Would you like to learn to scuba dive and help save the ocean? A free program is turning divers into coral crusaders. 7’s Heather Walker shows us how in this 7Spotlight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the surface, it looks like any other dive class. But these students aren’t just learning to breath underwater — they are training to rebuild the ocean floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Noah Fernandez: “I’ve always, always loved the water.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Noah Fernandez grew up in Miami. He spent most of his childhood in the water — swimming, snorkeling and exploring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Noah Fernandez: “All the reefs and the fish in the water. It’s just, it’s beautiful.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His dream was to go deeper — literally — and become certified to scuba dive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Noah Fernandez: “We had been wanting to get certified for a really long time, me and my entire family.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But that dream doesn’t come cheap. Between the training and the gear, it can cost thousands of dollars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So his parents started looking for other options and found “Jr Scientists In The Sea,” or JSIS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Les Burke: “This was a way for me to engage kids before they got into any kind of trouble.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Les Burke started the organization. He’s a former lawyer who handled juvenile cases. He also has a deep love for the ocean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The nonprofit gives young people who wouldn’t normally have the opportunity — a way to earn their scuba certification for free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In exchange, they learn how to protect and restore South Florida’s coral reefs, the third largest barrier reef system in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Les Burke: “We’re engaging our most precious resource to take care of our most endangered resource.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Noah Fernandez: “That is actually one of the coolest trade-offs ever. It sounded a little boring, but it’s super cool when you are physically doing it. It’s something you have to experience.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The students learn how to clean, restore and even plant new coral, while also setting themselves up for success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Les Burke: “Life-changing, there have been students, where, ‘I don’t have a clue of where I am going or what I am going to do with my life,’ and now all of a sudden, ‘I’m being offered a full ride scholarship,’ and this has happened.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Noah is still figuring out his future, but his mom is happy they found JSIS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mailin Perez: “It makes me very proud of them. The things that they are learning, the experiences that they are gaining, they can’t do in a classroom. At the same time, we are doing a little bit for the Earth.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She is so inspired, she decided to join, too. Soon, the whole family will be diving together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mailin Perez: “It’s a beautiful program that hopefully gets bigger.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A family hobby, turned into a shared mission to protect South Florida’s reefs and preserve them for the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Heather Walker, 7News.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at 7spotlight@wsvn.com<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"