04-11-2007, 10:10 PM
LITTLE ROCK - One of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's most popular education programs will return to the water this summer. The program is called "˜Underwater Arkansas' and involves a series of scuba dives where individuals gain a new perspective of the state's underwater environment.
The AGFC, Ocean Extreme Dive and Travel Center, Mountain Harbor Resort, Eden Isle Marina and the Red Apple Inn have joined forces to offer divers a unique view of Lake Ouachita and Greers Ferry Lake. The AGFC will provide instruction and Ocean Extreme brings dive masters and equipment for the seminars and dives.
Six sessions will be offered with a different topic covered each date. If you're a certified diver, you're practically on the boat. If you're not a certified scuba diver, but would like to be contact Mike Taylor at Ocean Extreme Dive and Travel Center at (501) 951-8600 or (501) 812-0006 for a special Underwater Arkansas rate and receive free Underwater Arkansas program enrollment as well. Divers must be at least 12 years old. AGFC will provide equipment or divers can bring their own.
If you love to dive, or have always wanted to learn, don't miss out. Make your plans to dive with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and friends this summer.
According to AGFC watchable wildlife coordinator Kirsten Bartlow, the education division at the AGFC teaches folks about the importance of conserving our state's wildlife and wildlife habitat. "We're so fortunate to live in the Natural State, with its abundance of wildlife and variety of unique ecological areas. We're quite excited about the Underwater Arkansas program because it delves into what lies beneath a lake's surface," Bartlow said.
The first dive session is scheduled for Saturday, June 2 on Lake Ouachita. Fish identification will be the topic and April Layher, aquatic education specialist for the AGFC will be the featured speaker.
Other dives, instructors and dates are:
Friday, June 22 (Lake Ouachita)- Lake Flora and Fauna, Brett Hobbs, Assistant District Fisheries Biologist, AGFC (snorkelers are welcome)
Saturday, June 23 (Lake Ouachita) -Aquatic Reptiles and Amphibians,
Kelly Irwin, Herpetologist, AGFC
Saturday, July 7 (Lake Ouachita) -Macroinvertebrates and Water Quality, Philip Osborn, Education Ecologist, ADEQ
Saturday, July 28 (Greers Ferry Lake) - Fish Habitat and Spearfishing,<br />
Mark Oliver, Assistant Chief of Fisheries, AGFC
Saturday, August 18 (Lake Ouachita) - Arkansas Mussels,<br />
Bill Posey, Malacologist, AGFC
Cost for the program is $35 and includes lunch, a t-shirt, all equipment, air fills, handouts and the boat trip. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission does have a grant available for educators or teachers to cover the $35 program cost for one Underwater Arkansas session. This program does qualify for professional development hours.
For more information on the program, just go to http://www.agfc.com/education-class/prog...ansas.aspx or call Bartlow at (501) 225-8544 or email information@agfc.com. Dive dates fill up fast and each excursion is limited to 10 divers, so don't be left out.
The AGFC, Ocean Extreme Dive and Travel Center, Mountain Harbor Resort, Eden Isle Marina and the Red Apple Inn have joined forces to offer divers a unique view of Lake Ouachita and Greers Ferry Lake. The AGFC will provide instruction and Ocean Extreme brings dive masters and equipment for the seminars and dives.
Six sessions will be offered with a different topic covered each date. If you're a certified diver, you're practically on the boat. If you're not a certified scuba diver, but would like to be contact Mike Taylor at Ocean Extreme Dive and Travel Center at (501) 951-8600 or (501) 812-0006 for a special Underwater Arkansas rate and receive free Underwater Arkansas program enrollment as well. Divers must be at least 12 years old. AGFC will provide equipment or divers can bring their own.
If you love to dive, or have always wanted to learn, don't miss out. Make your plans to dive with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and friends this summer.
According to AGFC watchable wildlife coordinator Kirsten Bartlow, the education division at the AGFC teaches folks about the importance of conserving our state's wildlife and wildlife habitat. "We're so fortunate to live in the Natural State, with its abundance of wildlife and variety of unique ecological areas. We're quite excited about the Underwater Arkansas program because it delves into what lies beneath a lake's surface," Bartlow said.
The first dive session is scheduled for Saturday, June 2 on Lake Ouachita. Fish identification will be the topic and April Layher, aquatic education specialist for the AGFC will be the featured speaker.
Other dives, instructors and dates are:
Friday, June 22 (Lake Ouachita)- Lake Flora and Fauna, Brett Hobbs, Assistant District Fisheries Biologist, AGFC (snorkelers are welcome)
Saturday, June 23 (Lake Ouachita) -Aquatic Reptiles and Amphibians,
Kelly Irwin, Herpetologist, AGFC
Saturday, July 7 (Lake Ouachita) -Macroinvertebrates and Water Quality, Philip Osborn, Education Ecologist, ADEQ
Saturday, July 28 (Greers Ferry Lake) - Fish Habitat and Spearfishing,<br />
Mark Oliver, Assistant Chief of Fisheries, AGFC
Saturday, August 18 (Lake Ouachita) - Arkansas Mussels,<br />
Bill Posey, Malacologist, AGFC
Cost for the program is $35 and includes lunch, a t-shirt, all equipment, air fills, handouts and the boat trip. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission does have a grant available for educators or teachers to cover the $35 program cost for one Underwater Arkansas session. This program does qualify for professional development hours.
For more information on the program, just go to http://www.agfc.com/education-class/prog...ansas.aspx or call Bartlow at (501) 225-8544 or email information@agfc.com. Dive dates fill up fast and each excursion is limited to 10 divers, so don't be left out.