What is Coral Restoration?
A safe nursery, a vibrant breeding ground, a lush environment to find food, and a mega oxygen producer – this is the coral reef. An integral part of our natural ecosystem, the health of coral reefs is vital to the longevity and balance of our planet and all of its living beings.
You’d think that by playing such an important role in sustaining the environment, coral reefs would be protected worldwide and safeguarded for future generations. This is the aim, however, unfortunately is not the planet’s default setting.
Coral reefs today face a number of threats resulting from overfishing, pollution, destructive fishing methods, and the effects of anthropogenic climate change consisting of coral bleaching, ocean dead zones, ocean acidification, eutrophication, sea level rise, and temperature changes. These threaten the strength and health of coral reefs, and thus threaten the health of our oceans as a whole.
But it is not too late to make a difference! Worldwide, there are organizations and initiatives that work to protect coral reefs and ensure the safety of our oceans through conservation efforts, outreach programs, and lobbying for national and international regulations. Specifically in terms of coral restoration, there are a number of groups that work to study coral reefs, protect what is left, propagate coral gardens, and revive sites that have been damaged or completely destroyed.
As an eco diver or passionate environmentalist, you can make a difference in coral restoration today! By joining volunteer programs provided by these organizations that aim to restore and protect coral reefs, you can contribute to rescuing our reefs and help the preservation of our oceans!
Perhaps you’re considering a career change and want hands on experience before committing to enrolling on a course? Or you want to go travelling on your gap year and do something worthwhile?
You want to go on vacation with a difference?
Volunteer Programs
There are several organizations around the world that offer volunteer opportunities in coral reef restoration projects and ocean conservation. Below are some notable programs with information regarding their set-ups, starting from the most affordable. Let’s dive in!
Florida, USA
Organization: Coral Restoration Foundation (CRF)
Activities: Diving and non-diving activities such as coral nursery planting, maintenance, and monitoring, building coral “trees” (substrate frames), and conservation outreach.
Requirements: At least 18 years old (16 for land-based volunteering), Open Water Diver certified, insured with personal equipment, and preferably with 30+ ocean dives.
Duration: Flexible.
Fees: None (not a full-time position so accommodation is not provided).
Bonaire, Caribbean
Organization: Reef Renewal Foundation
Activities: Coral nursery maintenance, planting corals at restoration dive sites around Bonaire and Klein Bonaire. An unpaid internship is also on offer consisting of assisting all operations regarding coral restoration, community outreach and volunteer programs.
Requirements: At least 15 years old with personal equipment, Open Water Diver certified, and Reef Renewal Diver distinctive specialty certified.
Duration: Flexible.
Fees: None (not a full-time position so accommodation is not provided)
Gili Trawangan, Indonesia
Organization: Gili Eco Trust
Activities: Coral gardening, Biorock maintenance, coral nursery care, and underwater clean-ups.
Requirements: Advanced Open Water Diver certified.
Duration: Minimum stay of 8 weeks, up to 24.
Fees:1,566 USD for 8 weeks (27 USD per day and is not a full-time position so accommodation is not provided.
Moorea, French Polynesia
Organization: Coral Gardeners
Activities: Less of a volunteer program and more of an offered ‘experience’, Coral Gardeners takes you on a coral gardening experience involving the collection of corals, nursery maintenance, and outplanting.
Requirements: No requirements.
Duration: One day experience.
Fees:65 to 118 USD per person depending on the specific chosen activity.
Zamboanguita, Philippines
Organization: Marine Conservation Philippines.
Activities: Maintenance of coral nurseries, monitoring reef health, and learning how to be a scientific scuba diver. Besides specific coral reef activities, volunteers can also take part in planting mangrove trees, beach clean-ups, and outreach programs at local schools.
Requirements: Advanced Open Water Diver certified (Volunteer Packages – Marine Conservation Philippines courses available on-site if needed).
Duration: 6 weeks or 8 weeks.
Fees: 3,000 USD for 6 weeks and 4,000 USD for 8 weeks (approximately 71.4 USD per day) – All courses, gear, accommodation, and meals are included.
Bocas del Toro, Panama
Organization: Global Vision International (database of volunteer opportunities worldwide) Marine Conservation Expedition in Panama
Activities: Coral reef surveys, learning about coral and reef anatomy, habitat mapping, and coral transplanting.
Requirements: Advanced Open Water Diver certified, however courses are available on-site so divers of any experience level are welcome.
Duration: Minimum of 2 weeks, and can last up to 12, with 35 hours of fieldwork per week.
Fees: 1,523 USD for 2 weeks (approximately 109 USD per day) – All inclusive
Cap Ternay, Seychelles
Organization: Global Vision International (database of volunteer opportunities worldwide) Island Conservation Expedition with Snorkelling in Seychelles.
Activities: Monitoring coral health, surveying species biodiversity, mangrove and seagrass ecosystem studies, beach and underwater clean-ups, and assisting with entering collected data into citizen science databases.
Requirements: Open Water Diver certified for diving activities, and no requirements for snorkeling activities.
Duration: Minimum of 2 weeks, and can last up to 12, with 35 hours of fieldwork per week.
Fees: 1,947 USD for 2 weeks (approximately 139 USD per day) – All inclusive.
Magnetic Island, Queensland, Australia
Organization: Earthwatch Institute – Recovery of the Great Barrier Reef
Activities: Documentation of algal growth on coral reefs and removal, measuring and recording coral growth, and assessing locations for new coral nurseries.
Requirements: Only available to occupational divers and snorkelers.
Duration: 5 days.
Fees: 300 USD per day – All inclusive.
Bali, Indonesia
Organization: Earthwatch Institute – Restoring Coral Reefs in Bali
Activities: Conduct reef surveys, deploy remote underwater video (RUV) units, and analyze data and footage collected to study reef health and biodiversity.
Requirements: Open Water Scuba Diver certified.
Duration: Optional 7 or 13 days.
Fees: 393 USD per day – All inclusive
Various locations worldwide
Organization: ECOP (Early Career for Ocean Professionals)
Activities: The platform acts as a portal for those looking to increase their skills in ocean careers with different organizations globally. For ECOP themselves, opportunities are offered as well, such as internships within their organization, funding possibilities, and training workshops in various ocean career fields.
Requirements: To have 10 years or less experience in any ocean-related field, paid or unpaid.
Duration: Varies with organization.
Fees: Unpaid volunteer programs or paid positions.
Final Thoughts
These opportunities to volunteer in coral restoration provide hands-on experiences in ocean conservation and are ideal for anyone who is passionate about marine biology, environmental conservation, scuba diving or is simply enthralled by the beauty of the ocean.
Our coral reefs can use all the help they can get in receiving protection and building resilience against threats. If not now then when, and if not us then who? What are you waiting for, let’s get involved today in coral restoration and rescue our reefs!