Ocean First in Boulder, Colorado is extra than simply one of many main dive facilities in the USA. It’s a lot extra!
With two places in Colorado, diving and analysis facilities in Key Largo, a nationwide youth science camp, and an expert marine schooling program, there may be definitely rather a lot occurring at Ocean First.
The spirit and the driving drive behind this neighborhood is founder Graham Casden. This environmental visionary began Ocean First in 2006 with the purpose of elevating sustainability, science schooling, and marine conservation within the dive trade.
Graham’s imaginative and prescient was to create an environmentally aware neighborhood of ocean fans enthusiastic about experiencing and preserving our marine environments. As he explains, “I had logged a pair hundred dives on reefs everywhere in the world, however had no formal science schooling and knew little or no in regards to the underwater world. Having grown up in California and seeing firsthand what profitable environmental advocacy teams might obtain, I puzzled ‘why isn’t the dive trade creating the subsequent technology of marine ambassadors? Why aren’t divers main the cost to guard our reefs?’”
Since that point, and beneath the route and management of its founder, Ocean First has performed precisely what the title implies – put the ocean ‘First.’ By means of modern youth education schemes, cutting-edge analysis and conservation work, skilled growth, and a real need to make a distinction, Ocean First has fairly actually walked the stroll.
Consequently, the neighborhood has had a direct impact on 1000’s of children who’ve pursued their curiosities and grown into roles as environmentally-conscious scuba divers, conservation advocates, instructors and, sure, even marine biologists.
Graham makes it identified that he’s not a fan of “greenwashing,” companies that undertaking an environmental focus to their prospects and {the marketplace}, however behind closed doorways, it serves as little greater than lip service. “A number of companies speak about environmental schooling and the significance of defending our pure environments, however when push involves shove more often than not nothing occurs.”
The Ocean First academic platform features a strong suite of Okay-12 marine science curricula and is presently in use in over 35 states and 50 international locations worldwide. The purpose? To attach younger folks with the magic and great thing about the underwater world in hopes of making educated and passionate stewards.
“It’s essential we begin with younger children and youngsters,” Graham explains. “By educating key environmental ideas at an early age, we oftentimes are in a position to encourage the subsequent technology and assist create educated and impassioned ocean fans.”
Created in collaboration with well-known marine biologists, educators, and dive professionals, Ocean First’s curriculum is each synchronous and asynchronous, which means it’s designed for use on-line, within the classroom, or at dive facilities.
In actual fact, eight of Ocean First’s quick programs have already been licensed by Scuba Faculties Worldwide and translated into 25 languages worldwide, one thing Graham takes nice pleasure in acknowledging. “We got here full circle as soon as SSI adopted our programs. It was the entire motive I began Ocean First within the first place. Now, if you happen to stroll into an SSI dive heart and take a specialty in marine science, good chances are high it’s a course we developed. And the sprinkle on the highest was when SSI added a sixth chapter to their open water course devoted to the marine setting. We had lastly began to shift the paradigm!”
Whereas the Ocean First academic content material has been included into all the firm’s programs and coaching supplies, Graham didn’t cease there. Along with licensing their content material to SSI, Ocean First additionally partnered with internationally acclaimed artist, Man Harvey, and has licensed all of their content material for the Man Harvey Basis’s schooling initiative.
“We’re rolling out our programs in South Florida now and, by means of our Man Harvey partnership, we’re presently in each district from Monroe to Martin County. And, if the pilot goes properly, our plan is to increase all through Florida after which throughout your entire US.”
The Ocean First spirit of constructing a distinction and giving again is mirrored from the highest down all through the corporate. In 2016, Graham took this ardour for sustainability to a brand new stage. Changing into the primary “B-CORP” within the dive trade, Ocean First joined the ‘international neighborhood of leaders utilizing enterprise as a drive for good.’ What precisely does this imply? For starters, it means Ocean First has made a authorized dedication to sustainability and stakeholder worth, which suggests making deliberate and aware efforts to teach and information the subsequent technology of ambassadors.
The partnerships with SSI and Man Harvey are simply a part of the story. Graham and his staff are actively engaged on the subsequent chapters of the Ocean First story. They’re presently working with trade veteran, Dr. Alex Brylske, on a Sustainable Dive Chief course for dive professionals, in 2022 they opened a dive heart and analysis station in Key Largo, and their youth science camp, TIDES, has been rising exponentially for years and is poised to change into a nationwide program.
Most not too long ago, Ocean First added one other trade powerhouse to their neighborhood with the acquisition of Weavers Dive & Journey Heart and Dream Weaver Journey. A well known journey wholesaler, Dream Weaver drastically expanded the Ocean First neighborhood and helped create a a lot bigger platform from which Ocean First can unfold their story.
“It’s essential that we make a distinction right here in our area people, however it’s additionally essential to make a distinction on a nationwide and even worldwide stage,” Graham explains.
Ocean First is main the cost of a brand new wave of environmentally savvy companies which have discovered a method to achieve success in implementing environmental and academic initiatives with out sacrificing their backside line. Curious to see what all of the craze is about? Come dive in and discover out for your self!!
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