Our most accessible destination to train you in coral reef monitoring

If you are already a Reef Check EcoDiver, the Santa Marta Reef Check is your opportunity to put into practice your knowledge and skills for monitoring coral health.
$99 – $495
Our very first and largest Reef Check expedition so far, and first coral reefs surveyed by our Reef Check EcoDivers. It is still an intense educational experience in citizen science to increase the number of qualified people to collect information on the condition of Colombia´s coral reefs. The diversity of habitats in the Santa Marta, Taganga, and the Tayrona National Park areas is a great opportunity to become a coral reef citizen scientist.
If you are already a Reef Check EcoDiver, the Santa Marta Reef Check is your opportunity to put into practice your knowledge and skills for monitoring coral health.
If this is your first time attending a Reef Check expedition and you have more than 25 logged dives, you will receive 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 your 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!
Congratulations! You can start assisting us in the monitoring of the health of Santa Marta´s and some coral reefs of the Tayrona Park where diving is allowed. 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!
See, experience or learn how we assess the health of a Caribbean coral reef while you enjoy an incredible ecosystem with large brain corals, vase sponges, and much more.
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 ecosystem.
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? | El Rodadero, Santa Marta. Venue TBA. |
¿WHAT´S INCLUDED? | Field training and supervision by team scientist according to level Seven SCUBA dives (six day dives, 1 night dive) Lunch and refreshments Dive equipment for members Dive insurance |
¿WHAT´S NOT INCLUDED? | Airfare to/from Santa Marta Accommodation and meals Dive equipment for non-members |
¿WHEN DOES IT TAKE PLACE? | 13 – 17 May 2021 |
¿WHAT´S THE DURATION? | 4 Nights/5 Days |
¿ONLY FOR SCUBA DIVERS? | No. You can join in snorkel too*. |
¿WHAT REEF CHECK LEVELS CAN JOIN? | Certified Reef Check EcoDivers | Discover Reef Check EcoDivers | Reef Check EcoDiver candidates (who have completed and approved the Reef Check EcoDiver online training and will conduct their in-water training and receive their certification). |
*Only for the Discover Reef Check Snorkel 1-day option.
To update available information on coral reef health of at least 3 sites of Santa Marta Bay and the Tayrona Park to be used as input for conservation management measures by interested parties including, but not limited to, the managing environmental authority CORPAMAG and the Parks Authority.
Many natural and anthropogenic factors are contributing to the deterioration of coral reefs worldwide. The latest estimates suggest that worldwide 27% of the world’s coral reefs have already been lost, and another 16% are at serious risk of loss. In Colombia, the live coral cover of the Santa Marta reefs and Tayrona National Natural Park (PNN) between 1988 and 2003 was reduced from 23% to 12%. Since then, it has recovered a little and today it is around 30%.
To thes natural wealth of the Santa Marta region, of which El Rodadero Beach is also part, we must add an impressive historical legacy, represented in the architecture and in the streets of the center of Santa Marta, which offer an ideal route to visit the Cathedral, the museums and the Malecon de Bastidas, where you can also enjoy a romantic sunset in Santa Marta.
Congratulations! You can assist us in the monitoring the coral reefs of around Santa Marta, Taganga and Tayrona National Park. 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 Colombia´s continental reefs . 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!
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
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
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
09:00 – 11:00 Final coral reef health report and conclusions.
11:00 – 12:00 Closing Reef Check
12:00 – Free time on the Santa Marta
* 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 Diver plan. For the other plans i.e. Reef Check Diver candidates and Discover Reef Check, the dives will be simultaneous but will additional objectives.
***Only those flying out the next day will SCUBA dive, those flying on the same day will snorkel.
We invite you read some notes about our previous Reef Checks in the Santa Marta area. 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.
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.
Dates | 13 – 17 May 2021, 12 – 16 May 2022, 27 Abr – 1 May 2023 |
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Duration | 4 Days |
Join as | Discover RC Full, Discover RC SCUBA 1-Day, Discover RC Snorkeler 1-Day, EcoDiver, EcoDiver Candidate |
Program Reviews
El haber participado una vez mas en el Reef Check Santa Marta con Corales de Paz, ha ratificado en mi el cambio de actitud positiva y perspectiva frente a la manera de ver y vivir mis buceos. También en mis hábitos de consumo he notado un cambio remarcable. gracias Corales de Paz
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