Italy
participants
The goals of our activity have been abundantly fulfilled:
1) we increased our awareness of the fragility of the marine ecosystem as the marine biologist's explanation allowed us to learn about the importance of posidonia against coastal erosion and for the protection of fauna, as well as the dynamics of coral formation and destruction due to pollution;
2) we organized an environmentally friendly activity since our travel was by train and on foot;
3) we gave Erasmus the opportunity to approach the sport for the first time thanks to a specifically designed lesson for sea baptism in both Italian and English.
The scuba diving was organized at a local Diving Center, a professional company engaged in the training of divers, as well as activist in raising awareness toward respect for our seas.
The chosen location was Isola delle Femmine, a locality that is 40 minutes by train from Palermo, and the dives were carried out in a body of water that is located in Zone B of the Capo Gallo - Isola delle Femmine Natural Marine Protected Area, 100 meters from the place where we carried out the lessons.
The activities began with a presentation by a marine biologist about typical marine flora and fauna of our territories that can be observed at the diving depth we would reach. The insight was accompanied by some curiosities and a special focus was made on the importance of Posidonia for the health of our seas.
This was followed by a technical session on the use of the tanks, the importance of compensation, the use of the vest, the emergency regulator and the barometer, on simple resolutions to common problems that can happen underwater, as well as movements and gestures universally recognized in the diving world.
After a brief clarification session, dressing up with wetsuit, socks, masks, fins and tanks began; in turn, three groups consisting of 10 Erasmus students each dived, accompanied by a certified instructor for every two participants and a photographer.
Once we arrived in the crystal-blue waters of Isola delle Femmine, the second part of our activity began: after an initial period of acclimatization and practice in using the equipment in shallow water, each instructor gradually accompanied his or her students into the crystal-clear waters of the cove, reaching up to a depth of 7 meters, to discover corals, salps, sea hares, urchins, sea damsels, meadows, seeds and fruits of the beloved Posidonia, as well as many other species of flora and fauna that the biologist had presented of the morning's course.
After 50 minutes of diving, at the conclusion of the activities for all 3 groups, the participants were given a certificate from the Try Scuba. In fact, this first dive was certified in the SSI international circuit and is for all intents and purposes valid should one wish to become certified at any certified center around the world.
