A competition has launched that will bring the important message of marine conservation to the heart of secondary schools nationwide. The nationwide competition is open to all secondary schools and will enable 400 lucky teenagers to win the experience of a lifetime; a six-day trip to Cornwall where they will learn to scuba dive, enjoy outdoor adventures, take up beach-related activities and attend presentations from leading marine industry experts.
Next to the competition, the Dive Project Cornwall will educate hundreds of thousands of young people by delivering an education programme directly into schools across the UK in the next few months, in partnership with the Marine Conservation Society. “Our mission is to raise awareness of the importance of the planet’s marine environment and its vital role in our very own existence,” says the Dive Project Cornwall in a press release.
Victoria Riglen from the Marine Conservation Society explains: “Like us, Dive Project Cornwall believe it’s every young person’s right to experience the ocean. Sharing the wonders of the ocean and the crucial part it plays in our existence will help safeguard our seas for future generations. Never has this been more important than now and we are thrilled to be able to connect young people with our underwater world through this exciting project.”
The dive competition will give 20 secondary schools from across 20 regions the chance to win this experience for 20 of their students. Many of these children will never have had the opportunity to experience the ocean close at hand. They will leave this residential course, delivered in the Lizard peninsula in Cornwall, as PADI qualified open water divers.
“As well as gaining their PADI diving accreditation, this once in a lifetime experience will ignite an understanding, appreciation and connection to the ocean in our young people. At each camp, we’ll be leading a day of beach learning, citizen science and marine exploration raise awareness of the importance of the planet’s marine environment and its vital role in our very own existence,” adds Riglen.
The deadline for entering the first round of the competition is 31 March 2022. You can see more details on how schools can enter here.
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Photography courtesy of Dive Project Cornwall.
