Reef Renewal specialty course

Wanna Take Care of the Reef? Join Our Reef Renewal Specialty

Reef Renewal Specialty course gives you the chance to actively contribute to coral reef restoration and learn hands-on techniques used to protect some of the ocean’s most vulnerable ecosystems.

Scientists and conservationists are developing exciting methods to help restore endangered coral species that are rapidly disappearing from our reefs. Through PADI, you can use your passion for the ocean to support these efforts and contribute to the recovery of healthy, thriving coral reefs.

Imagine carefully placing a new coral colony on the reef, surrounded by the vibrant life of the ocean. By supporting the efforts of the Reef Renewal Foundation, you can take part in protecting reefs for future generations.

You will learn how to use restoration tools and materials, how to handle and attach coral fragments properly, and how to interact responsibly with marine life in nurseries and reef sites.

What You Will Learn

During the Coral Restoration Specialty course, you will learn all the techniques involved in the coral restoration process. We are currently developing Staghorn and Elkhorn coral nurseries and reef restoration sites to re-establish these species in the shallow waters around Bonaire and Klein Bonaire.

The course includes three training dives and classroom sessions, giving you the knowledge and practical experience to contribute to ongoing restoration projects.

Course format

• Dive 1: Adventure dive focused on nursery or restoration site maintenance. You will conduct a survey, clean structures, and remove algae and predators that could harm coral growth.
• Dive 2: Learn how to prune, tie coral fragments that will be hung on coral nursery trees.
• Dive 3: Transplant mature corals from the nursery onto the reef to promote growth in their natural environment.

Medical Information

For safety reasons, please make sure you take a look at this Medical Statement to ensure that you are fit to dive. If you answer “yes” to any of the questions, you will have to bring a signed medical statement from a doctor prior to in-water training.

Take action for the reef and become part of the growing effort to restore Bonaire’s coral ecosystems.

NOTE: Please make sure when you want to join this course, you have done your orientation dive on our house reef first. It can be done with one of our instructors or you can do this dive with your buddy.

To join this specialty, you need to be at least an Open Water Diver.