Coral Restoration

Coral Restoration has been taking off over the past few decades. The need to restore our reefs is become ever more relevant as bleaching events become more frequent. However, many community led restoration projects around the world do so without any sort of scientific basis. Students will learn the different restoration techniques used locally and globally, and will be given the opportunity to directly assist the Restore with Resilience Project being conducted in Maunalua Bay. This course is a partial fulfillment of the Ecological Monitoring Program and the Advanced Ecological Monitoring Plan.

Prerequisites:

• Be certified under a globally recognized diving agency (PADI, SSI, NAUI etc.)

• Be at an advanced level of diving and demonstrate self-awareness underwater

• Achieved the Ecological Monitoring Plan certification

Standards:

• Attend the Coral Reef Restoration Theory and Techniques lecture

• Understand the life history and reproduction of corals

• Learn about the forces driving coral replenishment including but not limited to : broadcast spawning, brooding, larval settlement, coral recruitment, and post-settlement survival

• Learn the proper techniques to adequately attach coral fragments to structures, maintain the structures, and survey coral growth rates and health

• Attend at least 3 dive briefings

Requirements:

• Perform 3 dives dealing with the nursery table. 

  • dive 1 - attaching corals of opportunity to the nursery

  • dive 2 - maintaining and cleaning nursery

  • dive 3 - collecting data regarding species diversity, growth rates, and overall health

• Pass the final exam

Price:

$150/day

Approximate time for course completion: ~2-3 days and 3 dives