1 day, 2 dives, Age 15+

The purpose of the PADI Whale Shark Awareness Diver Specialty Course is to introduce divers and snorkelers to the world’s largest fish and familiarise divers with the proper techniques for recreational diving whilst encountering whale sharks with minimal impact on the sharks’ habitat and behaviour.

What will I learn?

The course aims to teach participants about the biology, behavior and distribution of Whale Sharks as well as conservation status and whale shark research worldwide.

Divers will learn how to plan all aspects of a dive with Whale Sharks, paying special attention to non-impact diving practices. The importance of Whale Shark monitoring activities will be stressed and the Whale Shark Photo ID website introduced as an example of how to get involved in Whale Shark conservation.

Researchers will attempt to match any photos submitted to other snaps of the same shark in the International Whale Shark database, perhaps telling us something new about the behaviour of the Whale Shark.

There is mounting evidence to suggest that the population of the world’s largest fish - the Whale Shark - is dwindling in numbers and that it may be being seriously overfished.

Killed partly for it’s meat and skin, it is mainly slaughtered for its fins which are used to make shark fin soup - a highly prized and expensive delicacy in many Far Eastern countries.

In order to obtain global protection for the Whale Shark and to be able to monitor its numbers, more information is needed about the number and range of the current population. It is important to establish if the Whale Shark is consists of a single, interbreeding population or numerous, reproductively isolated populations.

Where can I go from here?

You can use this course to complement your Peak-Performance-Buoyancy, AWARE-Fish-ID, UW-Naturalist or Digital-UW-Photography Specialty courses.

In addition, the PADI Whale Shark Awareness Diver Specialty Course counts as one of five Specialty course certifications required for the Master-Scuba-Diver certification.

Please visit our affiliated PADI 5 Star Dive Centre - SCUBAFISH for further information.

Who can participate?

You should be eligible to participate in the PADI Whale Shark Awareness Diver Specialty Course if you meet the following criteria:

* Aged 15+
* Certified Open Water Diver (or equivalent)
* Interested in Marine Science
* In general good health and fitness
* Not suffering from cold or ear infection
* Have successfully completed the Aqualogy Buoyancy Check Dive

How often do courses run?

Courses start every day at 9:00am. You can book now, or come in to see us while you’re here.

How much does it cost?

The price is 6,900 THB. This includes, all your training, manuals, slates, dive equipment rental and transfers to and from your resort. It also includes lunch, tea, coffee and water throughout the course.

On the boat, we supply breakfast, lunch, drinking water, soft drinks and fruit. We also provide a selection of fruit juices, chocolate milkshake and towels on each trip.

We keep group sizes small to ensure you receive maximum benefit from your tuition. This also minimises negative impact on the reefs. Our emphasis is on safety, fun and personal service within a relaxed and stress-free environment.