FREE Marine Life ID class (REEF)

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Sounder
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FREE Marine Life ID class (REEF)

Post by Sounder »

Just to pimp this a bit, REEF/Janna (our own nwscubamom) is teaching a Marine Life Identification class on March 19th and 20th at Redondo.

Taking this class has significantly increased the enjoyment I get from my dives as it has given me enough basic information to identify many different common critters, and as given me the tools I need to know HOW to determine what I was looking at if I don't know it off the top of my head (i.e. I know it's a snailfish, but what KIND of snailfish was it?!).

I'm not a critter-geek (ok, maybe I'm slightly a closet critter-geek), I'm not a photographer, I don't spend countless hours looking up oddities that I found, I don't own but one very basic fish ID book, and I don't get jazzed a new personal discovery of an exotic shrimp/anemone/worm/etc. I do care about the critters, and I have helped on many survey dives - I like doing this, I'm just not "jazzed" by the quest to identify obscure microscopic things and compare the smallest of details to determine the Latin name.

If you're a total critter-geek, or are an aspiring total critter-geek, this class is for you. If you're like me, want to enjoy knowing and being about to describe what you saw, and generally are curious exactly how to tell a small GPO apart from a Red octopus or a big skate from a longnose skate, this class is for you.

You don't need to memorize Latin, and you don't need a biology degree. Janna puts on a great class that is VERY fun... and you might learn something. Much of the photography she uses comes from our own NWDC members even!!

Really, the class itself is enough fun that even if you didn't learn a single thing you'd still have a great time.

I highly recommend this class to newbs all the way through very experienced recreational and technical divers. It really is for anyone, and no matter your skill and experience level, you'll have a great time and will learn something that will make your diving more enjoyable. Yes, even hard-core crazy-deep-wreck-loving-helium-addicted-scooter-trigger-happy-technical divers will enjoy and benefit from this class.

Please consider taking this free class, and then hitting up a dive at Redondo afterward. For more information and to register (be sure you register ONLY if you're sure you can make it - spots fill up fast!!), visit Janna's website HERE!!

Oh, and you get toys and M&Ms.
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Dusty2
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Re: FREE Marine Life ID class (REEF)

Post by Dusty2 »

Highly recommended for anyone interested in knowing a bit more about what you are seeing down there. Even if your not into anything serious it's well worth the time you will spend and it's fun too. Did I mention she gives out M&M's?? This is an excellent site for the classes too cause you get to view the exhibits and see what the critters look like up close and personal.
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Re: FREE Marine Life ID class (REEF)

Post by dwashbur »

Anyone who hasn't taken this course from Janna needs to. It's easily one of the most beneficial bits of training we've ever taken, and some of the most fun we've ever had. It doesn't matter how long you've been diving or how many books you have, EVERYONE can learn something from it.
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Re: FREE Marine Life ID class (REEF)

Post by Tom Nic »

Ditto! :boucegreen:

Did we mention that it's free? :boucegreen:

And that you'll learn cool stuff, have fun, and enjoy your diving more? :boucegreen:

Oh yeah, and that it's free?!? :boucegreen:
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Re: FREE Marine Life ID class (REEF)

Post by Sounder »

Tom Nic wrote:Ditto! :boucegreen:

Did we mention that it's free? :boucegreen:

And that you'll learn cool stuff, have fun, and enjoy your diving more? :boucegreen:

Oh yeah, and that it's free?!? :boucegreen:
I'm sorry... did you say it was fun AND FREE?! :highfive:
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Dashrynn
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Re: FREE Marine Life ID class (REEF)

Post by Dashrynn »

id love to take this class if it was closer....
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Re: FREE Marine Life ID class (REEF)

Post by Sounder »

Dashrynn wrote:id love to take this class if it was closer....
Make a weekend out of it!
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Norris
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Re: FREE Marine Life ID class (REEF)

Post by Norris »

I'm gunna take it
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Re: FREE Marine Life ID class (REEF)

Post by Sounder »

Norris wrote:I'm gunna take it
You'll probably be the first guy to fail Janna's class. :rofl: :hah:
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Re: FREE Marine Life ID class (REEF)

Post by selkie »

FishO
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Re: FREE Marine Life ID class (REEF)

Post by Sounder »

selkie wrote:FishO
Now you may eat your M&Ms.
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Re: FREE Marine Life ID class (REEF)

Post by John Rawlings »

Janna teaches amazing classes - I recommend them to all of you. The fact that they are free of charge is simply icing on the cake! It adds an entirely new dimension to diving here in the Pacific Northwest when you know what kind of critters you are looking at and a little bit about their behavior.

Taking Janna's classes on fish and invertebrates was one of the best investments I have made of my time.

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Re: FREE Marine Life ID class (REEF)

Post by Norris »

Sounder wrote:
Norris wrote:I'm gunna take it
You'll probably be the first guy to fail Janna's class. :rofl: :hah:
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Thank you, as always for your support.

<snicker>
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Re: FREE Marine Life ID class (REEF)

Post by spatman »

Norris wrote:
Sounder wrote:
Norris wrote:I'm gunna take it
You'll probably be the first guy to fail Janna's class. :rofl: :hah:
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Thank you, as always for your support.

<snicker>
LMAO!

:goodpost:
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Re: FREE Marine Life ID class (REEF)

Post by Sounder »

spatman wrote:
Norris wrote:
Sounder wrote:
Norris wrote:I'm gunna take it
You'll probably be the first guy to fail Janna's class. :rofl: :hah:
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Thank you, as always for your support.

<snicker>
LMAO!

:goodpost:
=D> :thankyouyellow:
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Re: FREE Marine Life ID class (REEF)

Post by Tom Nic »

A. Didn't know Doug had moved to Enumclaw. :geek:

B. This is even funnier knowing how much Janna HATES thread hi-jacks! :smt051
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Re: FREE Marine Life ID class (REEF)

Post by Sounder »

Tom Nic wrote:A. Didn't know Doug had moved to Enumclaw. :geek:

B. This is even funnier knowing how much Janna HATES thread hi-jacks! :smt051
A. Ron kept inviting me for a sleep-over... I finally gave in, and it was a rough night. I'll never make that mistake again.

B. This isn't the Critter Forum, and I started the thread... game on.
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Re: FREE Marine Life ID class (REEF)

Post by Tom Nic »

Sounder wrote:
Tom Nic wrote:A. Didn't know Doug had moved to Enumclaw. :geek:

B. This is even funnier knowing how much Janna HATES thread hi-jacks! :smt051
A. Ron kept inviting me for a sleep-over... I finally gave in, and it was a rough night. I'll never make that mistake again.

B. This isn't the Critter Forum, and I started the thread... game on.
:rofl: :rofl:
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"Anyone who thinks this place is over moderated is bat-crazy anarchist." -Ben, Airsix
"Warning: No dive masters are going to be there, Just a bunch of old fat guys taking pictures of fish." -Bassman
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Re: FREE Marine Life ID class (REEF)

Post by cardiver »

Tom Nic wrote:A. Didn't know Doug had moved to Enumclaw. :geek:

B. This is even funnier knowing how much Janna HATES thread hi-jacks! :smt051
Why is it always about Enumclaw when someone see's a picture of a horse?
Some of my best friends are horses asses............ Feel free to use that, Doug.
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Re: FREE Marine Life ID class (REEF)

Post by Sounder »

cardiver wrote:
Tom Nic wrote:A. Didn't know Doug had moved to Enumclaw. :geek:

B. This is even funnier knowing how much Janna HATES thread hi-jacks! :smt051
Why is it always about Enumclaw when someone see's a picture of a horse?
Some of my best friends are horses asses............ Feel free to use that, Doug.
Do I really need to tell you the story again Ron? Ok, fine... Once upon a time, there was a guy named Ken who worked at Boeing and had a love of horses... :eek:
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Re: FREE Marine Life ID class (REEF)

Post by defied »

Who are the experts, and what are their fields?

Janna - Everything that exists in the water? 0]
Sounder - Land Sharks?

D(B)
Last edited by defied on Tue Dec 01, 2009 9:25 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: FREE Marine Life ID class (REEF)

Post by nwscubamom »

A-HA! Mystery solved!! I noticed tonight a whole bunch of signups came through and wondered what had happened?!?

Log on and find this thread here. That explains it!

Thanks for the endorsement Doug and everyone. I gotta say I learn stuff every time I teach one of these classes.

Just so you know, there are THREE courses scheduled for 2010 so far. Locations are to be in
  • Portland, Oregon
    Anacortes, WA (here's your chance, Dashrynn!)
    Redondo Beach (Des Moines, WA)
Classes do fill fast, space is always limited, so if you're thinking of hitting one of them, do so ASAP.
Just a heads up - the Invert ID class will not be taught at the Redondo course - we'll be doing Basic Fish and Advanced Fish ID, with a dive afterwards! Woo hoo!

Love the threadjacking <roll eyes> You KNOW it's my favorite, but hey, I didn't start the thread, so Doug's right - anything's fair game!

- Janna (stocking up on M&M's)
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Re: FREE Marine Life ID class (REEF)

Post by spatman »

do you have dates for portland yet? maybe i'll actually make it this time!
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Re: FREE Marine Life ID class (REEF)

Post by nwscubamom »

Janna Nichols
My underwater photo galleries
REEF Citizen Science Program Manager
Seen any cool critters lately?
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Re: FREE Marine Life ID class (REEF)

Post by spatman »

nwscubamom wrote:Yup, everything's set:
http://www.pnwscuba.com/critterwatchers/classes.htm

- Janna
thanks, janna! i signed up for the one here in portland!
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