Dive Center | - CCMAR -

Dive Center

 

About

CCMAR Scientific Dive Centre goal is to promote and support all scientific activities which use SCUBA diving as a resource.

We intend to connect the researcher with the underwater world in an efficient and safe way, collecting unbiased data in a systematic approach.

We are committed to excellence in all our services including dive training, using state of the art dive equipment and adequate dive technique to the environments we are working in.

At the Scientific Dive Centre the researcher can find expertise and advice to plan and execute scientific dive tasks. All diving equipment, breathing gas, boats and dive guides are available to be use in dive related activities.

Our scientific dive services are available to the scientific community, from undergraduate students to researchers; and to the general public which participates in Citizen Science projects with CCMAR.

 

CONTACT US

 

Training

(Click on the course to see details and apply)

 

European Scientific Diver (ESD)

Certification via CCMAR

SCUBA Diving Training

(Other Options)

ESD Level 1

ESD Level 2

Level 1 diver – Supervised  diver

GUE Rec 1 (if you do not have a SCUBA diving certificate)

OR
GUE Fundamentals (if you have any SCUBA diving certificate, this is the class you need to take first)

ESD Level 1

Level 2 diver – Autonomous diver

Advanced Diver

Fullface mask knowledge Advanced Diver

CPR + First Aid + O2 Provider

SCUBA Diver level 3 (eg. Dive Master or above, GUE REC3 or above) CPR + First Aid training + O2 provider

Rescue Course

  Rescue Diver

Scientific Diver Course CCMAR

 
Level 3 diver – Professional (eg. Dive Master, GUE REC 3)

70 experience dives:
- 20 with scientific tasks
- 15 deeper than 15m
- 5 deeper than 25m
- 12 dives in the last 12 months including at least 6 with a scientific task

Have an official connection with a Research or Conservation Institution.

100 experience dives:
- 50 with scientific tasks
- 20 deeper than 20m
- 10 deeper than 29m
- 12 in the last 12 months, including at least 6 with a scientific task
- 20 in adverse conditions
- 20 as an in-water dive leader

Have an official connection with a Research or Conservation Institution.

Additional training:
-DPV (propulsion vehicles) course
-Dry suit diver
-Photo and video documentation
-TRIOX diver course
-Navigation diver course
-Decompression diver courses (REC 3 (39m), TEC 1 (51m), SSI XTR (40m))

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Outline Geral

 

Nome Agencia – Curso
( eg GUE Fundamentals )
ESD Level 1
Entry level certification
Rec 0.5 – Supervised Diver
GUE (Global Underwater Explorers) – Supervised Diver
Pre-requisite Physically fit
Theory Sessions 7 Theory Chapters
Pool Sessions At least 8 Pool Sessions
Open water Sessions At least 2 Open Water Dives
Description
Content Word wide recognition. It is the highest standard for diving worldwide. Best value for an intro class.   
It will give you capacity to start exploring the underwater realm, using enriched oxygen gasses, in a team, while under direct supervision of a professional.
 
Certification It is an entry level class (for non divers) that will give you direct equivalence to: CE Lvl 1 Diver recognition (Supervised Diver), and Nitrox 32% certification.  
After successful completion of your training you will become a Certified GUE Supervised Diver.
What is included (eg insurance etc..) The price of this class includes all the dive equipment, all the study materials, dive insurance and dives.
Price:

Price: 300 euros

Does NOT include class registration (40 dollars) directly with GUE.

Notes

After you finish this class you can upgrade to Rec 1 by doing the Rec 1 upgrade program. See information bellow.

 

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Nome Agencia – Curso
( eg GUE Fundamentals )

Rec 1 – Autonomous Diver
GUE (Global Underwater Explorers) - REC1 (3 ECTs )

Pre-requisite Physically fit
Theory Sessions 9 Theory Chapters
Pool Sessions At least 8 Pool Sessions
Open water Sessions At least 7 Open Water Dives
Description
Content Word wide recognition. It is the highest standard for diving world wide. Best value for a class.   
For you that always dreamed to be an explorer, this is the class to take!
It will give you capacity to explore the underwater realm to 21m of depth, using enriched oxygen gasses, in a team, fully independent.
 
Certification It is an entry level class (for non divers) that will give you direct equivalence to: CE Lvl 2 Diver recognition (Autonomous diver), and Nitrox 32% certification.  
After successful completion of your training you will become a Certified GUE Rec1 diver.
What is included (eg insurance etc..) This price of this class includes all the dive equipment, all the study materials, dive insurance and dives.
Price:

Price: 900 euros

Does NOT include class registration (95 dollars) directly with GUE.

Notes

Check the video about this class: https://vimeo.com/34528889

An equivalent class to GUE REC 1 in terms of certification, but not in terms of divers capacity, would be: SSI/PADI/CMAS P1 Open Water + SSI/PADI/CMAS P2 Advanced Open Water  + Nitrox Diver . For the same value a GUE REC 1 class is by far a better class. So if your intention is to progress to Exploration or Scientific Diving GUE REC 1 is the recommended class. With this class you will get a discount in your Scientific Diver class, see in Scientific Diver class for details.

 

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Nome Agencia – Curso
( eg GUE Fundamentals )
Rec 1 – Upgrade
GUE (Global Underwater Explorers) – Supervised Diver
Pre-requisite Physically fit
Theory Sessions 6 Theory Chapters
Pool Sessions At least 2 Pool Sessions
Open water Sessions At least 4 Open Water Dives
Description
Content

Word wide recognition. It is the highest standard for diving world wide. Best value for an intro class.  

It will give you capacity to start exploring the underwater realm to 21m of depth, using enriched oxygen gasses, in a team, while under direct supervision of a professional.

Certification

It is an upgrade class (for GUE supervised divers) that will give you direct equivalence to CE Lvl 2 Diver recognition (Autonomous diver), and Nitrox 32% certification.
After successful completion of your training you will become a Certified GUE Rec1 diver.

What is included (eg insurance etc..) The price of this class includes all the dive equipment, all the study materials, dive insurance and dives.
Price:

Price: 700 euros

Does NOT include class registration (55 dollars) directly with GUE.

Notes

 

 

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Advanced Diver

Fundamentals

Nome Agencia – Curso
( eg GUE Fundamentals )
Advanced Diver
Fundamentals
GUE (Global Underwater Explorers) - Fundamentals Class. ( 3 ECTs )
Pre-requisite Be a certified diver | GUE Fundamentals class is a prerequisite for all GUE Technical (Trimix), Cave classes and Scientific Diver.
Theory Sessions 6 Theory Chapters
Field Drills 6 field drills
Open water Sessions

At least 6  Water Sessions

5 Video debriefings where divers will see their skill performance (improvement and to improve areas) after the water sessions.

Description
Content World wide recognition. It is the highest standard for diving world wide. Best value for a class.   
For you that always dreamed to be an explorer, this is the class to take!
It will give you capacity to explore the underwater realm, using enriched oxygen gasses, in a team, fully independent.

It is an advanced dive skill class with a big component of in water training, focusing on confidence, competence and safety. 
In water training will be progressive, from buoyancy, trim and balance control. Moving to situational awareness, controlling all dive parameters (i.e. environment, team, equipment, decompression and gas management); problem solving and prevention (i.e. out of gas procedures, surface marker buoy deployment, out of mask drills and team work).  

Certification

GUE Fundamentals class is a prerequisite for all GUE Technical (Trimix), Cave classes and Scientific Diver.

The GUE - Fundamentals course is internationally recognized and includes Nitrox 32% certification.
After successful completion of your training you will become a Certified GUE Fundamentals diver.

What is included (eg insurance etc..) The price of this class includes all the dive equipment, all the study materials, dive insurance and dives.
Does NOT include class registration (95 dollars) directly with GUE.
Price:

Price: 700 euros

**NOTE: An equivalent class to GUE Fundamentals in terms of certification, but not in terms of divers capacity, would be: SSI/PADI/CMAS P2 Advanced Open Water + Nitrox Diver. For the same value a GUE Fundamentals class is by far a better class. So if your intention is to progress to Exploration or Scientific Diving GUE Fundamentals is the recommended class. With this class you will get a discount in your Scientific Diver class, see in Scientific Diver class for details

Notes

Check this video about GUE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opUd3caeQHE

 

CONTACT US

 

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Nome Agencia – Curso
( eg GUE Fundamentals )
GUE Triox
  Coming out soon

 

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Nome Agencia – Curso
( eg GUE Fundamentals )
Advanced Adventurer
SSI – (Scuba Schools International) – Advanced Adventurer
Pre-requisite Be a certified Open Water diver
Theory Sessions 5 Theory Chapters
Open water Sessions

5 Water Sessions

Description
Content

SSI’s Advanced Adventurer program was created so that you can try out a variety of specialties before you commit to completing a full program. It’s a great way to experience what training is all about and how valuable it can be to experience different situations. During the Advanced Adventurer Program, you will have the chance to try out 5 different specialties. You will complete one open water training dive per specialty, and if you decide to take a full program in any of the specialties you tried, the dive you took can be applied to your advanced certification.

The primary goal of any SSI Specialty course is to teach you important skills in a fun environment. All courses are taught using home study, short academic sessions, and in-water training.

Certification This SSI Advanced Adventurer certification is internationally recognized.  
After successful completion of your training you will become a certified SSI Advanced Adventurer.
What is included (eg insurance etc..)

The price of this class includes all the dive equipment, all the study materials, dive insurance and dives.

Price:

Price: 350 euros

 
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Nome Agencia – Curso
( eg GUE Fundamentals )

Scientific Diver
GUE Scientific Diver

GUE (Global Underwater Explorers) - Scientific Diver ( 3 ECTS  )

Pre-requisite GUE Diver of any level, plus 10 dives other than those taken in dive classes.
Theory Sessions 5 Theory Chapters
Field Drills 6 Field drills
Open water Sessions 6 dive sessions
Description
Content

Scientific diving is a scientific working tool widely used by scientists all over the world with applications in a broad number of scientific disciplines. Because of an increasing number of scientists that use scientific diving as part of their jobs, the training of diving scientists has become a crucial issue, not only because of safety concerns, but also in order to promote the essential mobility of scientists over the world. This course aims at preparing divers capable of acting as a member of a scientific diving team, performing scientific diving tasks in a safely and effective manner for various scientific institutions. In order to achieve this, the course begins with theoretical and practical sessions that evaluate and correct the students ability to perform all basic diving and safety skills. As they demonstrate this ability, specific tasks will be assigned to each of the students, that cover scientific as well as working diving techniques. The fact that students have training dives with specific goals helps preparing them to obtain scientific data underwater. In the theoretical sessions the most commonly used scientific techniques and methodologies will be discussed. The students knowledge and understanding of the issues behind each method or project improves their performance and motivation when working underwater. Students will also learn about the importance or proper planning and coordination of all members of the team, and teamwork will be an important part of students evaluation.

Through this learning process, we hope that students will be able to correctly and effectively use all basic diving skills and gain experience in conducting scientific tasks underwater, while understanding all the time and efforts required to successfully collect scientific data while diving.

CLASS OVERVIEW
Theory

Introduction to Scientific Diving

Scientific Method and Ethics

Underwater Sciences

Methods

Dive Planning and Data Management

Practical Contents

Review of Basic Navigation skills

Line work (reels and spools)

Line survey

Site Sketch

Mark and measure

Baseline / transect

Photoquadrats

Photomosaic

Video census

Offset measures

Density cover

Grids

Drafting a Map

Certification After successful completion of your training you will become a Certified GUE Scientific diver.
What is included (eg insurance etc..) The price of this class includes all the dive equipment, all the study materials, dive insurance and dives.
Does NOT include class registration (95 dollars) directly with GUE.
Price:

Price: 1200 euros
550 euros for UAlg students when combined it with any Global Underwater Explores class (i.e. GUE REC1 or GUE Fundamentals) at CCMAR.

 

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Nome Agencia – Curso
( eg GUE Fundamentals )


GUE (Global Underwater Explorers) - REC1 (3 ECTs )

Pre-requisite Physically fit
Theory Sessions 9 Theory Chapters
Pool Sessions At least 8 Pool Sessions
Open water Sessions At least 7 Open Water Dives
Description
Content Word wide recognition. It is the highest standard for diving world wide. Best value for a class.   
For you that always dreamed to be an explorer, this is the class to take!
It will give you capacity to explore the underwater realm to 21m of depth, using enriched oxygen gasses, in a team, fully independent.
 
Certification It is an entry level class (for non divers) that will give you direct equivalence to: CE Lvl 2 Diver recognition (Autonomous diver), and Nitrox 32% certification.  
After successful completion of your training you will become a Certified GUE Rec1 diver.
What is included (eg insurance etc..) This price of this class includes all the dive equipment, all the study materials, dive insurance and dives.
Price:

Price: 900 euros

Does NOT include class registration (95 dollars) directly with GUE.

Notes

Check the video about this class: https://vimeo.com/34528889

An equivalent class to GUE REC 1 in terms of certification, but not in terms of divers capacity, would be: SSI/PADI/CMAS P1 Open Water + SSI/PADI/CMAS P2 Advanced Open Water  + Nitrox Diver . For the same value a GUE REC 1 class is by far a better class. So if your intention is to progress to Exploration or Scientific Diving GUE REC 1 is the recommended class. With this class you will get a discount in your Scientific Diver class, see in Scientific Diver class for details.

 

CONTACT US

 

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Nome Agencia – Curso
( eg GUE Fundamentals )

First Aid Provider
SSI React Right

Pre-requisite None
Theory Sessions 1 Full day
Pool Sessions  
Open water Sessions  
Description
Content An important step in every diver’s career is the first aid course. Here you will learn how to aid someone in distress be it at first aid care level of secondary care, in and out of the water.
This course enables any citizen to answer promptly when faced with an emergency scenario, or help in the event of an accident. You’ll learn how to properly communicate the situation to the medical services and how to handle the victim until more capable help arrives.
After successful completion of your training you will become a Certified SSI React Right first aid.
Certification This certification has World wide recognition (check local regulations, they may differ from country to country). 
What is included (eg insurance etc..) The price of this class includes all equipment, all the study materials and insurance.
Price:

Price: 150 euros

 

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Nome Agencia – Curso
( eg GUE Fundamentals )

Rescue
SSI – Stress and Rescue

Pre-requisite Valid CPR, First Aid & Oxygen Provider certificate and Advanced Certification.
Theory Sessions  
Pool Sessions  
Open water Sessions  
Description
Content

"Be prepared for those unexpected emergencies."
Stress is a major contributor to rescue situations and diving accidents. Through this course you will learn accident prevention, as well as how to handle problem situations if they occur.

The program is about avoiding, recognizing and solving problems on the surface and underwater.
The course runs two - four days in which you will participate in academic and in-water sessions in the pool and in the open water. .
•    What Is Stress?
•    Stress In Diving:Causes And Prevention
•    Detecting And Dealing With Stress
•    Accident Management
•    Skills Needed To Deal With Panic And Rescues
•    Conditions That Complicate Rescues
The primary goal of any SSI Specialty course is to teach you important skills in a fun environment. All courses are taught using home study, short academic sessions, and in-water training.

Certification

This certification has international recognition.  
After successful completion of your training you will become a Certified Stress and Rescue diver.

What is included (eg insurance etc..) The price of this class includes all the dive equipment, all the study materials, dive insurance and dives.
Price:

Price: 400 euros

 

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Nome Agencia – Curso
( eg GUE Fundamentals )

ESD Level 2
 

 

Coming soon

 

CONTACT US

 

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Services

Scientific dive techniques can be applied in different areas of knowledge such as: taxonomy, physiology, geology, hydrology, ecology, tourism, fisheries and archeology. The methods we use can include:

  • Video and photography survey
  • Collection of live organisms
  • Genetics and taxonomy samples
  • Mapping
  • Demography studies on marine plants and algae
  • Visual census
  • Video census
  • Photography
  • Density and percent cover estimates of benthic organisms
  • Tagging organisms
  • Fixing sampling stations
  • Marine plant transplant
  • Sediment corers
  • Physiology experiments

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Instructors

Diogo Paulo obtained his Master degree in Conservation and Ecology at the University of the Algarve. For the past ten years he has dedicated extensive time in to scientific and technical diving, developing extensive experience in the use of mix gases and advanced decompression procedures. Diving Instructor for Global Underwater Explores (GUE), SCUBA Schools International (SSI) and World Underwater Federation (CMAS). He developed and implemented scientific diving programs, which he teaches at the Centre for Marine Sciences of the Algarve (CCMAR). Works as scientific diving safety officer at CCMAR, and serves as vice-president at APORMC, Portuguese Association of Scientific Divers.
Affiliation: CCMAR – Centre of Marine Sciences of the Algarve

Nuno Padrão studied Electronic Engineering and graduated on Sports Sciences and Physical Education at INUAF. He devoted great part of his life to teaching a diverse range of sports and physical activities, eventually through diving leading him to develop an interest for marine biology and scientific diving. Currently he is finishing his Master in Marine Biology at UALG. Nuno is quite passionate about technical and cave diving holding the highest GUE certifications on both areas. His capacity as a diver allowed him to participate in several scientific expeditions and projects. Nuno is a dive instructor for Global Underwater Explores (GUE), SCUBA Schools International (SSI) and the Professional Association of Diving Instructors ( PADI ). Currently he teaches at the Centre for Marine Sciences of the Algarve (CCMAR) and works as scientific diver.
Affiliation: CCMAR – Centre of Marine Sciences of the Algarve