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Pills about the latest Maldivian coral reef restoration workshop

23 Dic
0 277 Post by 
By Elisa Bertesago, Biologist and Biotechnology Student, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy.

We live on a blue planet where oceans are the main source of life since every living being comes and relies on water. Even if they cover less than 1% of oceans’ floor, coral reefs are one of the most amazing marine ecosystems: 25% of marine inhabitants depend on it in some moments of their life, human beings have to be thankful too to this ecosystem that dispenses oxygen, works continuously as the main bio-constructor, offers a natural protection for coasts, offers food and economic income thanks to tourism, and finally its beauty is a gift for human eyes.

If I close my eyes and I try to imagine the most breathtaking place I saw, the sound of bubbles and waves comes in my mind and a colorful carpet of corals, populated by a flood of fishes and other marine lives, overcrowds my thoughts. It’s like a natural museum, a moving masterpiece that we have the luck to admire whenever we want. Or sadly, one day, we should say ‘we had’. In fact, this amazing ecosystem is seriously in danger and human responsibility is unequivocal. In this geological era that we could call Anthropocene, human impact on the planet is amazing and frightening at the same time. The human development that permitted the achievement of a high-quality lifestyle, on the other side puts in serious danger the entire planet: climate change and pollution are globally threatening human health and many species’ survival, thus coral reefs and their inhabitants are in danger too.

In this context, coral reefs’ ecosystem results particularly sensitive to environmental changes induced by humans: rising temperatures and sea level, ocean acidification, plastic pollution, over-fishing, thoughtless tourism are a concrete threaten for this ecosystem whose remarkable resilience is put to the test. Nowadays, 75% of coral reefs are threatened by these stressors and by 2050 all world reefs will face the same fate if we do not act to contain the human impact. Time is running and we must act now: firstly, conserving what is still alive and healthy, reducing in any way local stressors, secondly actively rebuilding irreversibly damaged coral reefs through coral restoration plans.

When coral restoration is the only option, here the necessity of a team made of competent, passionate and hopeful people comes in to place, people who can plan, coordinate, monitor and implement a coral restoration project. Luckily I found such a team during the Maldivian Coral Reef Restoration Workshop, held in the Marine Research and High Education (MaRHE) center on Magoodhoo island, Maldives, in collaboration with Corales De Paz. During this workshop a selected group of trainees, with different areas of expertise but united by the same sensitivity for the protection of the coral reef, was introduced in today’s coral restoration world and could put directly into practice the most diverse techniques in use, acquiring those tools and skills that practitioners should have in their toolbox.

It was a pleasure and an honor to be part of this experience. I was probably one of the most inexperienced in the team, a biologist and at the moment a biotechnology student, with an Open Water Diver license and an immeasurable love for the sea. During dives, my naïve eyes are always enchanted by the coral reef ecosystem and I feel completely happy when I can appreciate its uniqueness. And I want to preserve it. This workshop gave me the hope that this underwater sanctuary violated by humans now can be saved by humans too. During the intense days of this experience, we were exposed to large-scale coral gardening, microfragmentation, interventions in unconsolidated substrates, 3D modeling for restoration monitoring and community involvement. During classroom sessions, land sessions and dive sessions we learned both in theory and in practice how to approach a project of coral restoration.

I believe that this kind of experiences, that spread a deep consciousness of coral reefs’ importance, provide tools to restore them, create a dense network between trainees and thus they are essential to give hope to this underwater heaven because a healthier coral reef makes a healthier ocean and it makes a healthier planet. Our blue planet.

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Categories: Capacitación, educación, Restauración

Nuestra experiencia en el Reef Check Cartagena – Corales de Varadero: una primera vez, en cuatro años de defensa

30 Sep
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Así cuando esperas con ansias que el 50% de tu ADN sea una realidad visible y tangible a la luz del mundo, hace nueve meses fue gestada la idea de un primer Reef Check en la ciudad de Cartagena de Indias. 

“¿Y dónde tienes pensado realizarlo?”, le pregunté al maestro Phanor Montoya-Maya. Salieron a flote varios lugares, reconocidos en demasía por ciudadanos locales y nacionales, como si no hubiese algún as bajo la manga; de un momento a otro, me atreví a proponerle que el monitoreo se hiciera en el espectacular ecosistema de los Corales de Varadero. 

No por nada, la aceptación fue unánime: Varadero ha estado en el ojo del radar científico colombiano y mundial por su reciente redescubrimiento en 2013, adaptación a condiciones inesperadas de calidad de agua y cobertura de coral vivo mayor al 35%. Por encima del promedio nacional, índices bajos de enfermedades, y otros impactos negativos.

La mayoría de coterráneos, al escuchar semejante “disparate científico”, quedan con una agradable mezcla de ojos expresivos y sonrisas reales. Es que la Bahía de Cartagena, en el imaginario colectivo, tiene de todo menos vida: por fortuna, la misma naturaleza se encarga de reservarnos bellas sorpresas. “¡Eso me pasa por no saber de todo!, ¡qué belleza de coral!”, fueron las últimas palabras sentidas por parte de alguien recién conocido.

Camino a ver Varadero por primera vez!

Durante el fin de semana del 22 al 25 de agosto pasado, tuve grata oportunidad de vivir una primera vez en cuatro años de labor voluntaria en defensa y gobernanza ambiental de los Corales de Varadero. Es que es, y sigue siendo extraño, que un no-biólogo, con temor al agua, haya estado defendiendo algo que jamás había visto de frente durante sus 39 años de edad cronológica. Como quien dice: cree y confía en lo que quieres, sin necesidad alguna de verle o sentirle. Eso mismo ocurrió en Varadero: el equipo de Ecodivers de Corales de Paz liderados por Phanor y la bióloga Ángela Alegría-Ortega, en medio de su experticia y cientificidad, hizo un invaluable espacio para yo (siquiera) pudiera re-aprender a patalear en el agua.

Cardúmenes de peces cirujano, enormes colonias coralinas de Orbicella sp. (las grises) y los triangulares “arbolitos de navidad” (las naranjas), fueron el mágico regalo que el mar me ofreció durante unas contadas horas. Regalos que vale la pena compartir con quienes me han acompañado en esta defensa por Varadero, y que también aceptaron una invitación especial a conocerlo. Lo mejor de esto, es que este aprendizaje fortalecerá nuestro discurso ad portas del proceso de declaratoria de este ecosistema, en curso, como Área Protegida.

Agradezco a Phanor y Ángela por ser esenciales en la conservación de ecosistemas estratégicos, por mostrar a Varadero de una manera atractiva e interesante. Así mismo a Génesis Ponneffz Ramírez, mi compañera de equipo, por su apoyo en nuevos caminos de pensamiento y acción real.  

Gracias a todos los Reef Check EcoDivers por compartir esta aventura.

Si antes amaba mi labor, ahora la valoro mucho más. La vida sigue.

Por: Bladimir Basabe, Psicólogo Especialista – Director de Salvemos Varadero
Fotos: Reef Check Cartagena y Génesis Poneffz Ramírez.
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Categories: Events, Monitoreo Coralino, Reef Check, Sin categoría

Mi experiencia como Reef Check Ecodiver en la expedición Isla Fuerte

08 Jul
0 288 Post by 
Por Andrés F. Hernández-Morales, Ecólogo de Zonas Costeras. Fotos Angela Alegria-Ortega.

A esta expedición llegué con muchas expectativas, de fortalecer mis conocimientos y complementarlos con el poco tiempo de experiencia que llevo participando en monitoreo coralino, exactamente en Capurganá y Sapzurro (Chocó) y en los Bajos de Caribana en Necoclí (Antioquia), ahora Isla Fuerte se suma en mi listado y en uno de mis sitios favoritos gracias a la experiencia vivida con Corales de Paz en el segundo Reef Check que se hace en la isla. 

Andrés Hernández- Morales , es ecólogo de zonas costeras y este fue su primer Reef Check.

Isla Fuerte, a pesar que se encuentra a unos 11 km frente a la zona costera del departamento de Córdoba, este a nivel de jurisdicción pertenece al departamento de Bolívar. La isla es un levantamiento calcáreo de origen coralino que antiguamente pudo ser un hermoso arrecife de coral y éste hace parte de una serie discontinua de islas y bajos que vienen desde Cartagena, pasando por Isla Fuerte y finalizando en Isla Tortuguilla.

Las condiciones del agua en Isla Fuerte durante la expedición Reef Check fueron bastante difíciles pero aún así el equipo de buzos EcoDivers cumplió su compromiso de evaluar la salud de los arrecifes de la isla.

Pese a las condiciones oceanográficas del área, el fuerte oleaje y las corrientes de fondo en diferentes direcciones, procesos físicos característicos de las áreas arrecifales, se pudo realizar la expedición Isla Fuerte Reef Check a cargo de Corales de Paz. En esta oportunidad por ser mi primera vez pude formarme como Reef Check Ecodiver, en el cual pude probar habilidades y destrezas que se deben ejecutar en este tipo de actividades, el trabajo en equipo y aprender de las metodologías de monitoreo que implementa Reef Check como una herramienta que facilita a interpretar el estado de los arrecifes de coral y los procesos ecológicos que allí se presenta con otros organismos marinos.

Sin duda alguna, la diversidad que allí alberga es asombrosa; los puntos visitados fueron Bajo Alicia, El Bobito, Bajo Venados y el fantástico Bajo Bushnell. Es increíble la presencia de Acropora cervicornis (cuerno de venado) en estas condiciones ambientales que los ponen vulnerables y a la categoría de conservación que se encuentran actualmente (En peligro crítico-CR) según la Unión Internacional para la Conservación de la Naturaleza (IUCN) y el Libro Rojo de Invertebrados Marinos de Colombia. Infinidad de peces multicolores se cruzaban en el transecto mientras hacíamos los recorridos de observación, desde los peces loros (Scaridae), algunos roncos como Anisotremus virginicus (Haemulidae), mariposas (Chaetodontidae) y algunos pargos como Lutjanus synagris y Lutjanus jocu, un par de chernas Cephalopholis cruentata (Serranidae) y escondidos en sus cuevas las más llamativas morenas Gymnothorax funebris (Muraenidae). Aunque nos son objetivo de Reef Check, también se divisaron algunos peces ángeles como Pomacanthus paru y Holacanthus ciliaris (Pomacanthidae) infinidad de lábridos en diferentes estadios de desarrollo desde Halichoeres sp., Thalassoma bifasciatum y unos cuantos Bodianus rufus (Labridae) y cardúmenes de cojinuda Carangoides ruber (Carangidae). Además, se pudieron observar algunos invertebrados como los equinodermos erizos punta de lápiz Eucidaris tribuloides (Cidaridae), y espinas negras Diadema antillarum (Diadematidae) y diversidad de ophiuridos; algunas langostas Panulirus sp. y crustáceos como el cangrejo moro Carpilius corallinus y el cangrejo rey Damithrax spinosissimus, estos vistos en su mayoría en el buceo nocturno que se hizo en Bajo Venados. Definitivamente es un listado largo de lo que se pudo observar en Isla Fuerte.

Colonias del coral Acropora cervicornis (Cuerno de venado) fueron observadas en los transectos y con indicios de buena salud.

Mi examen final en el cual me formaría como Reef Check Ecodiver se realizó en Bajo Bushnell, este sitio se encuentra a 18 kilómetros de Isla Fuerte, se caracteriza por ser una meseta coralina que se eleva en la plataforma continental. Se considera uno de los mejores sitios para buceo recreativo y científico debido por ser tan distante de la línea de costa y por el estado de conservación en que se encuentra, todo es más grande en tamaño, en comparación a los arrecifes más cercanos a la costa, como los grandes barriles de esponjas y los abanicos de mar que pudimos observar en el recorrido por Bushnell. Este ha sido el mejor sitio de buceo que he visitado, tiene un potencial para la actividad del ecoturismo por ser un referente de protección y conservación.

Desde mi punto de vista como profesional en las ciencias del mar, este tipo de mecanismos para recolectar información hace que la ciencia sea enriquecida gracias a estos tipos de metodologías muy prácticas que lo puede desempeñar cualquier persona sin importar la profesión, hacer ciencia ciudadana. Esto se ve reflejado en información que puede ser implementada para la toma de decisiones que nos puede alertar del estado en que se encuentra nuestros arrecifes de coral.

Durante los Reef Checks de Corales de Paz, no solo conoces buzos y nuevos destinos, tambien creas vínculos con personas que comparten tu mismo amor por la ciencia participativa y los arrecifes de coral.

Para finalizar dejo un pequeño escrito de las emociones que puede tener una persona cuando considera el buceo como una pasión:

“Demasiadas sensaciones te pueden llegar al cuerpo, a la mente y al corazón cuando eres buzo, durante estos días en la expedición Isla Fuerte Reef Check me dediqué aterrizar todas y cada una de estas emociones, durante este tiempo me di cuenta que un buzo es en esencia un ser especial, es una persona aventurera, amistosa, cariñosa, intrépida, responsable, con un buen sentido del humor, pero sobre todo de un gran espíritu, para mí ser buzo y formarme como Reef Check Ecodiver ha sido encontrar lo más cercano a volar, el gran y fondo azul es mi cielo, mi cuerpo sumergido son las alas y la profundidad la más anhelada libertad, en cada inmersión te das cuenta que eres libre, que tus pensamiento solo es y esta para disfrutar de lo perfecto de este mundo, de la vida marina; hacer este tipo de actividades te lleva a visitar lugares paradisíacos, a vivir experiencias inolvidables, pero sobre todo el poder realizar algo bueno por nuestros ecosistemas que hace que enaltece, agranda y alimenta tu espíritu, es sentir esos momentos de felicidad y plenitud tan buscada en nuestra cotidianidad, y que al final te das cuenta que quienes bucean contigo se convertirán en eternos compañeros de aventura, lo que se vive en la infinita profundidad del mar azul solo lo comprenderán quienes viven esta pasión, nos convertimos en seres especiales que comparten anécdotas, risas, imprudencias,  aventuras, aquellas experiencias que estarán siempre en nuestra mente, imaginando y anhelando en el eco del profundo e infinito mar, cuándo será la próxima aventura o mejor dicho, la próxima expedición. Me di cuenta que hacer posible un sueño es lo que hace que la vida sea interesante y que la felicidad no es un lugar donde llegar, sino una forma de viajar; era muy razonable lo que decía Jacques Cousteau "El mar, una vez que te hechiza, te engancha en su maravillosa red para toda la eternidad".

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Categories: Capacitación, Conservación, Events, Monitoreo Coralino, Reef Check, Sin categoría

First international training workshop in large-scale coral gardening kicked off in Praslin Island as WIO countries strives to boost effective reef restoration projects in the region

25 Jun
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In a joint international NGO collaboration, Corales de Paz and Nature Seychelles hosted a training workshop on coral reef restoration at the Center for Ocean Restoration and Awareness Learning in Praslin Island, Republic of Seychelles, from 1st to 10th June 2019; equipping conservation leaders from the Western Indian Ocean region with the knowledge and tools required to successfully apply the various aspects of large-scale coral reef restoration, which encompasses sound project development and evaluation, building large-scale nurseries, and mass coral outplanting.

Over the course of the ten-day workshop, the six participants representing five countries from the WIO - of which 2 were women and 4 were men – drew on the extensive experience of restoration experts: Dr. Phanor Montoya-Maya, former Reef Rescuer´s Technical and Scientific Officer and Director of Corales de Paz, and Mr. Paul Anstey and Mrs. Chloe Shute, Technical Coordinators of Nature Seychelles´s Reef Rescuers project.

Reef restoration trainees checking the rope nurseries

The experts preferred a hands-on and interactive approach to learning; approach made possible by having the trainees previously enrolled in the Coral Reef Restoration Mentored Online Course imparted by the Reef Resilience Network. The experts utilized a number of case studies and simulation exercises to achieve the desired learning objectives. Some of the topics covered were the selection of nursery sites, building of large-scale rope nurseries, selection of restoration sites and outplanting corals with cement and the design of an effective reef restoration project, but the experts also dealt with a number of latest developments in the world of reef restoration, such as micro-fragmentation and eco-engineering approaches to accelerate natural reef recovery.

The training had the immediate and obviously practical benefit of connecting conservation leaders in the WIO region and sparking potential collaborations for effective reef restoration efforts; at the same time, it offered an opportunity for trainees to consider the creation of a regional network of reef restoration practitioners.

Trainees at the workshop were also given the opportunity to prepare a concept note for a reef restoration project of their interest that can be implemented at their home countries, and where they are able to apply the training and reef restoration tools to educate members of their communities, coral reef tourists and stakeholders.

Trainees learnt how to cement corals to hard substrate.

This training will be followed later in 2019 and 2020 by three supervision meetings to check on project and knowledge application progress, and Corales de Paz and the Noble Caledonia Charitable Trust look forward to collaborating with Nature Seychelles, the Reef Resilience Network and local leaders in upcoming projects, including the development of the WIO Chapter of the Coral Restoration Consortium.

The group left Praslin with a stated commitment to support each other´s work, to follow-up with the program as it unfolds across the WIO region, and with concrete project ideas which have already begun to tackle concrete coral reef issues in their home countries.

Trainers and trainees had large group discussions addressing strategies to restore coral reefs in the WIO region.

Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, the Rodrigues and Tanzania attended the workshop. The Center for Ocean Restoration and Awareness Learning in Praslin island was chosen as a venue for this first workshop as it represents the heartland of large-scale reef restoration efforts and island conservation, and Nature Seychelles is an excellent source of best practices.

Nature Seychelles and Corales de Paz provided invaluable technical and scientific input in support of the workshop. The Noble Caledonia Charitable Trust provided generous funding support to workshop.

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Categories: Capacitación, Events, Proyecto mas grande, Restauración

Training with a mission

30 May
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Corales de Paz and collaborators are leading the way with a commitment to build a transboundary network of coral reef restoration projects.

Meaningful diving for coral reef conservation ONG Corales de Paz is in Praslin island, Republic of Seychelles, to run a 10-day hands-on training workshop in coral reef restoration for local leaders from the Western Indian Ocean.

Corales de Paz promotes and implements the participatory conservation of goods and services provided by coral reefs.

Founder and former Technical and Scientific Officer for Nature Seychelles´ Reef Rescuers Project Dr Phanor Montoya-Maya had a vision to create a transboundary network of science-based coral reef rehabilitation projects, allowing trained conservation leaders and keen divers to develop effective and long-term coral gardening projects in their home countries.

The concept grew in small steps starting with a professional development program run in 2015 at the Reef Rescuers headquarters in Praslin island. Six international trainees spent six weeks in this majestic island learning and experiencing from Nature Seychelles Reef Rescuers´ staff all about effective large-scale coral reef restoration.

It all started with the Reef Rescuers Training Program back in 2015. Most of the trainees in this edition are currently working in coral reef restoration around the world.

Since its 2016 inception, Corales de Paz has run two training workshops in the Maldives where 32 people have been trained in large-scale coral reef restoration, and established Colombia´s largest coral reef restoration project with the participation of 28 local fishermen and many dive volunteers. From the trainings, two participants have initiated or enhanced successful projects in several islands resorts in Fiji, Indonesia, Maldives and Seychelles and three have initiated professional careers in coral reef restoration. What´s more, three, including two women, have founded their own coral reef conservation organizations.

Trainees learn to build coral nurseries
Trainees practice and develop skills for coral transplantation

While the training programs are currently centered in Maldives thanks to its collaboration with the University of Milano-Bicocca and its Marine Research and Higher Education Center, Corales de Paz has also teamed up with Noble Caledonia Charitable Trust, a British based organization, and Nature Seychelles to run the very first Leaders in Coral Reef Restoration Training Workshop in Praslin island.

This June 1st in Praslin Island, Phanor, assisted by Reef Rescuers Technical coordinators Paul Anstey and Chloe Shute, will start training six community leaders and reef practitioners from the Western Indian Ocean region (Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Rodrigues Island, and Tanzania). They are working or plan to work on coral reef restoration in their home countries but don't have the resources to pay for such training and are committed to coral reef conservation. At the end of the training program participants will be able to plan a coral reef restoration project and carry out key activities of the coral gardening method. They will receive seed funding, advice and support to set up and maintain a project in their local community.

“We expect to continue running the Maldivian workshop at the end of 2019. We are also planning to run a similar training workshop in the Caribbean in July 2019. The latter would be Corales de Paz fourth training workshop and the first one in the Caribbean.” Phanor says. “The objective is to build capacity for people committed to active coral reef conservation and to improve coral reef conservation efforts at a local and global scale. Only then we have a chance to overcome the coral reef crisis”.

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Categories: Capacitación, Conservación, educación, Events, Proyecto mas grande, Restauración

When it comes to corals, every travel counts

26 May
0 371 Post by

As coral reef degradation becomes everyday news, Phanor Montoya of Corales de Paz travels to remote islands of the south Pacific to check on their coral reefs.

While it may not be a scientific survey to assess the health of coral reefs, an on-the-side job as the marine biologist/snorkel master onboard a small ship expedition cruise from Easter Island to Papua New Guinea provided an important reef survey opportunity for Phanor Montoya-Maya of Corales de Paz. As the Director and Founder of Colombia´s pioneer of diving for coral reef conservation and large-scale coral reef restoration, he turns his travels into self-imposed assignments to address a question that is virtually common to every conservationist and diver – have we lost hope for the future of coral reefs around the world?

One of the first stop on Phanor´s expedition was Ducie Atoll, one of the four islands of the Pitcairn Group. Live coral cover at the site visited was <50% and mild bleaching was observed (<25%). April 9 2019. Depth 5 - 10 m.

Motu Vahaga in French Polynesia was next. Group. Live coral cover at the site visited was >75% and few to none bleaching was observed (<10%). April 14 2019. Depth 5 - 10 m.

“There has been an unprecedented record of recent news on coral mortality, particularly in the last three years where breaking record sea water temperatures have caused frequent and massive coral bleaching events in the Great Barrier Reef, Fiji and other Pacific islands,” he says. “There is a scientific consensus that we have effectively lost 20% of the worldwide coral reef area known to date, that 75% is heavily threatened by climate change and human impacts, and that the 5% that is still healthy is located mostly in the Pacific. This makes an expedition to the islands of the south Pacific a prime opportunity to check how good the reefs are and why they are still healthy and it is a key location of interest for us at Corales de Paz.”

  • Taveuni Island, Fiji. May 2019
  • Taveuni Island, Fiji. May 2019
  • Fulaga Bay, Fiji. May 2019

  • Next surveyed group of island was Fiji. There Taveuni and Fulaga were visited.
    Live coral cover at the sites visited was >75% and few to none bleaching was observed (<10%). May 2-5 2019. Depth 0 - 5 m.

In Colombia, Phanor´s organization offers a range of coral reef monitoring and restoration projects and training programs to help coral reef users and managers actively engaged in proactive coral reef conservation strategies that can safeguard the ecosystem´s goods and services – a move that he believes is becoming increasingly important to our very own survival.

  • Moso Island, Vanuatu. May 10 2019
  • Moso Island, Vanuatu. May 10 2019
  • Motu Lava, Vanuatu. May 14 2019


  • Vanuatu was next. There the expedition visited Moso and Motu Lava islands. Coral colonies were large and they have evidently survived previous bleaching events and other impacts. Live coral cover at the sites visited was 50%-75% and no bleaching was observed. May 10 - 14 2019. Depth 0 - 10 m. Motu Lava, Vanuatu. May 14 2019

“There is no doubt that coral reef degradation is a present reality in many parts of the world,” he says. “I have seen some very healthy shallow coral reefs in the last five weeks, with almost 100% live coral cover that has clearly resisted or recovered from bleaching, which lead me to believe that climate change and coral bleaching are not the biggest of our worries. If we manage to protect those remaining healthy reefs, use them as sources of coral bleaching-resistant repositories, reduce the threats we have control over (e.g. CO2 emissions, pollution and overfishing), and increase coral reef restoration efforts, I think we can continue enjoying coral reefs for many more years. We have the recipe; we just need the political will to do it.”

  • Vanikoro Island, Solomon Islands. May 15 2019
  • Vanikoro Island, Solomon Islands. May 15 2019
  • Vanikoro Island, Solomon Islands. May 15 2019
  • Dobu Island, Papua New Guinea. May 20 2019
  • Dobu Island, Papua New Guinea. May 20 2019
  • Dobu Island, Papua New Guinea. May 20 2019

The expedition finished with a visit to the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. There Vanikoro Island (Solomon Islands) and Dobu Island (Papua New Guinea) were visited. Coral reefs in the sites visited were thriving. Live coral cover was almost 100% at most sites, colonies were large and healthy, suggesting they have not seen or have resisted bleaching or any other disturbances in many years. No bleaching was observed. However, fishing pressure was evident as large predators were missing. May 15 - 20 2019. Depth 0 - 5 m.

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Categories: Conservación, Destinations, Monitoreo Coralino, Wilderness

Corales de paz international volunteers

08 May
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From March 18th to April 7th, Corales de paz team was receiving the support of three young danish volunteers who for three weeks were in San Andres and Providencia being trained in coral restoration and coral monitoring techniques. They were our first international Reef Repair divers and Reef Check Divers in this volunteer program that Corales de paz began this year. They could experiment the islands in a different way and get involved in the coral conservation work that is being carry out in San Andrés and Providencia.
This text was prepared by Vera, Victoria and Tobias. They share to all of us their daily experiences. We hope this is the first of many visits for our first volunteers and we invite you to participate in this volunteer program.
Corales de Paz team say thanks to Entremares Providenica diving center, Posada Nativa Barracudas'camp, Armada Nacional and Fly Hight company for the support.


First week of volunteering with Corales De Paz: Reef Repair

1st day

Today we learned the basic concepts of reef rehabilitation, such as reef ecology in general, the coral gardening method, different kinds of reef restoration methods, identifying coral diseases etc. Next, we did a practical exercise in order to learn how to attach the corals to the nurseries underwater.

2nd day

The first dive of the many dives to come in the following weeks. We did basic buoyancy exercises, since buoyancy is key when cleaning, transplanting and attaching corals. Then we saw the demonstration site for the coral nurseries, and tried attaching our very first corals onto the nurseries. A big stingray swam by during the dive, and we saw tiny salpids all around us.  On the second dive of the day, we searched the reef for fragments of opportunity, which is naturally broken corals that you can take to the nurseries. They can be a little hard to find when you’re not that experienced. During the afternoon we had a class learning how to identify the health stages of corals.

3th day

Today we cleaned the nurseries with toothbrushes, brushing away the algae to make sure the corals can grow and thrive. It was quite hard for us as beginner divers because you need good buoyancy control to make sure you avoid damaging the corals. After finishing the dive, we talked to a diver at the dive shop who told us that he’d just seen a hammerhead shark on the reef, where we dived. Depending on how you feel about sharks, it can be discussed whether it was lucky oy unlucky that we didn’t see it! At last, we did a lesson in transplanting corals with cement in a park.

4th day


On our first dive of the day, we went to the dive spot West View to practice monitoring the health stages of corals and identifying different kinds of coral, algae, sponge etc. Furthermore, we enjoyed the reef, dove into caves, saw an even bigger stingray and an underwater statue of Poseidon. Afterwards, we drove to do our second dive at Nirvana, where we transplanted our very first corals with cement. Such an amazing feeling, to transplant a little coral onto the big reef and hopefully be able to see it has grown when we come back.

5th day

The last day of reef repair. We got to see the big nurseries at West Point! It was quite incredible to finally see the huge coral nurseries with app. 5000 corals and understand the scale of Corales De Paz’ project. We transplanted little coral fragments onto the reef again. Practicing our skills with location placing it the right way, making sure it’s cleaned properly and, the hardest part I thought, cementing the coral onto the rock. After the dive, we enjoyed a big lunch of local food and celebrated that we now are reef repair divers!

Second week of volunteering with Corales De Paz: “My experience with Reef Check Program in Providencia”

1st day


We got up early in the morning on San Andres to catch the catamaran to Providencia. Although it was quite a bumpy ride, and Victoria was struck by sea sickness, the trip showed its worth from the first glimpse of the beautiful, green hilltops and white beaches booming with palm trees that makes up Providencia. In the harbour we were greeted by Corales de Paz-member Angela that was enthusiastic about getting started and wanted to go diving in the afternoon. However we were all a little nauseous after the boat trip, and Angela showed out to be very considerate and rescheduled the plans. We were taken to "posada Barracuda's Camp", where we got a private room that was pure luxury to us compared to our stays when we travelled around in the mainland of Colombia. Pablo and Doris, an elderly couple who own the place, were from the first moment very kind and helpful and now after a week we feel more like friends than customers. In the evening we did an interesting theory session, where Angela introduced Reef Check, told us about the history of the survey method, the global need and finally introduced us to the fish survey and taught us the key indicator species that we would need to know for tomorrow’s dives.

2nd day

The first dive we picked up where we had left off in the Reef Repair Program in San Andres and finished our practical exercises as Reef Repair divers. We took turns measuring the corals while the other two of us cleaned the nurseries. It was exciting to see the only four coral nurseries in Providencia but sadly due to lack of maintaining and damage caused by a boat the nurseries were not in as good shape as those of San André. This experience emphasized to me how important the maintaining and monitoring part is in the coral gardening process. I am excited to give a hand with restoring the nurseries in the following week when I will practice my skills as a reef repair and reef check diver.

On the second dive we practiced the fish survey, which is the first survey to be done in Reef Check as the presence of divers can scare of fish and as a consequence will influence the result. We wrote all the indicator species down on our underwater slades and Angela showed us the different species by pointing to the fish and then to the name. I found it quite hard to differenciate the species from one another, and I was a little nervous about if I would become a reliable diver to execute reef checks after my training. But it was amazing for the first time to experience diving with other eyes, because instead of just diving through the reef and looking at the landscape, you were now swimming slowly trying to capture all the details of the fishes from the shape of their tail fin to their pattern and colors.

In the night we had another theory session in the same style as the one concerning the fish survey, but this time regarding invertebrate species, key indicator invertebrates. In addition to this we learned about different impacts on corals and how to recognize anthropogenic impacts as well as coral diseases. Angela ended the night by giving us a promise: That tomorrow we would dive with sharks!

3th day

On this day we did a fun dive at a dive spot called “Felipe’s place”. I will admit that me and Victoria were a little anxious about the promise we had been given last night. At least when we put on our equipment, and did the backwards flip from the boat and into the water, we were very fast to put on our snorkel and look down to see if there was anything under us. This turned out to be the most thrilling dive I had done so far. We dived down to 20 m and went along a wall on our right side and the big blue view of open water on our left. Reef sharks came from everywhere and swam aside us for a while before turning back into the shadows of blue. They were so majestic, moving their tails from side to side as they made their way towards and away from us in the dramatic scenery. And as it wasn’t enough we had to dive through a long vertical gash in the reef to ascent to the surface.

In the second dive, we practiced the invertebrate test. Angela planted the transect line and we dived in an s-shaped pattern along the line looking in every crack we could find for urchins, shrimps, lobsters and all the other indicator species. I found this dive particularly challenging regarding bouyancy as you would sometimes need to be upside down, sideways and all kinds of weird positions to get a good look at the shy invertebrates. However it was a fun test where I got to practice my diving skills as well as Reef Check skills.

In the evening we had a theory session about substrate types, and Angela taught us the different corals, sponges and alges we would need to know before the exercise on the next day.

4th day

On the last day of the Reef Check Program we were, to our surprise, picked up by a boat owned by the Colombian navy and sailed by two officers to the spots where we would be diving. Angela explained that the coastal guards, equally interested in keeping the ocean and its ecosystems healthy, cooperates with Corales de Paz and we thought this was pretty cool. On the first dive we did the substrate survey and identified the substrate underneath a point on the transect every 0.5 m.

After this we had finished practicing all the individual surveys that combined makes up a Reef Check. We were ready to execute the entire survey and that was what we practiced during the second dive. We each agreed on who would do each survey and took turns to swim along the transect line and do our tasks. As I did the fish survey, I was the first to go and after just two meters along the line I encountered a huge school of grunts. I had to count an area of the school and then multiply this to get an estimate. As I went along the transect line I identified at least one of every indicator species. It was a huge personal success for me to realize how much I had learned and that with more practice I might actually become the excellent Reef Check diver I earlier the same week had feared I wouldn’t.

In the same afternoon we had our final tests, where we had to identify fish, substrate and invertebrate types as well as estimating the bleached percentage of corals and categorize the cause of their damage. We all passed the tests with some mistakes, but in general we finished the program with a feeling of being capable to do Reef Checks and having reached the objectives of the program.

When I look back at the program I can’t believe that I learned so much in only four days. Before the program the only specific fish species I knew was the parrot fish, I didn’t really know what animals were invertebrates and not, and I couldn’t even tell the difference between corals and sponges. So it goes without saying that this program has made me look at the reef and its habitants in a completely new way, and has expanded my experience every time I go diving, even when its just for fun. I’m excited to practice and refine my skills in the following week where I will work with the coral nurseries and execute more Reef Checks. Even more exciting will it be to see what opportunities this experience will bring me in the future. Professionally I have no dreams about working as a marine biologist or with the oceans in general. However, as the eco diver programs I am now certified to execute are used across the globe for conserving marine life, I am now able to combine my passion for traveling with eco diving and gain many more experiences equally rewarding to me and the oceans. Eco diving is for this reason still very relevant to me and everyone else who loves exploring, traveling with a meaningful purpose and go on tropical adventures.

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Providencia Reef Check 2019

03 Abr
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Corales de paz inicia este año visitando por primera vez dentro del programa Reef Check Colombia, a la isla de Providencia, en el Caribe insular colombiano. Esta singular isla, aún conserva celosamente su riqueza natural, custodiada por sus habitantes, raizales en su mayoría, ya que dependen en gran medida de actividades relacionadas con el turismo, buceo, actividades culturales autóctonas, entre otros. Especialmente Providencia es famosa entre los aficionados al buceo por presencia de tiburones en sus arrecifes y la tolerancia y respeto que los locales han prestado a estos animales, entendiendo que son mucho más valiosos y atractivos al estar vivos y protegidos. El equipo de Reef Check Colombia, conformado en esta ocasión por once buzos, dos líderes científicos de Corales de Paz y dos líderes de buceo, fueron los encargados de monitorear cuatro de los puntos de buceo más frecuentados en la isla. Mantas, Tetes, Bajo de San Felipe y Loro Town fueron los sitios elegidos para realizar esta primera entrega del Reef Check Providencia. En términos generales, los resultados del monitoreo muestran que la abundancia de peces loro (Scaridae), y peces cirujanos (Acanthuridae) fue comparable en los cuatro sitios de monitoreo, los cuales son peces herbívoros que controlan las macro algas, en el arrecife. La abundancia de roncos o margaritas (Hemulidae) también fue equiparable en todos los puntos monitoreados. Finalmente, se registró una mayor abundancia de meros (peces carnívoros de la familia Serranidae) de más de 30 cm de largo, en comparación a otros sitios monitoreados por el programa Reef Check Colombia como San Andrés y Santa Marta desde el 2017. Estas especies son de importancia comercial y muestran la riqueza en recursos aprovechables que aún se conserva para los habitantes de la isla. En cuanto a la presencia de algas indicadoras de nutrientes, se estima que su cobertura fue del 12%, inferior al promedio reportado para San Andrés en octubre del 2018, estimada en un 20%. La cobertura de coral vivo se estima en 18%, lo cual se encuentra por encima del promedio reportado para el Caribe (16.8%, Jackson et al 2014). Es grato reportar que el porcentaje de blanqueamiento observado en los arrecifes de Providencia es menor al 1% de la población. Otro hallazgo muy importante y tranquilizador es la ausencia de basura o impactos recientes en la cobertura coralina por acciones físicas. Esto se ha logrado gracias a la intención de las autoridades ambientales de boyar los puntos de buceo para anclaje de las embarcaciones y a los habitantes de la isla que han aportado por la conservación de los recursos naturales y la buena disposición de las basuras. Gracias a la participación de los más comprometidos Reef Check EcoDivers, esta expedición permitió al equipo de Corales de Paz y Reef Check Colombia realizar la primera evaluación de la salud y el estado de los arrecifes en la isla de Providencia con éste protocolo de monitoreo, con un grupo de científicos ciudadanos. Gracias al apoyo incondicional de la posada Nativa Barracudas Camp y al centro de buceo Entre Mares Providencia, fue posible llevar a buen término el evento de ciencia participativa que se realizará cada año para el primer trimestre, evaluando la condición de la comunidad coralina al finalizar la estación seca en el Caribe, en uno de los paraísos para el buceo y el turismo de naturaleza en Colombia y un referente de conservación y sostenibilidad para el mundo.
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Monitoring one of Colombia´s healthiest reefs

25 Mar
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If you have had the opportunity to scuba dive or snorkel on coral reefs, you know that life beneath the ocean surface is simply spectacular. There are different and amazing animals like corals, fishes, crustaceans, dolphins, sharks and so on, that you can admire for hours. What most people do not know is that coral reefs cover less than 1 percent of the ocean floor and about 25 percent of marine species rely on them . Also, coral reefs provide humans economic and environmental services worth $375 billion each year . These facts make coral reefs worth attention and protection.

Providencia Island is just a beautiful coral reef. Photo: @phmontoya

My passion and love for the ocean began in 2010 when I became an Open Water Diver. But exponentially increased in 2017 when I became an Ecodiver at the first Reef Check Expedition organized by Corales de Paz in Santa Marta-Colombia. I learned how to monitor coral reefs, which includes identifying coral diseases, impacts, substrate, fishes and invertebrates, that indicate if coral reefs are healthy or not. Practicing diving with purpose (buceo con propósito) made me understand how coral reef works, how human activities negatively impact coral reefs and its balance. Moreover, having in mind that in order to protect these important ecosystems we need accurate data I decided to participate in more reef check expeditions.

My fourth and latest expedition was in Providence Island, where only trained Eco divers could participate. Most of them also participated on the first Reef Repair training program - a reef restoration course developed by Corales de Paz - in San Andrés Island held by Corales de Paz before the Reef Check Providencia. We spent two weeks together, scuba diving every day and at the end it felt like a small united family, working together to make change happen.

Reef Check is an internationally recognized citizen science program that allows recreational divers to assist scientists in the collection of coral reef health. Photo: @phmontoya

In Providence island we monitored four diving sites, this time it was a different experience from other expeditions because we only focused our attention on monitoring and not training new eco divers, allowing the team to share the findings and knowledge previously acquired, extending our understanding of coral reefs, their health and the impacts in comparison to other Colombian coral reefs. Also, for the first time, I had the opportunity and privilege to witness sharks and turtles, an indicator that Providence’s coral reefs are still healthy.

Sharks on the reefs are a sign of good reef health. Photo: Angela Alegria
A Green turtle, another sign of a good environment. Photo: Maria C Pertuz

Therefore, knowing that the data we collected and that will be collected in future expeditions are important and necessary to protect Providence’s coral reefs, made me feel proud of the group, Corales de Paz and myself. If you are interested in participating in a Reef Check expedition, do not hesitate and sign up! you would not feel any regrets. Remember that you do not need to be a scientist or biologist, you just need your passion and love for the ocean and all the amazing living creatures depending on it.

María Cecilia Pertuz Molina. Political scientist and Magister in Public Policy. Advanced Open Water Diver, Reef Check Ecodiver (four expeditions). Photo: @phmontoya

By María Cecilia Pertuz Molina. Political scientist and Magister in Public Policy. Advanced Open Water Diver, Reef Check Ecodiver (four expeditions).

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Categories: Conservación, Destinations, Events, Monitoreo Coralino, Reef Check

My journey from Reef Check EcoDiver to Reef Repair Diver

23 Mar
01 156 Post by

Being one of the most visited destinations in Colombia, San Andres Island’s wealth and beauty comes from the waters surrounding it: the so-called sea of ​​the seven colors. A name inspired by the different tones and contrasts produced from the sunlight hitting over the bottom of sand, corals and algae. However, many do not realize that the reality underwater is far from being so idyllic and instead marine life is in serious danger. This situation is not exclusive to San Andrés and is directly and indirectly caused by human action. If we are responsible beings, we will understand that it is necessary to do something about it, whether to protect and prevent or to repair the damage.

Coral gardening seeks to rehabilitate live coral cover to restore the ecosystem services coral reefs provide to all of us.

For these reasons, when I saw the opportunity to participate in the pilot of the course of coral restoration, soon to be launched by Corales de Paz, I did not hesitate to sign up. The call was small and addressed divers already certified as EcoDivers, so the spots ran out fast. Although it was not in my plans, I managed to organize my time to be available for the two weeks that were required for both the Reef Repair course and the Reef Check Providence Expedition that took place afterwards.
The experience was demanding and tested many skills, but it was also very rewarding to see the results and scope of the project. For 5 days we studied and, above all, we practiced the techniques of sowing, gardening and coral transplantation and we also learned about reef ecology and the different impacts and threats to which they are exposed.

Coral trasplantion is the final step of the coral gardening method. Reef Repair Divers will learn how to fix corals permanently with cement. A technique developed in the Seychelles by the Reef Rescuers project.


For me it was very significant to be able to contribute in the maintenance of the nurseries and see the evolution and growth of the planted colonies. However, the most special moment was undoubtedly the transplant dive, since it is when the nuraery-grown coral colonies are located in their new home and are left to grow and reproduce in areas where the reef was previously depleted. When doing this is possible to feel the importance and reach of the project.
At the end of this experience, I am very satisfied with the knowledge I gained and the assurance that I have contributed my bit to the reefs and this valuable project. I feel immensely grateful for the people who promote it and made it possible. I hope to continue participating in future expeditions because I feel very fulfilled when I practice diving with purpose!!

Juliana Rodríguez, historiadora del arte, Reef Check EcoDiver, Reef Repair Diver, 2 Reef Check expeditions.

By Juliana Rodríguez

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Categories: Capacitación, Reef Repair, San Andrés
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