Coral reefs are home to more than 25% of all marine life and are one of the most bio-diverse ecosystems on the planet. It is essential that the students of St. Maarten learn about the importance of protecting and preserving the marine environment surrounding their home. These events are an incredible interactive way for students to be introduced to the marine environment of St. Maarten and the challenges our ecosystem in facing including plastic pollution.
Get Involved
Are you a teacher or parent interested in having your students or children participate in our Environmental Education Snorkel program? Please email us at education@naturefoundationsxm.org with the day you want to sign up for once we have posted specific dates on our Facebook and Instagram!
How it Works
Students are given a thorough safety briefing before heading out to a local snorkeling site with Nature Foundation staff and boat crew. Before diving into the water a presentation is given discussing either the basics of Corals and how coral reefs benefit our residents or how plastic pollution damages our coral reefs. After the presentation the group dives into the water to search for corals and marine life.
Did you know?
On the Environmental Education Snorkels, students have the opportunity to go on a boat and snorkel around Little Bay and Mullet Bay! Participants can see various fish and coral species, and sometimes stingrays or sea turtles!
After the first snorkel, the group heads back to the boat to move to the next site. Here, there is a discussion about the stressed state of St. Maarten’s marine ecosystem and what residents and visitors can do to help protect the environment. After the presentation, students are invited to jump in the water for another snorkel!
Funding
The Nature Foundation has been able to host several Education Snorkels over the years from the support of various funders such as the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds Caribisch Gebied, IHE Delft Institute of Water Education, In-No-Plastic, Windward Roads, The Scuba Shop, Sint Maarten and various other local sponsors. This program has been hugely successful in introducing students of St. Maarten to the marine environment and opening up discussion on what students can do to help protect the island’s natural resources.
News Articles
Materials
Did you take part in a Coral Snorkel with the Nature Foundation? Find the photos and videos available for download here.
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