NORTH KINGSTOWN, RHODE ISLAND – A group of Researchers, Medical Scientists, Marine Biologists, Oceanographers and Entrepreneurs are starting an Institute of Marine Studies here in the Ocean State. This is the outworking of The Innovation Cluster, within the Quonset Industrial Park, consisting of Materials Science Associates, BioIntraface Inc, Ensure Consulting, Mint Leaf Media, and BioSci Realty.

Dr. John Jarrell, Ph.D, PE President of Materials Science Associates along with Director of Research Dr. Dioscaris Garcia, Ph.D., Master Dive Instructor Don Mong and Marine Biologist and Oceanographer Michael Stone see the need to provide a translational Institute of Marine Studies. This institute is intended to complement the activities of the local Universities along with the diving units of police and fire fighting communities. This is a means for generating and retaining intellectual talent within the state and sharing this knowledge internationally.

The first step in this process is to establish a first-class research training experience for students and recent graduates. To accomplish this, we formed The Coral Reef Eco Series. CRES is a program to create a strong foundation of skills which includes first-class certification in technical aspects of diving, including PADI certified training to ISO standards. This training series is being conducted in collaboration with scientific divers from Materials Science Associates. Travel arrangements and marketing are provided by Ensure Consulting and Mint Leaf Media.

Coral Reef Eco Series (CRES) is pleased to announce they will be leading a group of 25 students to Caye Caulker, Belize for a dive training trip to the Belize Barrier Reef in January 2016.  The mission of CRES is to educate and enhance our participants’ diving and travel experience through guided dive trips and island tours. CRES prides itself on offering a safe and productive environment lead by seasoned instructors and trip organizers. All CRES trips promote global citizenship and nature conservation.

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Coral Reef Eco Series is an educational and professional development program aimed at training divers in current and applicable underwater research methods. It is an intensive course focused on hands-on underwater experience coupled with informative classroom meetings. Students can expect to hone their scuba skills, while learning to conduct a wide variety of underwater data collection methods. Students will train with our instructors as well as conduct independent study. The program is for students who currently hold a PADI Open Water certification or comparable certification. Upon successful completion of the course students will be awarded a PADI Research Diver Specialty certification as well as Specialty certifications in Digital Underwater Photography, Deep Diving, and Night Diving. An advanced open water certification will also be issued (if not already possessed). Graduates of the program will be ready and able to participate in research dives and collect publication-level data.

About The Instructor

Donald Mong is a certified PADI Master Instructor, PADI IDC Staff Instructor, and PADI Master Diver Trainer with over 35 years of diving experience. Don’s background in diving started as a diver in the Army. He then became a Commercial Diver and later the Director of Diving for Alpine Ski and Sports, supervising 5 full-time Diving Instructors and 11 part-time diving instructors for, 5-star teaching facilities. Don also served as a forensic Police Diver for 15 years. 

About the Dive Masters

Michael Stone is a Certified Dive Master and SDI Research Diver with experience as a marine biologist and oceanographer. Stephen Jarrell is a Dive Master and elite athlete with many years of teaching experience.

Dates

Week 1: Jan 10th to through 16th

Week 2: Jan 17th to through 23rd

Registration

Space is reserved in the order of receipt of phone or web reservations. To submit a request for a reservation, please email info@coralreefecoseries.com or call (401)-439-0631 to speak with a Reservation Specialist, Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Eastern Time). Submitting an online request does not guarantee space on a tour. You will be notified of your status when your request has been received and processed. Please note: No new registrations can be accepted within 30 days of most trips.

*A minimum of ten participants are required to operate the trip.

For more info about Coral Reef Eco Series, visit www.coralreefecoseries.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

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For more information about this press release, please contact Elizabeth Anna Stone via e-mail at info@coralreefecoseries.com.