Three Cameroonian marine scientists have completed intensive training in Marseille, France, becoming the country’s first certified scientific divers. Their mission: to protect Cameroon’s Manyangé na Elombo-Campo National Park, a critical nesting and feeding ground for endangered sea turtles and other marine biodiversity. The training followed the United Nations Ocean Conference held in France and was facilitated by Septentrion Environnement, a French institute specializing in marine conservation. The program covered underwater species identification, marine ecosystem mapping, legal frameworks, logistics, and emergency rescue protocols.
Aristide Takoukam Kamla, president of the African Marine Mammal Conservation Organisation (AMMCO), emphasized the urgency of their mission. “Not only are we losing our biodiversity, but local communities are also facing threats to food security as fish stocks decline. Civil society must step up and support national conservation efforts,” he said. Xavier Ndjamo, coordinator of the community-based NGO Tube Awu, noted that the team’s training represents a milestone for Cameroon. “We’ve launched the country’s first scientific diving project to explore and monitor marine environments,” he said.
Environmental educator Karel Cyndi Ngnah, who works with children and coastal communities, aims to achieve full diving autonomy. “I want to actively contribute to underwater research—from mapping the seabed to locating critical biodiversity zones,” she explained. Scientific diving is a specialized and tightly regulated field requiring rigorous safety training. The trio underwent simulations of rescue scenarios and emergency medical evacuations, which they will now be able to replicate in Ebodjé, a key marine site in Cameroon.
Carla Di Santo, head of scientific diving at Septentrion Environnement, praised the team’s preparedness. “They’ve completed full-scale emergency protocols and are equipped to implement these same safety measures in Cameroon,” she said. With this pioneering initiative, Cameroon is taking a major step toward meeting global ocean protection commitments, empowering a new generation of divers to safeguard one of Central Africa’s most fragile marine ecosystems.
