Zero to Hero: Marine Conservation Capacity Building

The Zero to Hero Diving Programme aims to build local capacity in marine research and dive instruction, fields currently dominated by foreigners.  The programme trains Mozambican university students of marine biology, conservation area staff and local community members from a coastal diving hub in swimming, snorkelling, and diving. In doing so, this initiative seeks to enable locals to contribute effectively to Marine Protected Areas’ management and empower community members to engage in the ecotourism industry, thus protecting marine resources while improving livelihoods. Additionally, the programme will conduct community awareness talks on the social and economic importance of biodiversity, laws protecting species, protection methods, and socio-economic and cultural benefits. Trained community ambassadors will continue these talks independently in local languages.