Step into the colourful and fascinating world of nudibranchs, also known as sea slugs, some of the ocean’s most beautiful and bizarre creatures. This unique SSI Ecology Specialty course, uncovers the secrets of these shell-less sea slugs and explains why, despite their small size, nudibranchs play an essential role in marine ecosystems.

After completing your self-paced digital learning, you’ll take part in one guided shore dive, where you'll put your knowledge into practice, searching for, identifying and observing nudibranchs in their natural habitat. Learn how to spot key features, identify species and understand the behaviours you're seeing firsthand.

Through engaging content and real-life application, you'll explore:

What Are Sea Slugs? Learn what makes nudibranchs so unique, from their dazzling colours and soft bodies to their incredible diversity.

Locomotion and Movement Discover how sea slugs glide across the ocean floor and adapt to different underwater environments.

Sensory and Respiratory Organs Find out how these creatures breathe, sense their surroundings and survive without eyes or traditional gills.

Reproduction Understand the fascinating ways nudibranchs reproduce, many are simultaneous hermaphrodites with unique mating behaviours.

Feeding Habits Dive into their strange and specialised diets, which can include sponges, anemones and even other nudibranchs!

Predators and Defence Learn how sea slugs protect themselves using powerful toxins, camouflage and even stolen stinging cells.

This course is for divers who hold Open Water certification....perfect for marine bio students, underwater photographers, or any divers curious about marine life!