Bali
Indonesia
Famed for its incredible biodiversity, Bali stands as one of the top destinations to explore the wonders of nature. Renowned for its rich birdlife and diverse amphibian population, Bali doesn't lag behind in marine biodiversity either. Situated as the only Indonesian island with coastline on both the Indian and Pacific Oceans, Bali enjoys a remarkable array of marine species.
This program, provided by Ocean Gardener, an NGO founded in 2016 and dedicated to coral reef education, aims to make a significant impact on coral reef conservation and restoration. Ocean Gardener's mission is to utilize their 25 years of experience in coral farming in Indonesia for educational and reef restoration purposes. At the end of the last century, Ocean Gardener pioneered the creation of the first commercial coral mariculture farms in Indonesia, providing coastal communities with alternative livelihoods and relieving pressure on natural reefs while improving their condition.
This course is made for individuals with a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as Marine Science, Biology, Environmental Science, Conservation Biology, or a related discipline. Additionally, participants must hold a minimum Diving Certification of Rescue Diver with at least 50 dives. Good buoyancy skills are a must! To participate, simply book with us for the available dates. If you're unable to participate on those dates, feel free to contact us to explore alternative options.
Program Details
Activities & Training
The first 2 weeks of the course will be in the North East of Bali, where you will delve into coral identification, focusing on the most common genus of hard and soft corals. Through in situ learning, you'll explore black sand beaches, magnificent walls, coral-covered reef slopes, wrecks, and enjoy easy beach entry. This location offers a diverse range of habitats, perfect for broadening your understanding of coral species. Additionally, you'll have the opportunity to visit various reef restoration sites, comparing and learning about reef gardening and nurseries in a coral reef restoration learning center.
Following this, we'll take you to the small island of Nusa Penida, known for its exceptional scuba diving. Nusa Penida boasts fully covered reef slopes exposed to rich currents, providing an ideal setting for beautiful drift dives. You'll also witness one of the biggest and most successful coral reef restoration projects in the world.
Lastly, you'll explore coral reef restoration techniques and monitoring during the third and fourth weeks in Nusa Penida. You'll learn about various restoration methods, their advantages, and disadvantages, and gain insights into evaluating coral reef health and restoration work. For enthusiasts of oceanic megafauna, Nusa Penida offers the chance to dive with manta rays, silver tip sharks, turtles, and the rare sunfish.
Why Participate
Here, you will learn the ins and outs of coral reef ecology, biology, and identification, along with mastering coral restoration techniques, monitoring, and evaluation. You'll also develop collaborative skills for engaging with local and international communities. By the end of the program, you will get certified as an Ocean Gardener Coral Instructor, with over 30 dives in Tulamben and Nusa Penida, gaining hands-on experience and expertise in coral reef restoration.
Available Activities
Conservation
Other*
*Available activities at destination (not necessarily included in package and might require additional costs on-site)
What to see?
Included/Excluded
- Welcome Kit
- Complete Diving Equipment
- 30 Open Water Dives
- Certification as Ocean Gardener Coral Instructor (4 weeks)
Location
What is around?
Located on the western side of the island of Nusa Penida is Kelingking beach, or the “T-Rex” beach, because the coastline resembles a dinosaur’s head. Here you can take in the stunning view of the sun setting over turquoise waters and hike down to the beach.
Also located on the west of the island is Broken Beach, a naturally-carved archway that allows water to flow into a cove creating a natural pool. Angel’s Billabong, a naturally-formed infinity pool, is just a 5-minute walk from Broken Beach. The location is notorious for its astounding rock formations and the spectacle of waves crashing over them. These two locations are two of the closest destinations to the ferry port and a 45-minute car ride from Kelingking Beach.
Rumah Pohon Treehouse, on the eastern side, can be booked for overnight stays and to catch a glimpse of the sunrise. Thousand Islands Viewpoint, just a few minutes from Rumah Pohon Treehouse, is another enchanting place to watch the sun peep out of the water.
How to get there?
You should fly into the International Airport Ngurah Rai, from there the airport pick-up can be arranged with the local team.
Requirements
- A Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as Marine Science, Biology, Environmental Science, Conservation Biology, or a related discipline.
- PADI Rescue Diver (or equivalent) with at least 50 logged dives
