Borneo Divers, Sabah, Malaysia

On 6 July 2017, I successfully completed all requirements for Advanced Open Water Diver certification. The course was hosted by the Borneo Divers Training Institute, headquartered in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. The actual training center is located on Manutik Island, and diving takes place at several area dive sites.

Some years ago, when living in Germany, I received Open Water Diver certification from PADI. I recently decided to complete the PADI advanced coursed to re-familiarize myself with diving requirements, learn current knowledge, and enhance my diving skills. This would be in preparation for a possible dive adventure with a team of fishery biologists. They will be conducting fishery research off the coast of Palawan, an island in the Philippines.

I previously worked for an agency that conducted fishery and wildlife research. Staffed primarily by Ph.D. researchers, of which I was not one, I was brought onboard mainly to manage yearly research appropriations received from the US Congress. The work performed by agency researchers sparked my interest in fisheries, and I was able to learn much about this important field during my time there.

It may soon be possible for me to learn about current research being done to protect and increase fish populations, however, this time from a fish eye view.