08 March 2006
Win Coral Reef Architecture & Organisms Course
Beautiful Oceans
Science Diver & Science Snorkeler Program
$66.55
When asked to review an on-line marine science course I was sceptical. I thought it might just be an e-book with little original content. However, when I previewed the course I was very impressed.
The idea for on-line courses specifically designed for
divers comes from Stephan Becker and Ian Popple.
Becker has a Diploma in Environmental Studies and a
background in interactive education programs.
Popple has a MSc in marine biology and has written
extensively for many publications including National
Geographic and New Scientist. Together they want
to give divers the opportunity to learn about coral
reefs and directly benefit the ecosystem that
they explore.
Don't be put off by the term "course". You don't
have to attend any virtual lectures and one of the
main aims is to be fun. You are given access to
the web site where you can see marine videos and
read the course materials. You can work through
at your own pace, and if you need any help, or
want to talk to other students, you use their web
forum. Optionally, you can get the course book
as a pdf file or printed manual.
The manual is well-designed, clear to read with
a photograph or diagram on nearly every page.
Unlike other marine biology texts, it is
specifically aimed at divers but is not just an
identification guide. It instead helps you
understand the layout of a reef and why animals
and plants that live in each reef zone do so.
Organisms are not discussed in isolation but
relative to their environment and behaviour.
A full index would have been helpful though.
Throughout the course there are boxed "quick
quizzes" which reinforce the message given in
the previous pages. Other asides include
"Science Facts" and "Did you know?" which were
some of my favourite bits of information. For
example, "...The plural of fish is 'fishes'
when referring to a group that comprises more
than one species, but 'fish' when referring to
a group that comprises just one species."
The course doesn't try to give a comprehensive
account of a large number of animals. If this
is what you are looking for then you would be
better off buying an identification guide of
the marine life of your diving destination.
What it does do is concentrate on just a few
typical organisms of each coral reef zone:
shore, reef flats, drop-off, etc. It teaches
how to relate the animal's behaviour or
structure to the conditions in which it lives.
This new venture provides a good introduction
to coral reefs. However, it also gives much
information to interest experienced reef
watchers. I certainly learned things from it,
and I've been diving for over 20 years, have
a biology degree and regularly consult half
a library of sea-life and marine
biology books. It is also refreshing to
see a project with such a commitment to
preserving the marine environment that they
donate 10% of their profits to marine conservation.
For more information or to sign up for a
Beautiful Oceans course visit
http://www.beautifuloceans.com/idevaffiliate/idevaffiliate.php?id=109_0_1_10
(As we were impressed with the course we have
accepted Beautiful Oceans invitation to become an
affiliate, and so make a commission from each
sign-up via the above link.)
We are also pleased to offer you the chance to win free access to
the course. Just subscribe to our newsletter then e-mail us with "Beautiful Oceans" as the
subject line.
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Labels: coral
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