If you think about organizing a group from your university contact our office for futher planning and tipps about accreditation.
Our marine biology courses at the field station of the HYDRA Institute for Marine Sciences on the Island of Elba are mainly attended by biology students. However, our courses are open to all persons interested, be it graduates or undergraduates of other faculties, or non-students.
Since 1996 years more than ten thousand participants have joined the courses and excursions at our field station Centro Marino Elba on the Island of Elba. Our course offer allows two options: marine biology classes with individual registration and field excursions of schools and university groups. Generally from March to October we run various marine biology and land-bound courses for students with the focus on biology, geography, and related fields. Non-students are also welcome to attend the courses.
You can participate in our marine biology courses as a certified SCUBA diver or join the integrated SCUBA diving class. Already certified divers follow a separate diving program during the diving course time.
The content of our 10-days classes are structured according to the ETCS modules and are therefore easily comprehensible for the respective examination office of the home university. Many universities already recognize the participation in HYDRA field courses with credit points. The participants get a graded certificate after successfully completing of all parts of the course. Since 2011 courses at the HYDRA Institute for Marine Sciences are officially integrated into the curricula for bio- and geosciences at the University of Tübingen/Germany. Our research coordinator Dr. Miriam Weber recieved an assignment as guest lecturer and will be responsible for the certification. Each course is recommended to be rated with 3 ETCS credit points given the participants fullfillment of the following requirements: regular attendance of all course hours, successful completion and exams for practical and theoretical units of the SCUBA diving course (if applicable), or preparation of a report of underwater observations, a short presentation and a written report during the course. With additional work (e.g. more detailled course report, presentation at home university) some universities give up to 5 credit points for the participation in one of our courses.
From 2011 on there are two modules "Marine Biology Diving Skills" available which where developed in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Nico Michiels from the University of Tübingen and are integrated in the curricula for Bachelor and Master students of bio- and geosciences. These modules provide a comprehensive diver training in a marine scientific context. The modules "Basic Field Course*" and "Advanced Field Course**" take three weeks each and are accredited with 6 ECTS each at the University of Tübingen. The modules are also open for the participation of external students. With additional work (e.g. more detailled course report, presentation at home university) some universities give additional credit points for the participation in the modules.
Introduction to Marine Biology (with integrated SCUBA course) 04 April - 14 April, 12 August - 22 August and 22 August - 01 September.
Marine Zoology (with integrated SCUBA course) 21 July - 31 July and 02 September - 09 September.
Habitats of the Mediterranean Sea (with integrated SCUBA course) 13 September - 23 September.
Special Course: Fishes (with integrated SCUBA course) 01 August - 11 August.
Methods of underwater research (only certified SCUBA divers - no integrated diving course!) 24 September - 04 October.
Course combination/Module: Marine Biology Diving Skills - Basic Field Course* (with integrated diving course) 22 August - 12 September.
Course combination/Module: Marine Biology Diving Skills - Advanced Field Course** (only certified SCUBA divers - check requirements) 13 September - 04 October.
Please note:
There are integrated diving courses (VDTL/CEDIP/CMAS bronze*) in each marine biology course. You can either participate as certified SCUBA diver or attend a complete diving course. Certified divers attend a simultaneously running dive program.
There is no registration deadline to our courses. As soon as the maximum number of participants is reached, the course will be announced as full or supplemented with a waiting list on our registration site.