fbpx

Become a conservationist SCUBA diver, protect the oceans and improve your skills underwater

Contribute to ocean conservation during 6 days in the depths of the Caribbean Sea at Santa Marta, Colombia

Tell me more!

May the only footprint you leave be with your feet

We are in a climate crisis, it is time to take action, but you are feeling:

\

Worried about the plastic particles ingested by the fish which later on are served in our plates.

\
Overwhelmed by the problems industrial fishing causes in the ocean, it is a problem so big you feel powerless.
\
Insecure about your diving skills underwater. Your buoyancy needs to improve and you are scared of crashing into a coral.
\

Bored because your SCUBA dives are just swimming and watching fish, you are looking for a new purpose while diving.

I want to protect the ocean!

Ghost fishing gear, coral bleaching and plastic pollution are becoming bigger problems in the world’s oceans

Contribute to minimizing these problems one immersion at a time.

And, How can you do your part?

\
Learn how to remove abandoned fishing gear during two days of training. After that, you will have a new purpose for your next immersion.
\
During an online session learn about Coral reefs, their problems and impacts. At the end of the session, you will obtain the Coral Reef Conservationist certification from the PADI aware foundation.
\
Collect marine debris during an immersion so the fish can enjoy a safe and clean environment. You will receive the Dive Against Debris certification after completing all the requirements.
\
Meet new people and make friends in a safe environment with like-minded individuals, sharing your values and love for the sea.
\
Improve your underwater skills with a boot camp focusing on your Positioning, Buoyancy and Trim (PBT). You will not use your arms to move in the water anymore.
Do we buddy up?

Who am I?

Hi! My name is Luis J. Gonzalez and I want to share with you all the knowledge I have about marine conservation and SCUBA diving.

I am a software engineer and SCUBA diving instructor, an ocean and nature lover. I lived 5 years in Montreal, Canada, so we can understand each other perfectly in Spanish, English or French.

During the entire experience, I will be nearby and will show you all the wonders offered by the country I was born in which is one of the most biodiverse in the world: Colombia

The world’s oceans are under stress like no other in history, let’s take action and do our part to protect them.

let's dive!

This is the path to become a conservationist diver:

Hidden by default

Your content goes here. Edit or remove this text inline or in the module Content settings. You can also style every aspect of this content in the module Design settings and even apply custom CSS to this text in the module Advanced settings.

1. Online sessions, 1 day

Your training as a conservationist diver begins from the comfort of your home.

In a first 2-hour online session you will learn about coral reefs, what they are, how they feed, different types, dangers they currently face and current conservation actions. After the session you will receive the PADI Aware certification as a Coral Reef Conservationist.

In a second 3-hour online session we will review the theoretical part of the Ghost Nets Removal course: Reasons and opportunities to remove ghost nets, gear needed, safety protocols, fishing gear characteristics, recovery procedures and subsequent activities.

2. Experience at Santa Marta, Colombia, 6 days

Day 1

How about relaxing, enjoying the warm Caribbean climate, and exploring the surroundings of the oldest city in Colombia?

Around the city, you can find different places where you can taste delicious Colombian coffee and enjoy a local dish. This is to prepare you for a load of emotions that come in the following days.

Day 2

Let's start diving! Time to put into practice what you have learned in the theoretical sessions, but not before evaluating your diving skills and making some adjustments if necessary.

For this, we will have a boot camp on the first dive, with fun exercises underwater. You will see how your skills improve and your confidence while diving increases.

And in the second dive, we will practice the necessary skills to begin removing ghost nets.

Day 3

You already have an idea ​​of how to remove fishing lines and ghost nets in the water. We go in search of them and remove them to leave the inhabitants of the seabed a cleaner home.

At the end of the day and if you meet all the conditions of the program, you will obtain the PADI certification as a ghost net removal diver.

Day 4

We continue with our conservation work: we will do an underwater clean-up, removing the garbage that we see around. Turtles will be happy to find fewer plastic bags so they don't mistake them for jellyfish.

Congratulations! You have earned the PADI certification as a Dive Against Debris Diver. Of course, we must first separate and count the garbage collected to enter the data into the system.

Day 5

Taking advantage of the fact that you are visiting one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, do you dare to visit one of its mountains and go bird watching?

You will not be alone, from the hand of the biologist and bird expert Sebastián Ballesteros, he will show you the most exotic birds in the region. If we are of good luck we will be able to see toucans in their natural habitat.

After seeing the exotic birds of the region, we can take a walk in the ecological capital of Colombia: Minca. Small town with a warm climate, full of trees, mountains and waterfalls with crystal clear water.

Day 6

You already know the impacts of human activity on coral reefs, you are aware of the damage that abandoned fishing nets do, you have contributed to have cleaner oceans and your skills as a diver has improved substantially.

It is time to inspire others at home, your family and friends. Remember that small actions now will have a big impact in the future. It is the end of our experience and I thank you for accompanying me on this journey to preserve the oceans.

On this day there are no activities so you can buy some souvenirs and prepare your bags for your next adventure.

3. After the experience

We will process the digital certifications you gained and we will guide you through all processes to have your new certifications on your phone. Access to photos taken during the experience and register for our weekly newsletter where you will be informed about the latest news on marine conservation and special offers.
Are you ready?

Terms and conditions

  • You must send a copy of your SCUBA diving certification to info@planetazultravel.com.
  • We will send you a medical questionnaire. If you answer “yes” to any of the questions, you must present medical certification to be able to dive.
  • If you have to cancel the reservation, 5% of its value will be deducted.
  • If for reasons of force majeure the trip could not be made, the money will be refunded in full.
  • If any of the activities cannot be performed due to weather conditions, a refund will be made for that activity.

Special offer launch!

WHAT IS INCLUDED?

  • Diving days include all SCUBA equipment, boat transport, snack and a drink.
  • Digital certifications from PADI
  • On day 5: round-trip transport, binoculars for bird watching, entrance to Marinka’s waterfall.
  • Photos of the entire experience.
  • A welcome gift.

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED?

  • Plane tickets.
  • Accommodation*
  • Transport to and from the airport
  • Alcoholic beverages and other expenses not specified on this page.

COVID-19 PROTOCOL

  • The use of facemask is required at all times.
  • We have disinfection areas in the accommodation and at all the places we will visit.
  • The diving equipment is completely disinfected.
  • The same diving equipment will be reserved for both days, so no one else will use it.

*We can recommend you some places to book nearby the area we are located.

Reserve your place!

Click on the button below and fill out the form to review your current situation and I will contact you as soon as possible.

It is time to take action!
Book now!