Intro to Coral Restoration

Be a coral restoration marine biologist for 3 days! In this course, you will dive into the fascinating world of corals, learn about their biology, coral types and shapes and the threats that corals face today. We will cover 15 different coral genera. You will learn more about the delicate process of coral reproduction and gain insight into the fundamentals of coral restoration.

Each classroom section will be reinforced with dive sessions so you can practice your new found knowledge by spotting the corals on the reefs of Bali. Finally, you will visit one of our coral nurseries to harvest a coral fragment and plant your own coral to leave a lasting mark on the reef.

You will leave this course having a greater appreciation of the pressing threats facing coral reefs today and how to restore them, equipping you with the knowledge needed to become a proactive guardian of these vital ecosystems.

We have 2 locations you can choose from:

Amed: Your dives will be centered around the reefs of Amed and Tulamben (East Bali) which have calmer waters with easy, swim out access from the shore. No boat required.

Nusa Ceningan: Classroom sessions on Nusa Ceningan, with short boat rides to dive around Nusa Ceningan and our Nusa Penida restoration site, hence the higher cost.

*All proceeds will go towards funding coral restoration with Ocean Gardener and supporting the local community through the income earned by the local guide.

Prerequisites

SSI/PADI Open Water Diver certification
Good Buoyancy Skills

Includes

Ocean Gardener trained instructor
Diving equipment (BCD, Weights, Mask, Fins). You are welcome to use your own equipment.
5 dives in the various reefs around your course location
Digital Card to prove your certification upon completion

Excludes

Transportation to Amed or Nusa Ceningan
Accommodations
Meals

If you need help arranging food, accommodations or transportation, please indicate in the booking comments and we can arrange them for you.

Cancellation Policy

Full refund if cancelled 7 days before the event.

Day 1 – Introduction to corals

We will start by learning what a coral is, followed by their biology and then an overview on the different types of corals. You will learn about hard vs soft corals, large vs small polyps and the different colony shapes. After the classroom session, you will have 2 guided dives, where we will spot the different coral types in the wild and apply our newfound knowledge.

Day 2 – Hard corals

These are the important reef building corals. You will learn about how they contribute to providing homes for fish and other marine life. We will go over 5 genera of small polyps hard corals and 5 genera of large polyps hard corals. Once again, we will perform 2 more dives on 2 more reefs to spot these hard coral types in the wild.

Day 3 – Soft Coral and Coral Planting

We will discover these unique corals that are adapted to bend with the surge and currents . You will learn to recognize 5 genera of soft corals. In our final dive, we will try to spot these soft corals as well as visit one of our coral nurseries. You will harvest a coral fragment from our donor colonies and plant your own coral for posterity!

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