On the FFESSM biology commission website, the Level 1 bio diver sheet, updated on March 27, 2019, sets a minimum of 16 hours of theory. Added to this are at least four observation dives in a natural environment. This is the starting point.
Imagine a hypothetical scene. You come out of the water in the Mediterranean, your buddy talks about a “little goldfish” and you about a “weird algae” resting on a rock. A bio training course helps to put a name and a group on these vague memories.
This guide reviews the federal levels as they are published, what a course really contains, and what a study conducted in the Philippines says about divers who touch the reef.
What do you really learn in a bio diving training?
A bio diving training teaches you to recognize the fauna and flora you encounter, to classify them into the major groups of living organisms, and to understand where they live. It also teaches you how to search for an animal based on clues, then verify your identification in appropriate documentation.
The federal PB1 sheet lists five objectives. The first targets the approach to aquatic environments, with a dual focus on observation and protection of the environment visited. Next come some notions about habitats and their main inhabitants. Then you learn to place what you see into the major groups. The last two objectives are the most concrete: approaching an observation dive starting from clues, and knowing how to use written documentation.
We like this last point, too often forgotten.
But the bulk of the course lies in the way of seeing. A beginner looks for big animals and misses a drop-off covered with sponges, ascidians, and tube worms which he takes for rock, whereas a trained eye already reads several different groups over a few square meters. This is the change of scale that you come to seek. It cannot be bought.
What are the FFESSM bio levels?
The FFESSM biology commission publishes four stages for divers: the discovery certificate from 8 years old, the young bio diver from 10 to 16 years, then the bio diver level 1 (PB1) and level 2 (PB2). Above come the instructors, from FB1 to FB3.
| Stage | Audience | Prerequisites | Minimum volume |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discovery certificate | From 8 years old (parental authorization for minors) | FFESSM license, medical certificate less than one year old | About 3 hours of theory and two water activities (diving or snorkeling) |
| Young bio diver | 10 to 16 years | License, minimum silver diver or second star of the sea in apnea | 4 immersions |
| PB1 | According to technical level | License, medical certificate less than one year old, level 1 (P1 qualified PA12 according to the sheet) or equivalent, or apnea certification | 16 hours of theory and 4 observation dives |
| PB2 | Holders of PB1 | PB1, level 2 (P2) or equivalent | 25 hours of theory and 4 observation dives |
These figures are minimums taken from the sheets published in March 2019. Clubs and departmental committees then organize their own sessions, with a schedule that varies greatly from one structure to another depending on the season and available instructors. PB2 adds basic laboratory techniques. It also teaches you to share your observations. Prices are not listed in these sheets, so ask the club with the number of dives included.
However, validation can be done by continuous assessment.
For PB1, the jury includes at least the president of the club or regional commission and an FB1 instructor. In short, they check what you know how to observe and then find in a guide, without a cutthroat exam on Latin names recited by heart in front of a room.
What level of diving is required to start?
For the PB1, the federation form requires an FFESSM license, a medical certificate less than one year old, and technical level 1, or an equivalent. Certified freedivers can also register. On the PADI side, the Underwater Naturalist specialty opens from age 10 with Open Water or Junior Open Water, according to its page consulted in October 2026.
For what level? The question matters more than it seems. An observation dive is done slowly, often near the bottom, with your head turned towards a detail for long seconds. Your buoyancy control must hold on its own; otherwise, your fins stir up the sand and your attention leaves your depth and your buddy. It is your instructor, on site, who judges if you are ready.
The certification grants an entry right, nothing more.
However, there is no need to wait for years. A bio dive often takes place on a seagrass bed or a shallow scree, where the light remains good and you can take your time, provided the site and the day’s supervision allow it. And if you prefer to stay on the surface, snorkeling already offers a good observation ground. It counts towards the discovery certificate.
How does an observation dive take place?
An observation dive starts with a goal set before entering the water: a habitat, a group of species, or a behavior. During the dive, you move slowly and look for clues rather than animals. Identification is then done on dry land, with a field guide or a database.
Clues save time. An open shell at the foot of a rock or a sharp snap heard near the bottom guides the search. This sound often comes from a pistol shrimp and its oversized claw. On land, many federation courses rely on DORIS, the FFESSM online database dedicated to underwater species, and printed guides. You compare your notes with the sheets there. Doubts are discussed.
In short, a scribbled slate is better than a vague memory.
And the camera? It helps identify, since an image can be calmly compared to a sheet in the evening, but it adds an extra task to manage while you are already monitoring your depth and air. The underwater photography training addresses this point separately. Start without it, then add it.
Does bio training reduce your impact on the reef?
No study shows that a bio certification is enough to protect a reef. However, the one by Roche and colleagues, published in 2016 in Environmental Management, shows that diver behavior varies with supervision: in the Philippines, 88% of the 100 divers monitored touched the reef at least once per dive.
The detail is telling. Fins cause 45.5% of contacts. Divers equipped with a camera account for 52.7% of observed contacts, and one in four contacts (25.3%) leaves visible damage. Clients of centers that seriously apply the Green Fins program touch the reef significantly less than those from less involved centers. The study does not measure the effect of bio training, this must be clearly stated.
However, a slow and attentive dive remains, in our eyes, the best buoyancy school.
The concrete rules of distance and position are detailed in our guide to observing without disturbing marine life. We also explain why you should never touch marine life. Once trained, you can contribute your observations to citizen science programs, like the citizen divers engaged for the oceans. The cost is mainly in time: at least 16 hours of classroom and four slow dives, instead of four exploration outings.
FAQ
Is the bio diving training accessible to children?
Yes. The FFESSM discovery certificate is available from 8 years old, with parental authorization. The young bio diver concerns those aged 10 to 16 who hold at least the silver diver certification, or the second star of the sea in freediving.
Do you have to be a scuba diver to take a bio course?
Not necessarily. The PB1 accepts level 1 technical or a freediving certificate, and its observation dives can be done in freediving. The discovery certificate also includes snorkeling among its water activities.
How long does the PB1 training last?
The federation sheet sets at least 16 hours of theory and four observation dives in a natural environment. The schedule depends on the club or committee organizing the session. Ask for the schedule before signing up.
Is a PADI specialty equivalent to a PB1?
These are two distinct courses. The PADI Underwater Naturalist specialty is accessible from 10 years old with the Open Water or Junior Open Water. For an equivalence with a federal bio level, it is impossible to decide here: ask the club or the regional commission.
Sources
- PB1 Diver (FFESSM, biology commission, 2019)
- Recreational Diving Impacts on Coral Reefs and the Adoption of Environmentally Responsible Practices within the SCUBA Diving Industry (Roche et al., Environmental Management, 2016)
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