Mi’kma’ki/Nova Scotia is home to 13,000 kilometres of coastline, diverse marine habitats and rich biodiversity.
Dive into these underwater ecosystems with our Conservation Freedive Team!
Meet some of the species we encounter around Nova Scotia.
All images are copyright of CPAWS-NS.
Our freedivers have logged over 350 in-water hours documenting 150+ different sites around Nova Scotia’s coastline.
This approach allows us to experience first-hand the sensitive species and habitats that we work to protect.
The CPAWS-NS Conservation Freedive Team was founded in 2022 and is the first of its kind in Nova Scotia. We are a team of certified freedivers made up of biologists, videographers and photographers, and conservationists.
Conservation Freediving is a non-invasive approach to marine science, knowledge building, and education. This method allows us to gain a deeper understanding of marine ecosystems by observing cryptic habitats, gathering data and observations, and fostering marine literacy among diverse groups of youth and adults. Our mission is to observe and document marine ecosystems, to support the protection and informed stewardship of marine areas vital to the health of the oceans.
We build strong relationships with the places that we strive to protect.
Our projects include collaborations with Indigenous guardians and scientists, data collection and biodiversity surveys, species monitoring, snorkel workshops with youth and diverse communities, local presentations to bring the underwater world to communities, and more.
Through our projects, we aim to help inform communities, stakeholders, governments, and youth about marine ecosystems, while inspiring others to access Nova Scotia’s ocean playground and get engaged with marine science.