Become a coral reef citizen scientist

The first of five planned opportunities in 2008 for divers to learn about coral reefs and work side-by-side with renowned marine scientists to aid in their restoration is set for 24-28 August in the Florida Keys.

“We’re inviting divers to become citizen scientists,” said Amy Slate, owner of Amoray Dive Resort in Key Largo, whose resort is hosting the first build-a-reef excursion.

The environmental education and advocacy trip includes three evening lectures and three morning dives to restore endangered staghorn coral.

Scuba divers are to learn from and work with coral restoration expert Ken Nedimyer and marine scientist Lad Akins. Respectively, they serve as president and executive director of the Coral Restoration Foundation and are to lead education and dive trips as part of the nonprofit organization’s mission.

While Nedimyer has conducted similar trips with students or sponsoring dive clubs, this is the first event open to the general public.

The class sessions are to focus on coral health, corals’ function in marine ecosystems, identification of natural and manmade threats to coral and means to protect the resource.

“This is something the average person can get their hands on and do,” Nedimyer said. “It shows positive results in real time.”

After the first lecture, divers are to visit the foundation’s coral nursery where about 2,000 growing corals lie in rows and columns fixed by rebar on a sandy bottom. At the nursery, corals are started from a clipping about the length of a knuckle and grow to 30 or 40 centimeters, Nedimyer said. After a year on the reef, they can grow several inches tall with multiple branches and in five years they are strong, independent structures serving as habitat to a variety of tropical fish.

The second dive showcases corals transplanted to the reef in 2007 and 2003 at two locations that have had outstanding survival and growth rates.

“Participants will get to see what can happen in a year and five years,” Nedimyer said. “It’s like an adrenaline shot and they feel like, ‘we can do this!’”

On the final day, volunteer divers acting as citizen scientists are to be escorted by Nedimyer and Akins to a site permitted by the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary for science and research to transplant 18 corals.

The four remaining build-a-reef tours open to the public in 2008 are scheduled for 10-12 September and 24-26 September at Quiescence Diving Services in Key Largo; 8-12 October with Amoray and 29-31 October with Florida Keys Dive Center in Islamorada.

Diving packages start from as little as $300 (£150) per person, excluding accommodation. BA and Virgin Holidays offer fantastic package prices to the Florida Keys. For more information visit baholidays.com or virginholidays.com or for more details on accommodations and dive centers, log on to Fla-keys.co.uk.