Coral Reef Restoration Trip to Key Largo (April)
April 22-28, 2012
UPDATED: More diving and new accommodations!
6 nights + 12 boat dives + coral restoration and monitoring training + 3 PADI Specialties
Join Blue Planet for a week of hands-on training in coral reef restoration and monitoring in Key Largo, Florida. This is your chance to get involved and give back to the beautiful coral reefs that we all love.
Coral Restoration Foundation
We'll be volunteering with the Coral Restoration Foundation (CRF), a non-profit conservation organization created to develop off-shore coral nurseries and reef restoration programs for critically endangered coral reefs at local, national, and international levels. CRF has developed the largest offshore coral nursery in the United States, with more than 15,000 coral "frags" or "nubbins," (14,000 Staghorn, 1,200 Elkhorn) and transplanted more than 3,000 corals from nursery to reef at 22 different reef areas in the Upper Florida 
Keys. The goal of each restoration project is to re-establish genetically diverse thickets of coral and nurture them to maturity so they can spawn and repopulate downstream reef areas.
On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, we will spend the mornings learning about coral nursery operations, coral restoration techniques and coral monitoring procedures. We'll then apply what we learn on two-tank afternoon dives at a staghorn nursery and restoration sites.
Three PADI Specialties
By the end of the trip, you will qualify for not only the Coral Restoration and Monitoring Distinctive Specialty, but also the the Project AWARE Specialty and the PADI Project AWARE Fish Identification Specialty. You will also be at least a REEF Level 2 Surveyor!
The Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) is a grass-roots organization that seeks to conserve marine ecosystems by educating, enlisting and enabling divers and other marine enthusiasts to become active ocean stewards and citizen scientists. The REEF Volunteer Survey Project allows volunteer divers and snorkelers to collect and report information on marine fish populations
Starting Wednesday evening, we'll learn more about fish identification, the REEF fish survey methodology, and identifying coral diseases and bleaching. We'll apply those skills on Thursday and Friday for Fish ID Data Collection dives.
Other Training Opportunities
For those who'd like to further their training even more, you can complete your PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certification Friday afternoon.
Ocean Pointe Suites, Tavernier
The Ocean Pointe Suites are located at the very southern end of Key Largo and offer a private beach and marina, a huge heated pool, and a waterfront cafe. You have the option of selecting a spacious one- or two-bedroom condo complete with full kitchen, washer and dryer, TVs, and private balcony. The one-bedroom suites have a queen bed, sleeper sofa and one bathroom. The two-bedroom suites have a king bed in one bedroom and two single beds in the other, plus a second bathroom.
The package includes either:
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Double occupancy ($1,458.94* per person) in a one-bedroom suite. A non-diver sharing a one-bedroom is $646.86*.
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Single occupancy ($1,960.57* per person) in a one-bedroom suite.
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Double occupancy ($1,497.53* per person) in a two-bedroom suite.
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Triple occupancy ($1,317.46* per person) in a two-bedroom suite.
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Quad occupancy ($1,227.43* per person) in a two-bedroom suite.
*Subtract 3% if you pay with check!
Travel
Round-trip flights to Miami and Fort Lauderdale from Washington are generally less than $200. Airport transfers to Key Largo are not included, but we can work with you to arrange carpooling.
What's included
This package includes the following:
- 6 nights Accommodations at the Ocean Pointe Suites at Key Largo
- 4 days of two tank dives + 1 day with four tank dives with Conch Republic Divers (12 dives total)
- 3 days of Coral Restoration and Monitoring Training
- 2 days of Fish Identification, Project Aware Specialist Training, and wreck and reef diving
- 3 PADI Certifications:
- Fish Identification Specialty
- Project AWARE Specialty
- Coral Restoration and Monitoring Distinctive Specialty
- Welcome Meet and Greet party Sunday night (Cash bar)
- Closing party Friday night (Cash bar)
- Lunch on training days (Monday-Friday)
This does NOT include:
- airfare
- ground transportation
- meals other than what's described above
- rental equipment
- Nitrox
You can add:
- Equipment Rentals, $35 per day (est.)
- Additional dives (night dives, Friday afternoon dive/s)
- AOW Certification; $300
- 1 additional night at the hotel
- 1 additional day of two tank diving (Navigation and Deep Adventure Dives)
- PADI Certification card
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BluePlanet Staff