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Join a hands-on PADI specialty course in Fort Walton Beach that teaches identification, safe removal, and reporting of invasive lionfish. Two days of classroom and in-water work turn certified divers into active reef stewards.
Join a hands-on PADI specialty course in Fort Walton Beach that teaches identification, safe removal, and reporting of invasive lionfish. Two days of classroom and in-water work turn certified divers into active reef stewards.
Book with Taz's Excursions
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Operated by Taz's Excursions · Fort Walton Beach, Florida
On Florida’s Emerald Coast, the PADI Invasive Lionfish Tracker Course runs out of Fort Walton Beach at 922 Denton Blvd NW. Over one to two days, certified divers learn to identify, track, and safely manage invasive lionfish on local patch reefs and artificial wrecks in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. This specialty blends classroom briefings with in-water training: divers carry out real underwater observations, practice safe handling with spearing tools, and learn how to report sightings so managers can monitor populations.
The course focuses on practical reef stewardship. Key features include shallow patch reefs and nearby artificial reef sites teeming with coral, sponges, and the reef fish that lionfish prey on. Lionfish are easy to recognize - striped, venomous dorsal spines and a habit of sheltering in crevices - and instructors teach species identification, ecological impacts, and humane removal techniques. Students get hands-on practice with tools listed as extras - Spear Pole w/zoo keeper ($20), Spear Gun w/stringer ($20), Diving Tank (Air) $10 and rental options - so you can learn both the removal and the post-capture handling steps, including cleaning and safe preparation for consumption.
This course stands out because it turns recreational diving into direct conservation action: small groups (maximum six) make the classroom-to-reef transition fast, and the curriculum meets PADI specialty standards. Prerequisites are explicit - Advanced Open Water and Nitrox certifications are required (Nitrox can be obtained during the course) - so trained divers can immediately apply advanced buoyancy and gas-management skills while minimizing impact to reefs.
Practical tips: arrive early to 922 Denton Blvd NW for check-in and equipment setup; plan for a day of moderate exertion; expect boat or shore dives depending on conditions. Rentals include single tanks, nitrox fills, and full gear packages so you can join without bringing a full kit. The course also covers local regulations and reporting protocols, connecting students with ongoing monitoring efforts in Okaloosa County.
The Fort Walton Beach dive shop running the course is part of the local dive community, offering extras like Diving Tank (Air) for $10, Nitrox fills for $17, wrist computers and rentals, allowing kit customization; Full Rental Package is $85 and includes two tanks with air, BCD, regulator, wetsuit, computer and weights. Instructors emphasize safety around venomous spines, legal take limits, and traceability for captured specimens so your efforts feed conservation data and not create risk. For visitors course is both an education and a way to give back to Gulf reefs.
moderate.
1–2 days.
Should be comfortable in open-water dives with good buoyancy control and able to carry gear on and off a boat.
Yes—Advanced Open Water and Nitrox certifications are required; Nitrox can be earned as part of the course if you don’t already have it.
Minimum age follows PADI specialty standards—check with the operator for exact age requirements tied to certification levels.
You can bring your own kit or rent items: full rental packages and single-item rentals (mask, fins, tanks, etc.) are available for fees.
Instructors teach safe handling tools and techniques to avoid venomous spines; never attempt to handle specimens without guidance and proper gear.
The course covers cleaning, preparation, and local regulations; lionfish are edible and often promoted as a sustainable seafood option when processed properly.
Meet at 922 Denton Blvd NW, Fort Walton Beach, FL for check-in and equipment setup before dives.
Lionfish were first recorded in the western Atlantic in the late 20th century and have since become a significant invasive predator in Gulf and Caribbean reefs.
The course emphasizes removal, accurate reporting, and coordination with local monitoring programs to reduce ecological impact and support long-term reef resilience.
Learn how to identify, track, and safely manage one of the ocean’s most invasive species • 2 Days
Book with Taz's Excursions