Its great to see new Instructors out in the field teaching courses but its even better when you see past students following their dreams. PADI Instructor and PADI IDC Graduate Tash Gillespie Wong has fulfilled her passion for teaching recreational diving and combined it with her passion for turtles by writing her very own turtle distinctive specialty.
The course is designed to complement the many efforts seen around Gili Trawangan in terms of conservation and protection of marine sea turtles. Gili Trawangan is possible one of the worlds best places to see marine turtles with some divers being lucky enough to see 20 plus of these magnificent creatures in only one dive and the island itself has long been in the business of education, conservation and protection of the thriving population in the seas around the Gili Islands. Just walking around Gili Trawangan you will find a range of different initiatives aimed towards protecting the turtle population. Of course, it has become a selling point for snorkeling trips and dive excursions, but in conjunction with this there is also the provision of education. Walking along the beach you will find large metal domes that appear to just be left on the beach, but on closer inspection you will find that it is actually a turtle hatchling guard to creating protection for buried turtle eggs by acting as a barrier between them and the many beach going tourists the Gili Trawangan attracts. Passers by might also be lucky enough to see these hatchlings being released, whereby volunteers will remove the guard and help to make a safe passage towards the sea whilst stopping any passers by from obstructing the journey.
This course therefore has been designed to address the educational and protection methodology by showing divers how to scientifically encounter, observe and interact in a safe and responsible way. An introduction to the strengths and benefits offered to species by being in the waters around the Gili Islands such as fishing regulations and growing marine environmental volunteering schemes and also the threats encountered such as increased islands population and growing tourism numbers ultimately meaning more boat traffic and more people on the beaches. The course consists of some theoretical knowledge and 2 mandatory open water dives. Students will get an introduction to ways of photographing turtles for the purpose of identification and will also have the option of a swimming pool buoyancy workshop before proceeding to open water. The Turtle Specialty Course requires divers to be at least an Open Water Certified Diver and be over the age of 10.
This is the perfect place for courses such as this as the Gili Islands have a thriving community of both Hawksbill and Green Sea Turtles and a virtual guarantee of seeing the beautiful creatures underwater. The program is open to newly certified divers and experienced or professional divers alike and in fact is a great compliment to the Gili Islands PADI Divemaster Course, as during a PADI Divemaster Internship trainees are likely to spend a lot of time with both the species found around Gili Trawangan. Its also a great Idea for those taking the PADI IDC Course Scuba Instructor Training in the Gili Islands as it’s the perfect chance to teach others about the local marine environment. More Information can be found by contacting the PADI IDC Gili Islands Course Director Holly Macleod.