CERTIFIED SCUBA DIVERS

The learning event, which serves as a milestone in order to perform effective and efficient assessment and monitoring of coral reefs and deep-dwelling seagrass beds, was attended by 13 technical personnel of the DENR Regional Office, Community Environment and Natural Resources (CENR) Offices in Aparri and Palanan, and Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Sub-Office Cagayan.

 

CENR Officer Ilarde C. Viernes of Aparri, Cagayan underlined in his message that regular assessment and monitoring of the underwater habitats aide in the identification of strategies and interventions that will reduce the threats and pressures in the degradation of the coastal and marine ecosystems.

 

The community environment official also encouraged the participants to focus in the discussion in order to keep themselves safe underwater while performing coastal habitat assessment and monitoring in the future.

 

During the five-day training, the dive instructors from the Alao Dive Academy taught the participants about the use of the self-contained underwater breathing apparatus, compass, assembling and dismantling of equipment, and bottom-of-the-sea survival techniques.

 

Dive Master Allan S. Lao also reminded the trainees during his discussion to be extra careful with marine life when they finally get to perform open water diving.

 

A pool session and confined water diving was conducted for two days in order to familiarize the learners of the skills and techniques prior to diving at the marine protected area in Palaui Island Protected Landscape and Seascape. #