KEY LARGO, Florida Keys — Increased efforts to promote “voluntourism,” or volunteer opportunities for vacationers, can contribute to the self-sufficiency and sustainability of tourist destinations. Marine scientists with Key Largo’s Coral Restoration Foundation are offering voluntourism-minded divers a chance to aid in reef conservation during planned coral restoration dives Oct. 19-21 with Amoray Dive Resort in Key Largo.
Focused on environmental education, the advocacy group organizes lectures and dive programs to restore endangered staghorn and elkhorn corals. Participants receive hands-on experience in coral restoration and propagation, and learn directly about human and environmental impacts on Florida's reefs and ways that individuals can help.
Leading the educational efforts and dive trips is coral restoration expert Ken Nedimyer, president of the foundation. Staghorn and elkhorn both are on the endangered species list, and Nedimyer’s goal is to turn that around by cultivating and planting coral.
Workshops and dive sessions focus on coral health, corals’ function in marine ecosystems, natural and manmade threats to coral and measures to protect the resource in the Florida Keys.
Participants go on working dives to the coral nursery to clean and prepare corals for planting, and take an orientation dive on one of the restoration sites.
At the nursery, corals are started from a clipping about the length of a knuckle and grow to 30 or 40 centimeters (12-15 inches). After a year on the reef, corals grow several inches tall, with multiple branches, and in five years they are strong, independent structures serving as habitat for a variety of tropical fish.
“Participants in the coral nursery workshops get to see what can happen in a year and five years,” Nedimyer said. “This is something the average person can get their hands on and do.” In August 2009, cultured corals were discovered spawning after only two years on the reef — the first time it had been observed in the wild.
To learn more about volunteering for coral restoration efforts and receive a free monthly informational e-newsletter, visit coralrestoration.org.
Amoray is offering combination stay-and-dive discount packages for the workshop, and registration is open until Oct. 5. For details, call 800-426-6729 or visit amoray.com. Dates are subject to change, based on availability.
For Key Largo area information and accommodations, call the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce at 800-822-1088 or visit the official website of the Florida Keys & Key West.
