San Andrés Reef Check

$429

This is our largest participatory coral reef monitoring expedition, an intense educational experience in citizen science to support the actions taken by the locals to protect and restore coral reefs. The warm, calm and colorful waters of San Andrés are the right environment to become a citizen scientist. If you are already a Reef Check EcoDiver, the San Andrés Reef Check is your opportunity to put into practice your knowledge and skills for monitoring coral health.

In stock (can be backordered)

One of our best destination to train you in coral reef monitoring!

Experience, learn, and practice coral reef health monitoring while you dive. This is our largest participatory coral reef monitoring expedition, an intense educational experience in citizen science to support the actions taken by the locals to protect and restore coral reefs. The warm, calm, and colorful waters of San Andrés are the right environment to become a citizen scientist.

If you are already a Reef Check EcoDiver, the San Andrés Reef Check is your opportunity to put into practice your knowledge and skills for monitoring coral health.

In the San Andrés Reef Check you will be certified as Reef Check EcoDiver

If this is your first time attending a Reef Check expedition and you have more than 25 logged dives, you will receive field training to become a Reef Check EcoDiver . You will live a true citizen science experience lead by scientists, where you will learn to identify the great diversity of fish, corals and substrate found in the Caribbean. This course allows you to complete the field training to receive the internationally recognized Reef Check EcoDiver certification. This could also be your first 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 Check or Reef Check EcoDiver e-learning programs today!

Are you already a Reef Check EcoDiver?

Congratulations! You can start assisting us in the monitoring and rehabilitation of San Andres´s coral reefs. As a certified EcoDiver, you will carry out at least three (3) coral reef survey dives, thus increasing the number of reef sites evaluated during the event. Finally, the monitoring carried out will assist in updating the information on the health condition of the island’s reefs and in identifying priority sites for the implementation of restoration actions that are being carried out in the Archipelago. Looking to get certified as a Reef Check EcoDiver Trainer? The Reef Checks surveys completed on this expedition will help you qualify for your Reef Check trainer course as well as continue your meaningful diving development as a responsible diver!

As a Reef Check expedition team member in this expedition you can expect to:

See, experience or learn how we assess the health of a Caribbean coral reef while you enjoy an incredible ecosystem visited by incredible animals such as sharks, rays, turtles, among others.

Monitor coral reefs under the leadership and guidance of experienced coral reef scientists, and assist with updating national and international databases (e.g. INVEMAR, Reef Check) with information on the condition of surveyed 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.

Learn About the Reef Check EcoDiver Program

¿WHERE DO WE MEET?

San Andrés Island. Location TBA.

¿WHAT´S INCLUDED?

Field training and supervision by team scientist according to level

Seven SCUBA dives (Six day dives, one night 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

¿WHEN DOES IT TAKE PLACE?	14 – 18 Oct 2021 \| 13 – 17 Oct 2022 \| 12 – 16 Oct 2023
¿WHAT´S THE DURATION?	4 Nights/5 Days
¿ONLY FOR SCUBA DIVERS?	Yes.
¿WHAT REEF CHECK LEVELS CAN JOIN?	Certified Reef Check EcoDivers \| Discover Reef Check EcoDivers \| Divers who have completed and approved the Reef Check EcoDiver online training can join to conduct their in-water training and receive their certification.

I would like to receive more information before registering.

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OBJECTIVE

To update available information on coral reef health of at least 5 sites of San Andrés Island to be used as input for conservation management measures by interested parties including, but not limited to, the managing environmental authority CORALINA.

San Andrés is a Colombian island in the Caribbean Sea, off the coast of Nicaragua. It is known for coral reefs and reggae music. The fiery Spratt Bight beach has a palm-lined promenade. On the coast is Johnny Cay Park, a small island with coconut mangroves and white sandy beaches. Old Point Mangle Regional Park is a wildlife sanctuary with crabs, iguanas, and birds.

Since 2017, San Andrés and Providencia island are home to Colombia´s largest coral reef restoration project, the Reef for All project, a project of the Secretary of Agriculture and Fisheries from the Government of the Archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina, the provincial environmental authority CORALINA, Conservation International Colombia, and the Corales de Paz. Both islands are within the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve in the Colombian Caribbean.

ITINERARY

Day 1: Let the training begin

08:00 – 08:30 Registration and welcome

08:30 – 09:00 Introduction to Reef Check

09:00 – 10:00 Health and safety

10:00 – 12:00 Dive 1: Diving skills check-up / EcoDivers* re-training

12:30 – 13:30 Lunch break

13:30 – 15:00 Review of fish identification and methods

15:00 – 17:00 Dive 2: Fish identification and methods / Reef Check Survey 1 for EcoDivers*

17:00 – 18:00 Recap and briefing

Day 2 Let´s monitor those reefs

08:00 – 09:30 Review of corals, algae, sponges and other bottom substrate categories identification and methods

09:30 – 12:00 Dive 3: Substrate identification and methods / Reef Check Survey 2 for EcoDivers*

12:00 – 13:00 Lunch break

13:00 – 14:00 Review of coral reef invertebrates and impacts identification and methods

14:00 – 16:30 Dive 4: coral reef invertebrates and impacts identification and methods / Reef Check Survey 3 for EcoDivers*

16:30 – 16:50 Break

16:50 – 18:00 Recap and briefing

Day 3: Test your knowledge and have extra fun

08:00 – 09:00 Review of full Reef Check survey

09:00 – 11:30 Dive 5: Reef Check Monitoring / EcoDivers Fun Dive

11:30 – 12:30 Lunch

12:30 – 14:30 Dive 6: Fun Dive for all

14:30 – 16:00 Data capture and validation

20:00 – Team building activity

Day 4: Closure

09:00 – 11:00 Final coral reef health report and conclusions.

11:00 – 12:00 Closing Reef Check

12:00 – Free time on the island

Itinerary and times subject to change without prior notice due to weather and logistics.
**The objective of the dives is for the main Reef Check EcoDiver course . For the other plans i.e. Reef Check EcoDivers and Discover Reef Check, the dives will be arrange with their Team Scientist and Team Dive Leader.

FIELD NOTES

We invite you to read some notes about our previous Reef Checks in San Andrés island. These are notes, reports, and experiences from our previous participants, staff, and others. You can also find the results and infographics made with the information on coral reef health that participants help to collect. If you want more in-depth information please visit Reef Check´s online database.

Latest Notes from the Field

Infographics

These are infographics made with the information on coral reef health that participants help to collect. If you want more in-depth information please visit Reef Check´s online database.