From May 22 until May 31, twelve officials from the Cambodian Fisheries Administration came to Koh Rong Samloem to earn their Open Water diving certificates, and to receive basic training in reef and seagrass survey methodology. The long-term goal of this collaboration, funded by the RFLP (Regional Fisheries Livelihoods Programme) FAO, is to establish a team of Fisheries administration officials who have all the tools necessary for effective monitoring of the marine environments they are employed to oversee. Perhaps even more important for such a short training, is giving the officials a rare chance to connect with and be inspired by these environments up close. It is the hope of Marine Conservation Cambodia that the officials will return to their posts eager for continued training and empowered to resist the pressure of corporate development and illegal fishing on their lenience.

All of the diving and project staff, from instructors to survey trainers, were involved in the course. After finishing the scuba diving open water certification, we progressed from land-based Reef survey simulation, to snorkeling Reef Checks on our local shallow reef, to actual scuba diving surveys in deeper water. While there was great diversity in diving aptitude, indicator species identification and English-language capacity, we received very positive feedback from the officials about their experience. They were all good-spirited and enjoyable to work with, and many have expressed a wish to come back to Koh Rong Samloem for further training, and to be trained by MCC staff on site in their respective fisheries areas.