Grade 7 students at Bayridge Elementary are flipping out over a scuba diving course offered through their science class.
Through a partnership between the school and Ocean Pro Divers, students were able to fully immerse themselves – literally – in subjects including buoyancy, pressure, density, mass, volume and the particle model when they dove into South Surrey pool for a scuba-diving demonstration last week.
The students were able to take the practical knowledge they had learned from teacher and longtime scuba diver Dave Morrison and use it for the hands-on experience.
Members of Ocean Pro Diving took over when the students got into the water and reviewed safety procedures and scuba gear. Then, scuba masters took them for their final test – the dive.
“Instead of going to a museum for a field study, we take them to go scuba diving,” Morrison said. “It combines all the things we study and complements the curriculum.”
During the lesson, students practiced hand signals and breathing techniques under the watchful eye of the diving instructors.
letion of the course, students received a certificate for the PADI-certified Discover Scuba course.
The scuba-diving program has been offered through the school for six years, Morrison noted, with only positive reviews.
“It’s the highlight of the year. The kids love it. A couple of students have gone through and received their full licence,” he said.
“I have every intention of going forward.”