Adopt a real coral.
Watch it grow and help restore a reef.
Your adoption funds the planting and care of corals in our shallow-water nursery. As they grow, we use them to replant the wider reef.
How it works
How Your Adoption Restores A Reef
1
Adopt your coral
Choose how many corals to adopt and we’ll match you with corals we’ve recently planted.
2
Give it a name
Your coral already has a unique ID and GPS position. Give it a name and show it off.
3
Watch it grow…
Corals grow slowly, so every three months we send you an update with new photos.
Destroyed
Rubble
Replanted
Areas
Why coral reefs matter
Less than 1% of the ocean is coral reef, yet a quarter of all marine life depends on it
Fish sheltering among Porites corals at our restoration site in Nusa Penida.
Think of a coral reef as the rainforest of the sea, and of each coral as a tree. Their branches, plates and crevices build a living city that fish, crabs, shrimp, octopus and turtles rely on for food and shelter.
It is also a nursery. Countless reef animals spend their most fragile early days hiding among the corals, safe from predators until they are big enough to venture out.
Lose the corals and that shelter disappears, and with it the fish that coastal communities depend on. Every coral we plant becomes a new home, bringing life back to rubble left behind by past damage.
Why adopt a coral with Ocean Gardener
We believe Indonesia may be the last refuge for corals in a warming ocean
Indonesia sits at one of the ocean’s great crossroads. The Indonesian Throughflow carries Pacific water into the Indian Ocean, and part of it races through the deep Lombok Strait between Bali and Lombok. Where that current meets Nusa Penida, cold water wells up from the depths.
That cold upwelling keeps the reef cooler and the water clear, a natural shield against the marine heatwaves bleaching reefs around the world. So far, our corals here are still thriving. If any reefs can ride out a warming ocean, it may be reefs like these, and this is where we plant.
From our adopters
Adopters Love Watching Their Corals Grow
Sharad M.
“My coral in Bali is visibly growing! So much appreciation for the Ocean Gardener team caring for it and working to restore the reef.”
Day 0
Day 90
Tim A.
“I love the updates and seeing my coral grow. Hopefully one day I can visit it.”
May 2024
May 2026
Jean Christophe T.
“Knowing that my coral is home to some new fish families makes me so happy. I share it with my kid and he loves it!”
Day 0
Day 90
Explore the nursery
Every Coral Is Real.
Find Yours.
This map shows our shallow-water nursery, one part of a restoration site that stretches 1.2 km along the coast at Ped.
https://app.atlas.co/embeds/7wVRjtAQ02xddhBc1uKT | Live map of Ocean Gardener coral plantings
Ready when you are
Ready To Adopt?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if my coral dies?
Sadly, coral loss is part of nature, and it’s becoming more common in a warming ocean. If your coral dies, we’ll replace it with a new fragment and keep your updates coming. Your support still funds the nursery and our research into heat-resistant corals.
Can I cancel anytime?
Yes. Our adoption program runs on Canopi, so you can sign in to your Canopi account and cancel whenever you like.
Can I give an adoption as a gift?
Absolutely. Send the adoption card by email, or show it in person. It makes a lovely birthday, Mother’s Day or Father’s Day gift for anyone who loves the ocean.
Can I visit my coral?
Yes. That’s why our adoption nursery sits in the sheltered lagoon behind the reef crest: so you can come and see your coral, learn about the reef and see our work up close. Join our Nusa Penida snorkel tour to snorkel the nursery with a marine biologist.
Where does my money go?
It pays our local team, who plant and look after the nurseries. Your adoption keeps your coral clean and healthy, and helps us grow the wider restoration area.