This course is an introduction to how the ocean works, why it is vital to the planet, the life that inhabits the ocean and the threats to ocean health.

Core Marine Conservation course.

This course is designed to give you a well rounded, in depth understanding of the oceans and the fantastic creatures that inhabit them, before looking at the threats to this environment and what can be done to mitigate these threats.

The course contains 5 online lectures:

1. The Blue Planet : Why are the oceans important and how do they help the whole planet to sustain life? What are the chemical and physical limitations of the oceans and how does this affect marine species?
2. Marine Ecosystems: A look at how the previously identified physical factors affect distribution of marine life and an examination of the different ecosystems throughout the Earth’s oceans.
3. Marine Biodiversity: An introduction to the range of species found throughout the planet’s ocean ecosystems and how the ocean environment drives speciation.
4. The State of the Reefs: What are the threats posed to the earth’s marine ecosystems and particularly the coral reefs throughout the tropical regions? Whether caused naturally or by man, the health of the oceans is declining and we identify and examine the threats in this section.
5. Marine Conservation: What techniques and actions can be taken to mitigate these threats? Is marine conservation just a drop in the ocean?

Course Instructor

James Campbell Author

Originating from the bleak peak District in the UK, as far from the ocean as you can get in the British isles, James studied Marine Biology at the University of Newcastle in the UK before deciding to move to warmer climates to focus on his passion for marine conservation, coral reef ecology and scuba diving. He spent six years in South East Asia developing and managing Marine conservation internship programs to help students develop their diving and ecological skill sets, ready for future careers. and is now leading the development of our Marine Science activity in the UAE and Oman with a mission to spread enthusiasm about any forms of marine life! James is also a RAID and SSI Instructor.