Blue Sea Greece

Discover Greece’s Underwater Beauty

Did you know that 71% of the planet is covered in water and that the oceans hold about 96.5% of Earth’s water? Ever wonder why Greece’s pristine waters are so famous? Interested in discovering more about the health of its plant and animal life, the fishing industry, and the attraction it holds to Greeks and millions of international visitors?

Learn about it all and take a deep dive with Blue Sea Greece!

Program and Purpose

Blue Sea Greece is a collaboration between the ACG Center for Excellence in Sustainability and The Demos Center.

It is a summer course focused on the biology and sustainability of the sea, combining a 4-credit (transferable) Environmental Studies course, including some field work to be performed at local  beaches (cleanup visits) and OPTIONAL SCUBA dives for those who have SCUBA certification.  Students that are not certified, may take discretionary SCUBA certification lessons that will be offered by the Seal Dive Center just before and during the course, so that they can dive during our field trips. Seals will be paid directly by students, for the certification and/or all optional dives and outings during the course.

The course aims to teach young people how to appreciate, respect and protect Greece’s extraordinary, world-famous blue seas; generate interest in more Environmental Studies courses; encourage participants to become more involved in other environmental and sustainable practice activities sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Sustainability, and, most importantly, to become lifelong conservationists and SCUBA divers.

Students will take a field trip the weekend of 13 June to a location near Athens to work with the Healthy Seas foundation in examining and cleaning up Ghost Farms. The Seals will be diving with the students who are certified and with snorkelers.

**There will be extra fees for shared accommodation and the rental of SCUBA or snorkeling gear (paid directly to the Seals.) We estimate the extra costs to be approximately 200 euros. Students will purchase their own food.

Is Blue Sea Greece for you?

The program is ideal for

• Current Deree students
• Study abroad students interested in a summer course at Deree
• Any certified SCUBA diver who wants an academic course in Environmental Studies focused on the sea

A Balanced Curriculum

Students enrolled in the program will:

• Attend classroom lectures and discussions.
• Participate in various beach cleanups around Greece and, optionally, the sea floor in manageable, shallow waters.
• The program will also offer bonus dives (paid separately and directly to the Seals) and could include Greece’s precious underwater archaeological sites so that participants can witness the effects of climate change on already protected marine environments.

Duration

The Blue Sea Greece course will launch in Summer I, May 20, 2025 – June 16, 2025. (Depending on demand, another session could be added in Summer II.)

Register here for LZP2037.