We're Back...What a Week!

Earn the PADI Coral Reef Conservation Certification 

Obsessing about Octopuses (no, not Octopi!)

Panama takes a big step in support of 30X30 

Everyone is glad to be back in the water blowing bubbles!  

Kicking off PADI Women's Dive Day, our group of 13 from Southern and Northern CA, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Georgia, and Florida arrived in Utila with lots of adventures to report.  In addition to 13 SeaSmart Ocean Advocate Certifications, 4 new diver Open Water PADI Certifications and 260 Community Service Hours accrued, our group learned tons about SCUBA, marine science and ocean conservation and had some super experiences.

Remaining flexible for various conditions, the group had a fun and educational time. When asked about favorite highlights from the week, participants reported: "unexpected visits from pods of adult and juvenile dolphins when we were out on the boat & jumping in with them, using what we learned in the classroom the next day in the ocean, trying a night dive, working in the coral nursery, the amazing professionals we learned from (we're talking about you, Andrea, Yas, Marty, Austin, Cptn. Albert & Queen Ann!), learning you have to keep at least one foot on the ground when playing pool (right, Lisa?!), exploring the island in golf carts and our day at the cay."  To see more pix and videos of our experiences, check out SeaSmart on Facebook or on Instagram @seasmartocean. Here's a summary of our action-packed week after settling in and attending orientation on Saturday...

Earn PADI's Coral Reef Conservation Certification With Us

SeaSmart, in partnership with Pan Aqua Diving in NYC, is hosting this online course on Tuesday, August 31st at 6pm for anyone interested in the aquatic world. There are no prerequisites or age restrictions.  After taking this course, you will earn PADI certification and an understanding of:

• How coral reefs function and the complex nature of life on a reef
• Why coral reefs are so important
• Why many coral reefs are in serious trouble
• What you can do to prevent further decline

For further information or to register, email lisa.mcintyre@seasmartocean.org.  The course fee of $99 includes a PADI certification card and is a specialty that can be used toward Master SCUBA Diver certification.  

Panama's Important Milestone in Marine Protected Area (MPA) Creation

Currently, less than 6% of the ocean is protected in any way. 30X30 is a call to action to safeguard at least 30% of the world's ocean by 2030 through a network of highly protected marine areas where no destructive or extractive activities like fishing or mining can take place.  

On June 8th, 2021, Laurentino Cortizo, President of Panama and Milciades Concepción, Minister of Environment signed a decree that protects the Coiba Ridge, a move that will triple the Cordillera de Coiba marine protected area. With this act, Panama is set to be ahead of the 30% by 2030 goals (30×30) and become a true Blue Leader – a country that officially “highly and fully” protects 30% or more of its oceans. Panama will finalize the management plan to address the regulation of the new expanded MPA by the fall. 

Dr. Sylvia Earle, Founder of Mission Blue, says, “Congratulations to President Laurentino Cortizo and the country of Panama for protecting this special part of the blue planet. I hope this inspiring commitment gives courage to neighboring countries in the region including Costa Rica, Colombia and Ecuador to take similar actions to protect the incredible biodiversity in their waters, to link up protections and create a corridor where wildlife can thrive.” 

On World Ocean Day, John Kerry congratulated President Cortizo and underscores the importance of the 30X30 initiative, which you can listen to below:

Because Octopuses Are Becoming Our Obsession...

This month, our Executive Director's book club read  The Soul of an Octopus, and we cannot recommend this finalist for the National Book Award for nonfiction enough! The book covers a lot of time with the octopuses kept in the New England Aquarium. (We had some good debate about the pros and cons of marine life being kept captive, among other things).  

An unexpected group caring for and studying the octopus residents gets pretty tight during their time together. What is learned about these beings and the relationships they develop is not only incredibly interesting, but at times, seems almost unbelievable.

Apparently we aren't the only ones obsessed with Octopuses.  A recent article in the New York Times, "How Octopuses Upend What We Know About Ourselves," includes an audio interview with the author, Sy Montgomery, a naturalist and the author of dozens of books on animals. More on this here:

SeaSmart Swag: Look & Feel Great  

We have added some new additions to our collection of SeaSmart branded items.  You can now find reusable totes in addition to our super cool sweatshirts, tanks, and long & short sleeved T's. Choose from a variety of sizes and colors with a portion of the money going toward the 2022 Diversity Scholarship. Every ocean lover will want one!