University of South Wales Field Trip 2015
Our premier PADI 5 Star IDC Dive Centre, once again, welcomes a group of students from the University of South Wales to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, for their fourth annual tropical ecology field trip! The group of 24 (University students and their world-renowned Professors) will be camping for a week at our island beach house facilities. During their week, they will firstly learn the PADI Open Water Diver course to qualify to dive to reefs up to 18 metres depth. This will take 3 days, and then will be followed by a dive session to practise their peak performance buoyancy.
All skills are required for their field study skills to conduct data collection of the reefs in TAR marine park. To complete dissertations toward their BSc International Wildlife Biology and Natural History degrees, the students will practise conducting underwater visual census surveys, fish counting techniques using quadrats and line transects, as well as coral reef cover surveys. Leading our team of PADI Instructors, resident Platinum PADI Course Director Richard Swann will ensure diver safety of the group is met to our high standards, as well as PADI standards.
Our Commitment to Conservation!
RESPONSIBLE TOURISM 
During the past 15 years the company has established itself as a leading conservation and education provider locally and on the international platform. At Downbelow we are committed to responsible tourism. We design experiences and provide courses that foster appreciation, awareness and conservation of our environment and development of local people. In the course of this labour of love, our effort has been acknowledged by various publications and awards. To date, Ghost Net Removals, Underwater and Beach Clean Ups, Coral for Life, Tree for Life & Project Aware remain a large focus of our day to day life Downbelow!