CONSERVATION SPECIALIST PROGRAM

Your journey into marine conservation begins by understanding how coral reef ecosystems truly work — not just what lives there, but how everything is connected.

Afternoon – Marine Ecology Lecture

You will start with a deep introduction to tropical reef ecosystems, covering:

• How coral reefs function as living systems
• Species interactions such as mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism
• Energy flow, food webs, and ecological balance
• What a healthy reef looks like
• The main threats affecting reefs today, from climate change to pollution and overfishing

This session gives you the ecological framework needed to understand everything you will observe underwater during the week.

Afternoon – EMP Invertebrates Theory

In this second session, you’ll be introduced to the Ecological Monitoring Program (EMP) invertebrate methodology.

You will learn:

• How to identify key reef invertebrates such as sea cucumbers, sea urchins, Drupella snails, and Crown-of-Thorns starfish
• Why these species are used as indicator species
• What their presence, absence, or abundance tells us about reef health
• How the EMP invertebrate survey works
• How to interpret invertebrate data during debriefings to assess reef condition

By the end of Day 1, you’ll already be thinking like a reef ecologist.

Morning – EMP Fish (Chordates) Theory

You’ll start the day learning how reef fish are used as biological indicators in coral reef monitoring.

This session covers:

• Identification of key EMP fish groups such as parrotfish, rabbitfish, groupers, snappers, and turtles
• The ecological role of each group (herbivores, predators, coral health indicators)
• How fish populations reflect reef condition
• EMP fish survey methodology and counting protocols

You’ll learn not just what these fish are, but what they tell us about reef resilience and degradation.

Afternoon – Fluid Mechanics Dive

This dive is all about becoming a precise, low-impact scientific diver.

You will practice:

• Buoyancy control
• Trim and body positioning
• Finning techniques
• How to move and stop without damaging the reef

Good buoyancy is essential for conservation work — without it, accurate surveys and reef protection are impossible.

Afternoon – Reef Safari Dive

This is a relaxed, pressure-free exploration dive focused on learning to see the reef through a scientist’s eyes.

You’ll:

• Search for the indicator species you studied in class
• Practice fish and invertebrate identification
• Begin linking theory with real reef observations
• Build underwater awareness without survey protocols

This dive builds confidence before formal monitoring begins.

Morning – Study & E-Learning

Time to complete your e-learning, review identification materials, and prepare for your first real surveys.

Afternoon – EMP Dives

Dive 1: EMP Fish Survey

You will conduct your first official fish survey using EMP methodology, recording species, abundance, and ecological roles.

Dive 2: EMP Invertebrates Survey

You will perform a full invertebrate transect, identifying and counting indicator species using standardized protocols.

After the dives, you’ll complete a full scientific debrief, where you:

• Review your data
• Interpret what it says about reef health
• Compare sites and patterns
• Start thinking like a monitoring scientist

Morning – EMP Substrate Theory

This session teaches you how the physical structure of the reef reflects its health.

You will learn to identify and analyse:

• Living substrate (hard corals, soft corals, sponges, tunicates)
• Non-living substrate (sand, rubble, rock)
• Coral growth forms and health status
• What substrate composition tells us about reef stress, recovery, or degradation
• How EMP substrate surveys are conducted

Afternoon – Substrate Safari Dive

A guided exploration focused on:

• Recognising coral growth forms
• Learning to read reef structure
• Understanding spatial patterns

Afternoon – EMP Substrate Survey Dive

You’ll now apply the EMP protocol, recording benthic categories and coral health to complete your third core monitoring skill.

This completes your full EMP training cycle:
Fish – Invertebrates – Substrate.

A well-earned break to rest, study, enjoy Koh Tao, and let everything settle before moving into coral taxonomy.

Morning – Coral Taxonomy Theory

Now you build on substrate and growth forms to learn coral identification.

You will study:

• Coral skeletal structure
• Colony formations
• How growth form and structure lead to genus identification
• 18 key coral genera found around Koh Tao
• The ecological role of different coral groups

This bridges reef structure with true coral science.

Afternoon – Coral Taxonomy Safari Dives

Two guided dives where you will:

• Search for specific coral genera
• Practice identifying colonies underwater
• Use ID slates and visual patterns
• Learn how to confidently recognise genera in the field

This is where coral reefs start to make sense.

Morning – Study & Review

Time to finalise e-learning and prepare for assessments.

Afternoon – Assessment Dives

Dive 1: EMP Assessment

You will repeat fish and invertebrate surveys independently, demonstrating your ability to collect reliable ecological data.

Dive 2: Substrate + Coral Taxonomy Assessment

You will conduct a substrate survey while also identifying hard coral genera within the transect.

This combines everything:

• Reef structure
• Living and non-living substrate
• Coral health
• Coral taxonomy

After the dive, you’ll complete a full ecological debrief, interpreting what your data reveals about reef condition, resilience, and stress.

This is where you stop being a student — and start being a conservationist.

Morning – Study & Independent Project Time

The morning is dedicated to finishing any remaining e-learning and beginning your Independent Project.

You will explore possible research topics such as coral health, fish communities, invertebrates, sea slugs, turtles or human impact. One of our instructors will be assigned as your mentor, helping you shape a realistic research question and define what data you will collect over the coming days.

Afternoon – Sea Turtle Ecology Lecture

You will learn about:

• Sea turtle anatomy and species found around Koh Tao
• Feeding ecology and migration
• Their role in reef and seagrass ecosystems
• Threats such as fishing, boat strikes, plastic pollution and disease

Afternoon – Sea Turtle Snorkel Survey

Snorkelling allows longer observation times and higher chances of turtle encounters.
You will learn how to:

• Identify individual turtles
• Record behaviour such as feeding and resting
• Assess shell condition and injuries
• Contribute data to local monitoring efforts

This session connects you directly with Koh Tao’s resident turtle population and shows how citizen science supports real conservation.

Morning – Sea Slug Theory

Introduction to sea slugs and nudibranchs, including:

• Their biology and defence strategies
• Different groups and colour patterns
• How to identify common Koh Tao species
• Their role in reef food webs

You will also be introduced to Black Turtle Dive’s ongoing sea slug research project and how divers contribute data to long-term biodiversity monitoring.

Afternoon – Independent Project Development

You will continue working on your Independent Project:

• Finalising your topic
• Designing your data collection plan
• Learning how your project connects to conservation or research

Your mentor will support you in keeping your project focused and achievable within the program timeframe.

Morning – Sea Slug Monitoring Dives

Two dedicated sea slug dives where you will:

• Search for and identify nudibranchs and sea slugs
• Record species, habitat and behaviour
• Practise survey methodology used in the research project

These dives allow you to directly contribute to Black Turtle Dive’s in-house biodiversity database.

Afternoon – Data Entry & Project Work

After returning from the boat you will:

• Upload and verify your sightings
• Cross-check species identifications
• Learn how research databases are managed

You will also continue working on your Independent Project using the data you have collected so far.

A full rest day to:

• Review your notes
• Continue project work if needed
• Recover physically and mentally
• Enjoy Koh Tao

This pause helps you process everything learned so far before moving into advanced coral identification.

Morning – Advanced Coral Taxonomy

You will learn an additional 15–20 coral genera found on Koh Tao, including:

• Mushroom corals
• More complex colony forms
• Subtle skeletal and growth differences used in field identification

This builds on the coral foundation you developed in Week 1.

Afternoon – Coral Taxonomy Safari Dives

Two guided dives focused on:

• Identifying new coral genera
• Refining visual recognition skills
• Applying taxonomy directly in the field

These dives significantly expand your coral identification accuracy.

A full day dedicated to your Independent Project.

You will:

• Organise and review your data
• Analyse what you have observed
• Prepare conclusions or recommendations
• Build your final presentation

Your assigned instructor mentor will guide you through interpretation and structure.

Morning – Final Project Preparation

Time to finalise slides, notes or visual material for your presentation.

Afternoon – Independent Project Presentations

You will present your project to the conservation team, sharing:

• What you studied
• How you collected data
• What you found
• Why it matters for conservation

This is followed by:

• A short knowledge review
• Open Q&A
• Feedback and guidance for your next steps

The day ends with the awarding of your Conservation Specialist Certificate and diplomas.

By the end of your journey…

You’ll be a certified Conservation Specialist Diver, equipped with:
✔ Multiple conservation certifications
✔ Scientific field experience
✔ A completed research project
✔ Advanced reef monitoring capabilities
✔ A clear pathway to becoming a Research Assistant or pursuing conservation leadership roles