Skills Development Program (SDP)

Internationally-accredited, our Skills Development Program course is unique, fun, interactive and straightforward. You don't need to be a qualified biologist! Our expedition science staff will give you all the skills and confidence you need. The course includes the following:  

• Training in identification, tropical ecology and survey techniques.
• Sessions in the classroom and underwater.
• One-to-one tuition provided by our Science Officers.

CCC Conservation Weeks

Once you've completed all training, your expedition begins in earnest!  

CCC Reef Surveys (2-week course)

Researched, developed and refined over 25 years by Coral Cay Conservation, the Reef Survey technique is internationally accredited as an effective way of gathering scientifically-valid data.

A survey team consists of four divers, working in two buddy pairs.

• Diver 1 - records physical and oceanographic features.
• Diver 2 - records the fish population.
• Diver 3 - records the coral population.
• Diver 4 - records invertebrates, sponges, soft corals and algae.

Surveys begin at a maximum depth of 28m. The divers follow a pre-designated transect. The start and end of the transect is located using a global positioning system. Numerous transects across key parts of the reef gradually build up an overall picture of its range of habitats, species density, physical nature and so on.

Divers record information on waterproof slates is then later transferred onto specially-designed survey forms and then into the CCC Database.

To increase the amount of information gathered - complimentary techniques are also used, including Reef Check -http://www.reefcheck.org/ , sedimentation assessments, mangrove surveys and monitoring of coral bleaching. 

Rainforest Surveys 1-week course

CCC's forest surveys are designed to provide results that can be compared to other sites, both locally and nationally. They are based on standard biodiversity assessment methods in which several 1-hectare Permanent Sample Plots (PSPs) are established in primary, secondary and disturbed forest.

• Abundance, diversity and distribution of all tree species are recorded in each PSP.
• Surveys of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates cover a wide range of forest habitat types.

A survey team consists of 4-6 individuals, plus science staff and local mountain leaders or trackers. In addition to observation, survey techniques include mist netting, live trapping and remote photography. Collections of specimens are made for identification purposes only. They adhere to international wildlife collection regulations and are always kept to an absolute minimum.

Our Science section explains our approach to the different survey methodologies.

• For details of our marine survey methodologies and science Click Here >>
• For details of our forest survey methodologies and science Click Here >>

Please also see our Achievements over the years by Clicking Here >>