Learn how to identify Fish species on Koh Tao
The PADI Fish Identification course is an excellent 1 day course that teaches scuba divers how to identify fish species and their families and upon completion will earn you a PADI Fish Identification Specialty Course certification.
Know Your Fish
With the information this course provides, you will be able to recognise the marine life seen on your dives and learn more about fish characteristics, traits and behaviours, fish habitats and collect data on abundance.
Included in our AWARE Fish Identification course
- 2 Fish ID Open Water training dives
- Dive Insurance
- Max 4 students per PADI Dive Instructor
- Full set of Aqualung rental equipment including a Dive Computer for your course
- Official Isla Tortuga Divers T-shirt
- PADI certification card
Prerequisites for the Fish Identification Specialty course
- Minimum certification: Open Water Diver
- Minimum Age: 10 years
- Recent diving experience – scuba review if you have not dived in the last 12 months
- Medically fit to dive
During your training, we will build your confidence and skills at your own pace, as you become proficient at the fish identification techniques taught through the course.
1 Day Fish Identification Specialty course
Our PADI AWARE Fish Identification Specialty course is conducted over two sections; theory and practical and the course includes two Open Water training dives.
Both training dives allow divers to practice their basic fish identification techniques and record details of fish type, family, species, abundance and habitat.
Knowledge Development
- Students need to attend all the instructor led knowledge development sessions and complete the knowledge reviews
Open Water training practical sessions – 2 Open Water dives
Learning objectives: Fish Identification Specialty Course
AWARE Fish ID Specialty Course teaches scuba divers the required knowledge and skills needed to recognise fish underwater. Students will learn how to group fish into the most popular fish families.
- Fish Identification Techniques: Learn key methods for identifying fish species, including recognizing their physical characteristics, body shapes, fins, colour, and markings.
- Local Fish Families and Species: Gain knowledge about the most common fish families and species found in your diving area. This allows you to focus your fish identification efforts while underwater.
- Fish Survey Strategies: Develop skills for conducting fish surveys, which involve techniques for counting and recording fish sightings in a systematic way.
- Dive Planning for Fish ID: Learn how to plan dives specifically for fish identification, considering factors like dive site selection, depth, and weather.
- PADI AWARE and Conservation: Understand the role of PADI AWARE and how responsible divers can contribute to ocean conservation efforts.
By achieving these learning objectives, you will become a citizen scientist empowered to contribute valuable information to global coral reef marine conservation efforts.
Open Water training dives for Fish Identification
Your Fish ID Open Water training dives will be conducted at suitable dive sites around Koh Tao. The choice of dive sites will depend on multiple environmental factors including weather and our current diving schedule.
Information for the AWARE Fish ID course
Our Fish ID marine conservation specialty course provides students with the knowledge and skills to independently participate in fish identification surveys.
PADI AWARE Fish Identification Course Schedule
You will meet your instructor at 9am ready for the orientation and instructor led knowledge reviews, which includes completion of your paperwork and the PADI medical statement.
09:00 – 11:00: Orientation & Knowledge Development
12:15 – 17:00: Two Open Water training dives to identify fish, fish families and species.
Upon completion of all the course requirements you will be certified as an AWARE Fish Identification specialty diver.
The instructor led knowledge review is conducted on the first morning before the dives and consists of a ten question open book knowledge review that your instructor will review with you.
Specialty Course topics you will cover include:
- Identifying fish by families and fish populations
- Common fish family groupings used to identify fish in your area
- How to distinguish between different fish families
- Conducting roving diver surveys
AWARE Fish ID Course – Open Water training dives
There are two Open Water fish identification training dives to complete at popular dive sites around Koh Tao.
Fish ID Dive 1 in Open Water
On dive 1 your specialty diving instructor will assess your buoyancy to ensure your diver skills are good enough to be collecting fish data around coral reefs.
After evaluation of your buoyancy skills, and we are confident they are good enough, fish identification can begin and using your fish identification slates, you will be asked to identify and group fish into families whilst taking notes on your slates.
The first dive will be a relaxing dive around the coral reefs and your instructor will ask you to take notes on your slates, as discussed in the knowledge development.
Through both training dives, you will be asked to remain a safe distance from the coral reefs and demonstrate proper buoyancy while conducting fish surveys and taking notes.
Fish ID Dive 2 in Open Water
On dive 2 you will plan and conduct a fish identification survey to collect data on fish populations, abundance and habitat, whilst demonstrating good buoyancy skills.
Both dives include identifying fish, grouping them into known fish families, recording this information on your slates along with notes on fish abundance, their preferred habitats and species.
After completing both dives, your instructor will also debrief on everything you have learned and discuss any problems encountered on the dives and how it can be improved next time.
Upon completion of two Fish Identification Open Water dives and all the course requirements, you will be certified as a PADI AWARE Fish Identification specialty diver.
PADI AWARE Fish ID – Learn to Identify Fish
As a scuba diver, you carry extra responsibility in your role as an ocean advocate, and knowing how to identify fish is a great first step in understanding marine ecosystem health.
Learning how to organise and conduct fish surveys is crucial for understanding and maintaining the health of our oceans and marine ecosystems.
Build on your knowledge and skills as a scuba diver and sign up for the PADI AWARE Fish Identification specialty diving course.
Koh Tao is a great location to go fun diving and explore our PADI Specialty courses. With our expert diving instructors, PADI Divemasters, custom dive boat and quality dive equipment, Isla Tortuga Divers can meet the needs of all certified divers.
Contact us for fun dive pricing, our Air Conditioned Rooms or Shared Rooms and our daily dive site schedule.
