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The Head of the PPAB Materials and Methods Division, Nathaniella Jeanne Suoth, familiarly known as Ella, explained that the Open Water Training was conducted to introduce prospective Nautika 2024 members to the actual conditions of the sea during diving. “As its name suggests, Open Water Training is held in open waters to help participants get used to diving or swimming in the ocean, which, unlike a pool, means there will be currents, wind, and marine life that must be taken into account,” she explained.

The Open Water Training held to welcome the new members was filled with snorkeling activities while reviewing the materials the Nautika newcomers had learned throughout the PPAB, along with discussion forums and other internalization activities.

In addition, on this occasion the Nautika Diving Unit of ITB also carried out the planting of 3,000 mangroves in collaboration with the Marine Cultivation and Conservation Center (PBKL) of DKI Jakarta Province. “There is actually two Nautika’s focus, diving and conservation. Since we are already introducing the newcomers to the actual conditions at sea, we also wanted to directly introduce them to conservation activities, as there had been no hands-on conservation during the PPAB. We wanted them to experience firsthand what it feels like to carry out conservation work,” she said.

This conservation activity was also intended to provide an opportunity for new members interested in pursuing research-based scientific diving, such as scuba diving, to channel their skills into coral conservation or other marine life research.