ReSea Sports & Ocean Literacy Pilot Intervention – Malta
📍Venues: Orange Shark Diving center & Ċirkewwa Marine Park, Malta
👥 Organised by DAN EUROPE
Turning Water Sports into Tools for Science, Education, and Marine Regeneration
On 11 May 2026, DAN Europe successfully delivered the first ReSea Sports pilot intervention in Malta, combining Ocean Literacy training, Citizen Science, and practical field activities to demonstrate how water sports can actively contribute to marine conservation and climate change awareness.
Held between Orange Shark Diving Center and Ċirkewwa Marine Park, this pilot marked an important milestone in the implementation of ReSea Sports, transforming scuba diving and snorkelling into practical tools for environmental monitoring, education, and ecosystem regeneration.
Purpose of the Intervention
The pilot intervention aimed to increase awareness of the role of regenerative water sports—including scuba diving, snorkelling, and freediving—as practical tools for protecting, monitoring, and regenerating marine and coastal ecosystems.
Participants were introduced to the principles of ReSea Sports and how sport activities can evolve from low-impact recreation into positive environmental actions that support long-term ecological resilience.
- Organised by: DAN Europe
- Participants: 6 PADI Instructors, 2 certified divers, 2 snorkellers. Special participation from Rachel Watts, PADI Regional Manager
- Focus: Ocean Literacy, Citizen Science, Climate Change, Regenerative Water Sports
Activities Carried Out
Theoretical Session
Hosted at Orange Shark Diving Center, the classroom session explored:
- Water sports and regenerative tourism
- Ocean Literacy principles
- Climate change and its impact on marine ecosystems
- Citizen Science methodologies
- The role of diving centres and instructors in environmental data collection
- How divers and citizens can support marine monitoring initiatives
The field activities took place at Ċirkewwa Marine Park, where participants implemented the Fish Visual Census protocol, a scientific monitoring methodology designed to track climate-related changes in Mediterranean marine ecosystems.
The protocol was tested through two practical approaches:
🤿 Scuba Diving Session
PADI instructors and certified divers collected underwater observational data.
🥽 Snorkelling Session
Non-diving participants took part in surface observations and environmental data collection.
Scientific Dimension
The Fish Visual Census protocol allows participants to monitor indicator fish species affected by warming sea temperatures in the Mediterranean.
By collecting field observations, participants contribute to:
- Climate change monitoring
- Biodiversity assessment
- Integrated Coastal Zone Management
- Marine ecosystem protection
This protocol is part of the PADI/DAN Ocean Literacy programme, officially endorsed by the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030).
Key Outcomes
The pilot intervention successfully demonstrated how water sports can become powerful tools for:
- Environmental education
- Scientific observation
- Citizen Science participation
- Climate change awareness
- Marine ecosystem regeneration
ReSea Sports and Ocean Literacy Pilot Intervation 11 May 2026.pdf
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