This expedition is for experienced scuba divers or certified Reef Check EcoDivers divers who want to assist with coral gardening projects around the world. You will upgrade your Meaningful Diving training to Reef Repair Diver. After completing the program, you will understand when active reef restoration is required; describe how we are trying to bring coral reefs back to life; be able to stock, maintain and monitor corals in underwater nurseries; be able to outplant nursery-grown corals with cement at restoration sites.
In this expedition, you will be trained by the team who implemented Colombia’s largest coral reef rehabilitation project, the Reef for All project, at the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve. In its first year of the Reef for All project, eight underwater rope nurseries were built with the capacity to grow at least 16,000 fragments of different coral reef species. The initial stock was 13468 fragments of four species of hard corals. In 2018 we started outplanting nursery-grown corals and by January 2020, we have outplanted 6522 nursery-grown corals, which has resulted in average increased of 41% in live coral cover at intervened sites and an ecological footprint (area in rehabilitation) of ca 4.5 hectares.
In the San Andrés Reef Repair you will be certified as Reef Repair Diver
If this is your first time attending a Reef Repair expedition and you have more than 25 logged dives, you will receive training to become a Reef Repair Diver . You will live a true coral gardening experience lead by experience reef restoration practitioners and scientists, where you will how to apply best practices for active conservation of coral reefs that can achieve measurable results in improving the condition of this ecosystem. This course allows you to receive Corales de Paz´s pioneering Reef Repair Diver certification. This is also a step into our Responsible Diving System and its Meaningful Diving Universe, a minimum set of concepts and skills which we believe you need to start helping build resilient coral reefs.
You must complete and pass the knowledge component before joining this field program. Sign up for the Discover Reef Repair or Reef Repair Diver e-learning programs today!
¿Are you already a Reef Repair Diver?
Congratulations! You can start assisting us in the rehabilitation of San Andres´s coral reefs. As a certified Reef Repair Diver you will carry out at least three (3) coral gardening tasks including a) stocking up a coral nursery, b) cleaning and maintaining coral nurseries, and c) outplanting coral with cement. Finally, the activities carried out will support to restoration efforts undertaken in San Andrés by Corales de Paz and partners in the Archipelago. Looking to get certified as a Reef Repair Diver Trainer? The Reef Repair dives completed on this expedition will help you qualify for your Reef Repair trainer course as well as continue your meaningful diving development as a responsible diver!
As a Reef Repair expedition team member in this expedition you can expect to:
See, experience or learn how we are using the coral gardening approach to rehabilitate coral reefs in San Andrés and abroad.
Outplant coral under the leadership and guidance of experienced coral reef restoration practitioners, and assist with national and international efforts to restore coral reefs.
Participate in other socio-ecological activities to experience how the local community lives and is protecting its island, including a nature walk around the Laguna Big Pond and the Old Point Mangle Regional Park.
Meet more people like you who are committed to improving their diving experience and making of their passion an opportunity to leave a legacy.
| ¿WHERE DO WE MEET? |
San Andres Island. |
| ¿WHAT´S INCLUDED? |
Field training and supervision by team scientist according to level
Six SCUBA dives (Five coral gardening dives, one fun dive)*
Lunch and refreshments
¿Dive equipment for members
Dive insurance |
| ¿WHAT´S NOT INCLUDED? |
Entrance fees
Airfare to/from San Andrés Island
Accommodation and meals
Dive equipment for non-members |
| NEXT DATES |
18 – 22 Oct 2021 | 17 – 21 Oct 2022 | 16 – 20 Oct 2023 |
| ¿WHAT´S THE DURATION? |
4 Nights/5 Days |
| ¿ONLY FOR SCUBA DIVERS? |
No. If you are not yet a certified divers contact us to discuss your options. |
| ¿WHAT REEF REPAIR LEVELS CAN JOIN? |
Certified Reef Repair Divers | Discover Reef Repair Divers | Reef Repair Diver candidates (who have completed and approved the Reef Repair Diver online training and will conduct their in-water training and receive their certification). |
*Number of SCUBA dives will depend on your day and time of flying.
San Andrés Reef Repair
