Be a coral restoration marine biologist for 3 days in the tranquil, crystalline waters of Lipah Bay. In this course, you will dive into the fascinating world of corals, exploring their biology, diverse growth forms, and the pressing threats they face. We will cover 15 different coral genera, specifically highlighting the species that thrive in the calm, protected environment of Amed’s coastline. You will gain deep insight into the delicate process of coral reproduction and the fundamentals of community-led restoration.
Each classroom section is reinforced with shore-entry dive sessions, allowing you to practice your newfound knowledge directly in the bay’s gentle conditions. You will explore our long-running restoration site, where you can witness coral colonies at various stages of recovery—from initial fragments to thriving, mature structures. Finally, you will visit our established nursery to harvest a coral fragment and plant your own, leaving a lasting mark on a reef that serves as a beacon of successful, multi-year restoration.
You will leave this course with a profound appreciation for Amed’s resilient reefs and the practical, hands-on skills needed to become a proactive guardian of these vital ecosystems.
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!
