Thirty high school students from schools across the island taking advantage of the Ocean Science/Ocean Swimming (OS/OS) class being taught by the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa (NMSAS) at the Tauese P.F. Sunia Ocean Center in Utulei.

The program that is being led by the NMSAS, has them teaching the the Ocean Science part of the class where the students are not only learning about what is in the water, but what they can do to help take care of the ocean that surrounds us.

The Ocean Swimming portion of the class is being taught by the American Samoa Aquatics Agency, whose instructors are teaching students water safety, and how to swim.

Originally, the OS/OS class started out as a pilot program with the American Samoa Department of Education Physical Education class at Samoana High School, with Ocean Science and Ocean Swimming being taught in order to increase the students health, safety and knowledge of the ocean. After running for a couple of years within the AS-DOE, the program is now being taught during the summer with the same goals and objectives.

Students involved in the program told Samoa News they are glad the program is reaching out to high school students across the island, instead of just having the program at one school. “Thank you NMAS and ASAA for doing what you are doing,” said one grateful student.

The class is expected to run until July 2. For more information you can call the NMSAS at: 633-6500.