Coral Conservation internship

A 2 weeks full program including different marine conservation activities and dives, as coral gardening, lionfish hunting, mooring buoy maintenance, fish ID, coral ID, coral disease monitoring, … 

Corals are part of some ecosystems that need to be protected as a global system. The coral conservation work is not only about coral nurseries, it also includes other actions done to directly help the reef or evaluate its health. This course is a 14 days program that includes several activities for coral conservation. It is organised in collaboration with FUNDEMAR and with the participation of Buceo Ecologico. 

DAY 1 – Introduction, Coral Ecology and Coral ID theory

Morning:
Presentations, General Dive Briefing
General ecology & priorities for the biosphere,Coral Ecology
Coral ID presentation and quiz

Afternoon:
Walking tour to the beach and village and coral fossil identification
Snorkeling from the beach: coral ID

DAY 2 – Check Dives and Coral ID

Morning:
Dive Briefing including buoyancy control and coral ID
Dive boat trip with 2 dives including buoyancy exercises and coral ID

Afternoon:
Coral Gardening presentation
Training for nursery maintenance

DAY 3 – Coral restoration dives: Buoyancy and nursery maintenance

Morning:
Dive Briefing including buoyancy control and coral nursery maintenance
Dive boat trip with 2 dives on the coral nurseries including buoyancy exercises and nursery cleaning

Afternoon:
Training session on land to transplant coral

DAY 4 – Coral restoration dives: Coral transplant maintenance

Morning:
Dive Briefing including buoyancy control and coral nursery maintenance
Dive boat trip with 2 dives on the coral nurseries including buoyancy exercises and nursery cleaning

Afternoon:
Training session on land to transplant coral

DAY 5 – Coral restoration dives: Coral transplant

Morning:
Transplantation Dive Briefing
Dive trip with 2 dives: During the first dive we will collect fragments, we will transport the fragments on the boat, and the second dive we will transplant the fragments on the reef with different methods (depending on our needs and on the participant level). We will evaluate and measure all transplanted fragment. Each diver can plant their own fragment.

Afternoon:
Documentary Chasing Coral and discussion

DAY 6 – Mooring buoys preparation

Morning:
Mooring buoys preparation on land

Afternoon:
Lionfish presentation
Lionfish training on land

DAY 7 – Mooring buoys maintenance dives

Morning:
Mooring buoys Dive and snorkeling Briefing
Boat trip for mooring buoys inspection, maintenance and reparation that includes snorkeling and diving

Afternoon:
Free time

DAY 8 – Free day

DAY 9 – Clean up and lionfish hunting dives

Morning:
Clean up dive and lionfish hunting dive Briefing
Dive boat trip with 2 dives: underwater clean up and lionfish hunting

Afternoon:
Coral diseases and SCTLD presentation
SCTLD affected coral monitoring and tagging briefing

DAY 10 – SCTLD coral survey and monitoring

Morning:
Dive Briefing
Dive boat trip with 2 dives: SCTLD affected and non-affected coral survey monitoring

Afternoon:
Analyze of garbage collected during clean up dive and reflection
Reflection: How to make the best decisions to reduce our ecological impact with individuals and collective actions?

DAY 11 – SCTLD coral survey and monitoring in Peñon

Morning:
Dive Briefing
Dive boat trip with 2 dives: SCTLD affected and non-affected coral survey monitoring in Peñon Reef

Afternoon:
Training for AGGRA Fish ID (simplified)

DAY 12 – Fish ID Dives

Morning:
Dive Briefing
Dive boat trip with 2 dives: Fish ID and AGGRA Fish transect

Afternoon:
Coral sexual reproduction presentation

DAY 13 – Minifrags Elkhorn coral

Morning:
Dive and snorkeling briefing
Dive boat trip with 1 snorkeling session to visit the Apal nursery and 1 shallow dive for coral maintenance and evaluation of transplanted minifrags

Afternoon:
General debriefing, reflection and diplomas
Elaboration of a individual and collective action plan for conservation and regeneration of marine ecosystems

DAY 14 – Free day

2 Weeks
Minimum certificacion: Open Water or equivalent

^US$ 1700_/PERSON

Included

• 18 boat dives (max 4 people per guide), including 2 dives in Peñon reef
• Special briefings
• All presentations, training sessions on land and activities as described in the
  itinerary
• Diving equipment and specific coral restoration equipment
• Drinks and snacks on the boat
• Drinking water (participants must bring their own reusable bottle to refill)
• Lunches, except on free days

Not included

• Accomodation & Breakfast (possibility of a small room with breakfast in the village for approx. 50 US$ per night for 1 or 2 people)
• Dinners
• Lunches on free days
• Transportation from/to your hotel or from/to airport
• Tips