DIVE WITH A RESEARCHER (DWAR) PROGRAMS

2010 - [TBA]		Coral Bleaching & Its Impact On Cayman Reefs The precise mission of this Dive With A Researcher (DWAR) project will be specified later but it will involve studying various aspects of coral bleaching on Cayman reefs.

2010 - [TBA]		Search for Invasive Species This Dive With A Researcher (DWAR) project will search for and record baseline data about invasive species on Little Cayman reefs (e.g. lionfish, mat tunicate) and examine their impact on local species.

2011

2011 - [TBA]		In Search of Juvenile Corals A Dive With A Researcher (DWAR) project to investigate the potential for baby corals to survive and replenish the local reefs which have shown dramatic declines over the past decades.

2011 - [TBA]		Coral Disease Management Project A Dive With A Researcher (DWAR) project to help decrease the devasting effects of coral disease in reefs around Little Cayman Island.

2011 - [TBA]		Deep Dive Down Cayman's Wall This Dive With A Researcher (DWAR) project will explore the tropical communities occuring at the deepest extent of coral reefs (~400 ft) in the Caribbean using Deep See Cayman's Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) "Little Tyche". We will also explore the Bloody Bay Wall to nearly 2000 ft.

2011 - [TBA]		Function of Fluorescent Proteins in Corals This Dive With A Researcher (DWAR) project aims to better understand fluorescent protein function and origin on coral reefs. As part of this expedition, volunteers will test several of these theories as well as isolate additional proteins from reef inhabitants to be employed for biomedical research.

2011 - [TBA]		Biodiversity & Reef Resiliency This Dive With A Researcher (DWAR) project will study the abundance of the major organisms at 60-100 ft that are competing with (and possibly out-competing) corals, such as tunicates, sponges, anemones, and fleshy algae using visual surveys and underwater photography techniques.

2011 - [TBA]		Herbivorous Fish & Reef Resiliency This Dive With A Researcher (DWAR) project will investigate some key players in reef resiliency (mainly parrotfish) and see whether they alone are enough to prevent reefs from algae dominance. This is a critical piece of the puzzle in understanding how reefs function.

2011 - [TBA]		Searching for Lobsters This Dive With A Researcher (DWAR) project will conduct an initial assessment of lobster populations around Little Cayman. This will provide an important baseline to understanding the health of the lobster population and, indirectly, the ways in which we can protect this population.

2011 - [TBA]		Coral Reef CSI: Underwater Forensics (Int'l) This Dive With A Researcher (DWAR) project will apply underwater forensics to coral reef crime scene investigations. This is an 8 day course primarly intended for international participants.

2011 - [TBA]		Coral Reef CSI: Underwater Forensics (Local) This Dive With A Researcher (DWAR) project will apply underwater forensics to coral reef crime scene investigations. This is a 5 day concentrated course primarly intended for local participants.