CLASSROOM TRAINING AND IN-WATER FIELD COURSES
BLEACHWATCH INSTRUCTOR
Special Summer 2018
Workshops & Dives
Florida's Coral Reefs Need Observant Friends Like YOU!
While localized, colony-specific coral bleaching and various coral diseases has been recorded in SE Florida for over 100 years, there are strong indications that coral bleaching and disease has increased in frequency and severity along the Florida Reef Tract since the 1980's, correlating with significant Coral Bleaching events in the Caribbean and coral reefs worldwide as oceans and seas around the globe increase in temperature in relation to modern Climate Change. Increasing public, media and scientific concern for the reef highlighted the need for a program to monitor bleaching before, during and after each incident to help improve scientific understanding. There are many questions about coral bleaching and disease out-breaks that must be answered in order to fully assess the environmental impact of these events. Where and when are the bleaching and diseases taking place? What species are more vulnerable? What is the duration and severity of the events? And finally, what is the recovery and resilience potential of the SE Florida coral reef ecosystem?
The SEAFAN BleachWatch Program was designed to help answer some of these questions by providing valuable information about the condition of SE Florida's coral reefs with the help of citizen scientists who help make critical observations and collect significant data on their recreational or work-related dives. The BleachWatch Program combines climate and sea surface temperature data with field observations on the condition of coral reefs from a trained observer network in order to detect the potential onset of mass bleaching and coral disease events. The environmental monitoring data will be combined with observer network reports to produce a comprehensive overview of current conditions in the region.
The Summer 2018 BLEACHWATCH Program Sponsors, Partners, & Founders:
Introductory evening SEAFAN BleachWatch training classes run approx 2 to 3-hours and are open and free to the public with advance registration, walk-ins are welcomed if space permits. Those who have taken the class before are welcomed to return for a refresher and recent updates about the growing threats of coral bleaching and/or disease outbreaks in SE Florida. The purpose of the Bleachwatch classroom experience is to provide an overview about the BleachWatch Program and visual examples of various levels of coral bleaching and diseases divers may observe and possibly report back to SEAFAN on their own rec dives with dedicated provided materials.
COMING SOON!
Saturday, November 17, 8a-6p - Class & Dive presented by DEEP Foundation [click for the event flyer]
POSTPONED due to rough seas - Check back again about the reschedule.
Saturday, October 6, 9am-5p - Class & Dive presented by Sea Experience in Fort Lauderdale
POSTPONED due to Red Tide. Check back again about the reschedule.
Recently Completed Classes & Trainings:
Monday, June 11, 2018, 6-9p (Palm Beach County)
Loggerhead Marinelife Center
14200 U.S. Highway 1, Juno Beach, FL 33408
Register ASAP: Kristi.Kerrigan@FloridaDEP.gov
Space for 50 people; ample parking. Complimentary refreshments will be provided
Wednesday, June 20, 2018, 6:30- 8:30p (Broward County)
Force-E Scuba Center Pompano Beach
1312 N Federal Hwy, Pompano Beach, FL 33062
Register ASAP: Kristi.Kerrigan@FloridaDEP.gov
Space for 20 people; ample parking. Complimentary refreshments will be provided
Wednesday, June 27, 2018, 6-9p (Broward County)
NSU Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography
8000 N. Ocean Drive, Dania Beach, FL 33004
(NSU Campus located at the end of Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park)
3rd Floor Auditorium
Register ASAP: Kristi.Kerrigan@FloridaDEP.gov
Space for 50 people; ample parking. Complimentary refreshments will be provided
Thursday, July 12, 2018, 6-9p (Miami-Dade County)
UM Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science
4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149
Room: MSC 123
Register ASAP: Kristi.Kerrigan@FloridaDEP.gov
Space for 50 people; ample parking. Complimentary refreshments will be provided
Wednesday, Aug 15, 2018, 6-8p (Broward County)
Marine Environmental Education Center
4414 N. Surf Road, Hollywood Beach, FL 33019
Register ASAP: Kristi.Kerrigan@FloridaDEP.gov
Space for 25 people. Driving Directions & Parking
Complimentary refreshments will be provided
Friday, Aug 24, 2018, 6-8p (Martin County)
Environmental Studies Center - Jensen Beach
2900 NE Indian River Drive, Jensen Beach, FL 34957
Register ASAP: Kristi.Kerrigan@FloridaDEP.gov
Space for 50 people; ample parking. Complimentary refreshments will be provided
See Slideshows from our 2016 and 2017 BleachWatch Training Classes and Dives!
INTRODUCTORY
BLEACHWATCH CLASSES
Interested in partnering with or sponsoring 2018 and/or future BleachWatch Trainings?
Please Contact FOFR about options and opportunities!
Interested in taking your BleachWatch training and skills to the next level? Become a Certified BleachWatch Instructor! With the increase in bleaching episodes and the unprecedented coral disease outbreak, there is a greater need for citizen scientists to report their observations. This free instructor course includes a full-day in the classroom followed by a half-day in the field/water. Participants will acquire the skills and tools needed to train others to become part of the BleachWatch Observer Network. Upon completion of the course, each instructor is expected to teach at least one BleachWatch class per summer, with help of provided materials and guidance.
Saturday, June 30, 2018, 9a - 5p (Palm Beach County)
Loggerhead Marinelife Center
14200 U.S. Highway 1 Juno Beach, FL 33408
Inquiries and Registration:
Kristi.Kerrigan@FloridaDEP.gov T: 305-795-1204
Please see Important Notes below before inquiring about registration
Scuba Dive with Pura Vida anticipated on July 1
Saturday, July 7, 2018, 9a - 5p (Broward County)
Force-E Scuba Center Pompano Beach
1312 N Federal Hwy, Pompano Beach, FL 33062
Inquiries and Registration:
Kristi.Kerrigan@FloridaDEP.gov T: 305-795-1204
Please see Important Notes below before inquiring about registration
Scuba Dive with SF Diving Headquarters anticipated on July 8
IMPORTANT NOTE: Space is very limited, advanced registration required. Knowledge of coral identification and coral condition is desired. Must be over 18 years of age and SCUBA a certified SCUBA diver with significant diving experience. These unique BleachWatch instructor-training workshops also include a complimentary field training dive held soon after the class that should be taken to complete the training and be qualified to become a Certified BleachWatch Instructor. Complimentary refreshments and lunch will be provided at the all-day workshops.