Regen Diving programme expands
November 2022
The WMP is very excited to be offering scuba dive training opportunities in its expanded Regenerative Dive Programme, known as the Regen Dive Programme. Run for the first time earlier in 2022, twenty five Waiheke locals and mana whenua were selected to train for the PADI Scuba certificate. Through covid and winter, 21 folk successfully gained their certificates and joined the WMP Volunteer Diver Register, enabling them to contribute to marine regeneration efforts around the island.
The WMP team evaluated this first programme by speaking to the inaugural Regen dive trainees, Waiheke Dive trainers and the WMP contractors who supported the first Regen dive programme. Key feedback requests were to run the dive training in warmer weather, lower the age to 16 (inaugural programme was 18) and provide more pastoral care and social opportunities for the regen dive trainees.
We have acted on this feedback with the launch of the second Regen Dive Programme for 2022-2023. Applicants were welcomed from mana whenua and Waiheke locals from the age of 16. There has been huge interest and successful applicants will be advised by 20th December. Scuba training will then take place in warm February and March of 2023. A new contract role of Kaihāpai rukuruku has Anjilla Webb being the Regen Dive Coordinator and bringing her vast global dive experience to the care of the WMP Regen divers.
The purpose of the Regen Dive Programme is to upskill mana whenua and local capacity for marine regeneration activities, many of which are done underwater. There are two parts to the WMP Regen Dive Programme
Training mana whenua and locals in Scuba, snorkeling and Freediving
Coordinating trained volunteer divers to do many regen dive activities (eg. Kelp gardeners, kōura survey, marine rubbish clean ups, various regen explorations and data collection)
The WMP is VERY thankful for the funders of this year's Regen Dive Programme. A big shout out to the Auckland Foundation and Auckland Council.
We note that there is a shortfall of around $30K to run the full year programme so we are keen to hear from other potential funders to keep this transformative programme going.
Photo - one of the Regen dive trainee groups learning to scuba dive in the winter of 2022.