Living Blue
Turtle Ecology Courses
Learn about sea turtles. Develop your diving. Take part in citizen science.
Through Big Blue Diving Khao Lak’s Living Blue initiative and our partnership with Andaman Turtle Watch, we’ve developed a small collection of courses connecting sea turtle ecology, responsible diving and citizen science with local turtles, sightings, data and research from Thailand’s Andaman Sea.
We don’t try to teach a little bit about everything. We focus on what we know, the projects we’re actively involved in and the places we work every day.
Our goal is simple: build knowledgeable, responsible divers and ocean users.
Whether you’re completely new to diving, already certified or simply curious about sea turtles, there’s a course for you.
Find the right course for you
TURTLE ECOLOGY AT A GLANCE
Six ways to learn with us. Compare the options below, then scroll down for full course details.
Learn the fundamentals of sea turtle ecology, conservation and Andaman Turtle Watch citizen science.
Look a little deeper. Explore Turtle Ecology, citizen science and local conservation beyond the classroom.
Become an Open Water Diver while understanding the turtles you’re learning to share the water with.
Why choose a Living Blue course?
We’re not trying to turn people into marine biologists in a week.
We want to help people understand more about the ocean they’re entering – and give them the knowledge and skills to interact with it responsibly.
Andaman Turtle Watch brings local data, research and citizen science into the courses; Big Blue brings the dive training and underwater skills to put that learning into practice.
Our approach is simple:
Learn first.
Develop good skills.
Respect the environment.
Understand the science.
Then decide how involved you’d like to become.
Already Have Diving, Snorkelling or a Liveaboard Booked?
Add Turtle Ecology to your trip
Our 1-Day Sea Turtle Ecology Course is designed to fit before or around your existing plans – whether you’re heading into the water with Big Blue or elsewhere.
Spend one classroom-based day getting to know the turtles of the Andaman Sea, learning from local research and developing knowledge you can take into the water with you.
The Project Behind the Courses
Andaman Turtle Watch is an independently run citizen-science project working to better understand sea turtles across Thailand’s Andaman Sea.
We work alongside national parks, government agencies, dive operators, communities and conservation organisations – but we’re not a large NGO or university research programme. We’re a small, developing project doing the slow work of building a long-term dataset, one sighting at a time.
Through Living Blue, Andaman Turtle Watch has found a home at Big Blue Diving Khao Lak where that work can continue. When you choose one of these courses, you’re not just learning from the project – you’re helping support its continuation. The courses help provide the time and resources needed to collect and process data, develop educational resources and continue long-term monitoring.
That support goes beyond the course itself. Every person who leaves better informed can contribute by submitting sightings, sharing what they’ve learned or simply making better decisions around wildlife and the ocean. Education is a core part of Andaman Turtle Watch’s mission, and that ripple effect matters.
From classroom to open ocean
FIND YOUR COURSE
Whether you’re new to diving, already certified or simply curious about sea turtles, find the course that fits where you are now.
Curious About Sea Turtles?
No diving required.
Whether you have one day or want to explore the subject in more depth, our land-based Turtle Ecology courses combine SSI education with local sightings, research, data and citizen science from Andaman Turtle Watch.
1 Day | SSI Turtle Ecology Specialty
A focused, classroom-based introduction to sea turtle ecology, species ID, photo-ID and citizen science.
Perfect as a standalone course or alongside an existing dive, snorkel or liveaboard trip.
3 Day | SSI Turtle Ecology Specialty
Go deeper into turtle ecology, photo-ID and citizen science while working with Andaman Turtle Watch data and case studies.
Explore different local approaches to sea turtle conservation through workshops, case studies and a conservation field visit.
New to Diving?
Learn to dive – and learn about the ocean you’re entering.
Combine internationally recognised SSI dive training with Turtle Ecology, responsible diving and citizen science from the start.
7 Day | SSI Open Water Diver + SSI Turtle Ecology Specialty
Learn to dive while getting to know the turtles and marine environments of the Andaman Sea, with Turtle Ecology, photo-ID and citizen science built into the experience.
12 Day | SSI Open Water + Advanced Open Water + SSI Turtle Ecology
Take more time to develop your diving from Open Water through Advanced while building greater control, awareness and understanding of the marine environment along the way.
Already Certified?
Develop your skills. Put them to work.
Build on your existing dive skills through courses combining diver development, Turtle Ecology and practical citizen science.
7 Day | SSI Advanced Open Water + SSI Turtle Ecology Specialty
Develop your diving through Advanced Open Water while exploring sea turtle ecology, photo-ID and citizen science along the way.
7 Day | Sea Turtle Ecology & Citizen Science Diving
Looking for Something More?
Not everyone fits neatly into a course schedule.
Perhaps you’re a Divemaster candidate looking to combine professional dive training with conservation and citizen science, a university student interested in gaining experience with monitoring and data, or a school or university group looking for a programme built around your students and learning goals.
You might want to spend more time with the Andaman Turtle Watch team, develop particular skills, explore a research or dissertation project, or bring experience of your own that could support the project.
We don’t offer volunteer placements or packaged conservation internships.
Instead, we explore longer-term and tailored opportunities case by case, based on your goals and experience, the needs of Andaman Turtle Watch and what we can realistically offer at the time.
If that sounds like what you’re looking for, tell us a little about yourself, your experience and what you’re hoping to achieve.
Find the course that fits you
Ready to Get Started?
One day or twelve. Classroom or open ocean. New to diving or years underwater.
Choose the Living Blue course that fits where you are now – or talk to us if you’re not sure where to start.
Our ecology Courses FAQs
Common Questions & Concerns
Do I need to be a diver?
No. Our 1-Day and 3-Day Turtle Ecology courses require no diving experience and can be taken by divers and non-divers alike.
Our diving courses have different entry requirements depending on the programme – from complete beginners through to experienced certified divers.
Which Turtle Ecology course is right for me?
It depends on your diving experience, how much time you have and how involved you want to get.
If you’re mainly interested in learning about sea turtles, start with our 1-Day or 3-Day Turtle Ecology courses. New divers can combine Turtle Ecology with Open Water training, while certified divers can develop their skills further and take part in more practical citizen science.
Not sure? Get in touch and we’ll help you choose.
Can I add Turtle Ecology to diving or a liveaboard I already have booked?
Yes. Our 1-Day Turtle Ecology Course is designed to work as a standalone course or fit before or around existing diving, snorkelling or liveaboard plans – whether you’re diving with Big Blue or elsewhere.
Will I see sea turtles?
We hope so, but wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.
Some of our courses include diving and opportunities to observe marine life in the wild, while others are entirely land-based. Either way, you’ll learn about the turtles documented in the Andaman Sea and how to observe and record future encounters responsibly.
What is Andaman Turtle Watch?
Andaman Turtle Watch is an independently run citizen-science project using photo-ID and public sightings to monitor sea turtles across Thailand’s Andaman Sea.
Its local data, sightings, case studies and research are incorporated throughout our Turtle Ecology courses, connecting what you learn in the classroom with an active local project.
What is citizen science?
Citizen science allows members of the public to contribute observations or data that can support scientific research and monitoring.
For Andaman Turtle Watch, divers, snorkellers, boat crews and other ocean users can contribute photographs and information from turtle sightings. These records help build a longer-term picture of individual turtles, their movements, behaviour and use of different habitats.
Do I receive an SSI certification?
Yes. All of our Turtle Ecology courses include the SSI Turtle Ecology Specialty certification.
Some programmes also include additional SSI diving certifications, such as Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water or Perfect Buoyancy. Check the individual course page for exactly what’s included.
Does taking a course support Andaman Turtle Watch?
Yes. Through Living Blue, these courses help provide the time and resources needed to collect and process data, develop educational resources and continue long-term monitoring.
But your involvement doesn’t have to end with the course. You can continue contributing by submitting turtle sightings, following responsible wildlife practices and sharing what you’ve learned.
Still have questions?