Keynote speakers
Using volcanic CO2 vents and warming hotspots to study the effectsof climate change on fishes and marine ecosystems in situ.
Prof. Ivan Nagelkerken studies climate change impacts on fishes andmarine ecosystems using aquarium experiments, large mesocosms, andnatural climate analogues such as volcanic CO₂ vents and warminghotspots. Using scientific diving in the field, he has combined fishsurveys, fish behaviour video recordings, fish habitat choiceexperiments, a range of underwater manipulative experiments, andfish collection techniques to assess ecosystem resilience andspecies range shifts under ocean warming and acidification.
Into the dark: scientific diving as a window into the biodiversity, ecology, and conservation of Yucatán's anchialine cenotes.
The Yucatán Peninsula hosts vast anchialine ecosystems within flooded cave networks known as cenotes, home to unique subterranean fauna. The Cenoteando project uses scientific diving and integrative methods (taxonomy, eDNA, isotopes) to study biodiversity and ecosystem function. Their work has led to new species discoveries and supports conservation, addressing tourism pressures through science-based management and policy engagement, highlighting the critical role of scientific diving in protecting these fragile systems.
A Professional Scientific Dive Centre in a non Recreational Diving Legislation.
Diogo Paulo is an Instructor Examiner with Global Underwater Explorers (GUE) and creator of its Scientific Diving course. A rebreather diver and explorer, he combines advanced diving with marine research. He is a scientist at CCMAR, Visiting Professor at the University of the Algarve, and founder of CCMAR’s Scientific Diving Center, helping raise safety and professional standards in Portugal.
