UGM Diving Student Activity Unit, also known as Gadjah Mada Diving Society, has just finished Open Water Training for their new members from May 2 to 5, 2024 in Pasir Putih, Situbondo. This activity was attended by 54 members of the Gadjah Mada Diving Society and accompanied by 6 diving instructors. Open Water Training is an advanced diving training activity on the open seas, conducted after completing 7 times of pool skills training and tryouts. This activity is carried out by prospective members of the Gadjah Mada Diving Society in order to fulfill the requirements to obtain A1 ISSA (Indonesian Subaquatic Sport Association) Diving Certification and be inaugurated as a new member of Gadjah Mada Diving Society. ISSA license is an international diving license affiliated with the world diving federation, Confederation Mondiale des Activites Subaquatiques (CMAS), in conducting research and certification for divers. There are 7 types of licenses issued by POSSI, namely A1 (Open Water Scuba Diver), A2 (Advanced Scuba Diver), A3 (Rescue Scuba Diver), A4 (Master Scuba Diver), and Dive Instructor Certification.
There are 32 new members of the Gadjah Mada Diving Society that did the A1 ISSA certification and 15 active members that also did the A2 ISSA diving certification. A1 level diving certificate holders are allowed to dive in a limited environment with good water conditions, clear, and not too deep (with maximum depth of 18 meters) and supervised by an experienced diving instructor. While the A2 level diving certificate is capable of deep diving (with a maximum depth up to 38 meters), dive navigation, and night diving. The A1 and A2 ISSA certifications obtained from this activity are expected to open new opportunities for members of the Gadjah Mada Diving Society in the world of diving and can be an important first step for those who want to develop their careers or explore more about underwater life.
One of the participants, Agselia Indriastuti, a student of the Fisheries Department of UGM, shared her experience on how this activity has greatly contributed to her personal development as well as her professional skills,
“As a fisheries student, this certification is very important and helpful in opening new doors for understanding underwater ecosystems, especially for thesis research. For example, research on seagrasses, fish and benthos really requires diving skills and qualified diving equipment. This diving ability is also a great advantage when it comes to finding a job after graduating from college.”
The chairman of Gadjah Mada Diving Society, Antonius Nicholas Apriyanto, also expressed his hope for the future of their organization,
“As the chairman of the Gadjah Mada Diving Society, I certainly hope that the members who have been selected and inaugurated to be part of the organization will become members who can bring the name of Gadjah Mada Diving Society into a higher level,” said Nicho.
In the end, from the training that has been carried out, prospective new members of the Gadjah Mada Diving Society meet the requirements to be granted the A1 ISSA Diving Certification and are inaugurated as the new members of the Gadjah Mada Diving Society. Furthermore, 15 active members met the requirements to earn the A2 ISSA Diving certification. This Open Water Training provides many benefits, both for new members and for active members of the Gadjah Mada Diving Society, namely training soft skills in organizational experience as well as introducing the committee system in the organization to the new members. This event also provides a sustainable contribution to capacity development in the field of Indonesian maritime affairs. Hopefully, initiatives like this can continue to be carried out and developed so that more individuals are able to contribute to protecting Indonesia’s marine ecosystem.