November 2025 became a month filled with stories for the five participants who gathered in Bali for the Coral Reef Restoration Full Certificate—a four-week learning journey that not only deepened their scientific understanding, but also strengthened their connection to the ocean and to one another as reef guardians, combining classroom theory with hands-on practice in the ocean.
The three scholarship recipients—Disya Shafa Azizah, Lusiana (Blue Forest), and Daniel Jackson Jay (Trilogy Ocean Restoration, Karimun Jawa)—joined with strong motivation to expand their capabilities as restorers. They were accompanied by two self-funded participants from abroad, Mohammad Alkhonaini (Kuwait) and GP Villoresi (Italy), bringing valuable global perspectives to the experience.
The first two weeks in Mero Foundation, Tulamben focused on coral morphology, genus-level identification, learning to observe coral characteristics and identify each genus through a combination of classroom discussions and daily underwater practice. As they moved into coral gardening, the learning became more hands-on: cleaning algae, removing Drupella, and planting new coral fragments that will eventually grow into healthy colonies.
In Nusa Penida, the strong currents added an extra layer of challenge, teaching them how to stabilize substrates, perform coral transplantation, and assess site conditions before starting any restoration work. The final week in Ceningan Divers focused on monitoring,where they deepened their skills in mapping, and using photogrammetry to create 3D reef models.
Special sessions added valuable scientific depth to the course. A live presentation by Russell Kelley, author of the Coral Finder and Octocoral Finder, reached more than 50 participants joining online. In addition, Amkieltiela from the MERMAID platform provided a clear and practical introduction to global coral reef data collection tools, helping participants understand how field observations contribute to larger conservation efforts.
Achievements
- 3103 Drupella, coral-eating snails, were removed.
- 11 Crown of Thorn, Acanthaster planci, cora-eating starfish, were removed.
- 2365 corals planted:
- 298 Acropora sp planted on Mineral Accretion Technology tables in Mero
- 259 Acropora sp, Porites cylindrica, and Turbinaria reniformis were outplanted from our nursery to the reef.
- 670 Acropora pulchra relocated from the construction project to the Rope Nursery in Padangbay.
- 650 Acropora albrolhosensis and Acropora microphthalma outplanted from our thermo-resilient, lagoon nursery, using our rope technique, to the outer reef.
- 500 Echinopora lamellosa planted using wire mesh, substrate stabilisation planted in Ped.
Each participant contributed significantly to the success of the course. Jay, a dive instructor and restoration practitioner from Karimun Jawa, brought his foundation’s experience to the field and continued to learn despite an ear injury. Lusiana, or Uci, impressed the team with her energy, curiosity, and rapid development as a diver as she prepares to bring restoration work to her home island. Disya, with a background in coral farming and academic research, demonstrated resilience and determination, offering thoughtful insights throughout each week of the training. Together, they formed one of the strongest groups the program has ever welcomed.