‘Good critical thinkers can work both independently and with others to solve problems. How we respond to an unexpected outcome, meet crucial deadlines, and ensure an empathetic team ethic exists can be improved by using critical thought – schools worldwide are taking the lead. Because of this, employers value and seek out candidates who demonstrate strong critical thinking skills’ (Institute for Academic Development, University of Edinburgh).

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Education on a global scale is deeply encouraged to ensure a wide range of life skills thread through the ‘everyday’ curriculum. It is an exciting time to be involved in education, especially when the teaching of skills is as important as knowledge. There has never been a more relevant time to give young people the opportunity to learn new an exciting activities like scuba diving to develop these life skills that must feature strongly in every school’s curriculum!

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Scuba diving is both a thrilling experience and vital to the survival of our oceans. Learning to scuba dive requires the careful consideration for surviving in an environment that is not naturally sustainable for any human being without the assistance of necessary equipment. The skills involved with learning to scuba dive require critical thinking. In addition, it is an activity that cannot be done alone if undertaken safely; collaboration, communication and empathy are vital to the success of humans surviving and enjoying the underwater world!

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In addition to critical thinking, schools worldwide are placing an ever-increasing importance on collaboration, communication and empathy as the global community becomes smaller and more interconnected.  Many UK schools now rephrase the traditional titles of Geography, History and R.S. as ‘Global Culture, Philosophy & Ethics’. This move has been taken in recognition that it is the responsibility of all schools to teach an awareness that the strength of ‘community’ can only exist when it is viewed each day to be beyond its immediate surroundings. Moreover, through learning to scuba dive, young people will quickly reinforce their English, Maths and Science knowledge; reading material (provided in a large range of languages), writing dive logs and experiences, completing calculations to predict safe dive limits and the physiology associated with the impact of scuba diving.

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The Blue Planet Academy of Scuba Diving’s mission is to reach as many children as possible to teach them to scuba dive and use this skill to help save the plight of the world’s oceans. Along the way, teaching key life skills, addressing the importance of a global culture, and providing young people with the chance to apply their academic knowledge learn to thrive in the world’s most exciting environment – the oceans – makes becoming a scuba diver one of the most vital life skills for the future success of a sustainable world!

 

Ian Nicholas

Education Advisor