Be a coral restoration marine biologist for 3 days in the vibrant, high-energy waters of Ped, Nusa Penida. In this course, you will dive into the fascinating world of corals, learning about their biology, diverse growth forms, and the specialized strategies needed to restore reefs in dynamic, current-swept environments. We will cover 15 different coral genera, focusing on the resilient species that act as the backbone of Penida’s recovering shallow reefs. You will gain insight into the intricate process of coral reproduction and the innovative techniques required to rehabilitate degraded areas.
Each classroom section is reinforced with dive sessions in the pristine waters of Ped, where you will see firsthand how strategic intervention has transformed vast, storm-damaged rubble fields into thriving habitats teeming with life. You will explore our active restoration site, witnessing the rapid growth of Acropora fields that now provide essential shelter for diverse marine populations. Finally, you will visit our local nursery to harvest a coral fragment and plant your own, directly contributing to the ongoing expansion of this remarkable reef recovery project.
You will leave this course empowered by the success stories of Nusa Penida and equipped with the knowledge required to restore vital ecosystems even in challenging marine conditions.
If you do not see the dates open for booking, please contact us to see if we can accomodate you.
*All proceeds will go towards funding coral restoration with Ocean Gardener and supporting the local community through the income earned by the local guide.
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 coralsThese 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 PlantingWe 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!
