Invasive Species Management
The Diventures Lionfish Hunter Course is an SSI-recognized specialty that equips divers with the skills to safely and responsibly remove invasive lionfish while protecting reef ecosystems and ensuring diver safety.
Lionfish are one of the most destructive invasive species in the Caribbean, capable of consuming up to 30 juvenile reef fish per hour, reducing reef diversity by as much as 80%, and producing over 2 million eggs per year.
With few natural predators, their rapid spread poses a serious threat to marine biodiversity. This course gives divers the tools to take action, combining conservation with adventure beneath the surface.
The course combines a dry land session for gear familiarization, safety protocols, and target practice with two open water dives focused on planning, buoyancy control, team coordination, and post-dive procedures.
Dry Land Session:
- Gear setup and familiarization (spearfishing tools, buoyancy-focused dive gear)
- Safety protocols and injury prevention
- Target practice with inert lionfish models or simulated targets
Open Water Dives (2 dives):
- Dive planning and pre-dive safety checks
- Site selection based on lionfish presence and environmental safety
- Buoyancy control during approach and shooting
- Team coordination for retrieval and safe transfer to a ZooKeeper
- Post-dive equipment care, ecological debrief, and logging dives
Learn lionfish ecology, spearfishing equipment use, spear-handling, safety protocols, first aid, dive planning, buddy coordination, and environmental protection for responsible lionfish removal.
- Understand why lionfish are invasive and their ecological impact
- Identify and use spearfishing equipment including pole spears, ELF tools, ZooKeeper, gloves, and accessories
- Practice spear-handling and shooting techniques with an emphasis on buoyancy control and situational awareness
- Learn safety protocols for handling lionfish and preventing injury
- Apply first aid procedures for lionfish punctures based on DAN guidelines
- Plan dives, coordinate with buddies, and protect the environment during hunting dives
Students must be at least 16, hold SSI Advanced Open Water and Perfect Buoyancy certifications (Deep Diving recommended), and complete all academic, dry land, and in-water sessions to earn certification.
Student Prerequisites:
- Minimum Age: 16
- Minimum Number of Dives: 2
- SSI Certifications:
- Advanced Open Water
- Perfect Buoyancy (Deep Diving preferred)
Completion Requirements:
- Complete all academic sessions and assessments
- Complete dry land session
- Complete at least two (2) open water dives
Certification:
Upon successful completion, divers receive the SSI Invasive Species Management Specialty certification.
Availability: In Stock
