Green Turtle
Cay Mission
An immersive restoration adventure in the heart of the Abacos.
Scuba Diving
Adventure
Slip beneath the surface and drop straight into a world of living history and wild reef adventure. You’ll dive through vibrant coral gardens alive with colour, then weave through dramatic coral caverns where towering formations hide cruising groupers and shimmering schools of tarpon.
One moment you’re exploring sunlit underwater passages and cathedral-like swim-throughs, the next you’re hovering over the coral nursery, carefully collecting staghorn and elkhorn corals before planting them onto nearby reefs as fish swirl around you — real hands-on conservation, done underwater.
You’ll dive the San Jacinto wreck, a Civil War–era steam frigate now transformed into a coral-covered reef, where history, marine life, and atmosphere collide in one unforgettable descent. Expect shallow reefs bursting with life, relaxed but meaningful restoration dives, and moments of pure calm drifting through crystal-clear lagoons where green and hawksbill turtles glide past. This isn’t just a dive holiday — it’s exploration, purpose, and seriously good diving rolled into one.
Expedition Briefing
Brendals Dive Center
Adventure Tours
Established in 1985 Brendal, Mary, & Kyle for decades have been a family run business that has been a cornerstone of the island's tourism. Offering unparalleled expertise and unforgettable experiences. The tradition continues to provide countless visitors with exceptional opportunities for Diving, Snorkeling, Eco Tours & Island Hopping Excursions & Sustainable Fishing along with a variety of other adventures exploring the Bahamian marine environment.
Brendal and the dive center have earned significant recognition, including multiple Trip Advisor Certificates of Excellence and a National Geographic Geotourism Stewardship Award, recognizing their commitment to outstanding service and sustainable tourism. Most notably, Brendal received an International Legend of Diving Award for his profound contributions and decades of passion for the ocean. Beyond their business, Brendal and his family are dedicated marine conservationists, actively protecting fragile coral reefs. They manage their own coral nursery, propagating critically endangered coral species. This vital work supports the long-term survival and restoration of local reef ecosystems, demonstrating their deep commitment to the ocean's health for future generations.
Learn more at brendal.comReef Rescue Specialty
Certification Course
This hands-on course offers an in-depth and practical opportunity to familiarize yourself with the essential skills, specialized knowledge, established procedures, and overall enjoyment of coral restoration diving. Designed for divers passionate about marine conservation, this program moves beyond passive observation to active participation in vital reef recovery efforts.
Your dedicated Reef Rescue Diver Instructor will provide comprehensive education and training centered around the critical aspects of coral nurseries and outplanting. The curriculum is meticulously structured to cover a wide range of essential topics, ensuring a thorough understanding of the entire restoration process:
- Essential Facts about Coral Reefs: A foundational understanding of coral biology, their ecological role as the rainforests of the sea, the immense biodiversity they support, and the complex structures they build.
- Threats Facing Corals: A detailed exploration of the myriad stressors impacting global reef health, including climate change (coral bleaching), pollution, unsustainable fishing practices, and invasive species.
- Coral Restoration Methods: An overview of various techniques currently employed by the Reef Rescue Network to combat reef degradation, focusing on in situ (offshore) coral nurseries.
- Maintaining Coral Nurseries: Practical instruction on the maintenance of underwater coral nurseries.
- Propagation Techniques: Hands-on training in fragmenting and populating coral nurseries.
- Coral Outplanting Procedures: The core practical skill of the course and the one skill you will be most engaged with is learning the effective techniques for transplanting nursery-grown corals onto degraded reef sites to encourage the natural recovery and replenishment of the ecosystem.
Expedition Highlights
Adventure Dives
Explore incredible underwater architecture at the Coral Caverns and the Catacombs. Survey a historical American steam frigate from the US Civil War (sunk 1865) now teeming with sharks, groupers, and tarpon.
Regenerative Action
Conduct hands-on restoration by outplanting elkhorn and staghorn corals. Directly contribute to the recovery of these precious Bahamian ecosystems under expert guidance.
PADI Certification
Earn your PADI Reef Rescue Diver specialty. Master the techniques of nursery maintenance and coral planting with our veteran instructors.
Unique Encounters
Join an exclusive Eco Snorkel at the Turtle Lagoon to observe wild Green and Hawksbill turtles in their natural habitat.
Intimate Mentorship
Expedition strictly limited to 8 divers. This low ratio ensures direct mentorship from PIMS specialists and a highly personalized adventure through the Abacos.
The Itinerary
A Full Week of Restoration and Discovery
Arrival & Welcome Evening
Meet your coral restoration specialists and dive instructors who will present the week's planned activities and information about our coral restoration work. Get to know others in the group.
Refresh & Adventure
The first dive will be a refresher/check out dive exploring a local coral reef followed by a dive at the Coral Caverns which is a dive site adjacent to the coral nursery with incredible topography to explore and large marine life including Groupers and Tarpon.
Coral Planting - Staghorn
During two dives you will learn how to plant staghorn corals you collect from the nursery onto a nearby reef while marine life swims around you.
Catacombs & San Jacinto Wreck
Exploration sunlit underwater caverns, passages, and coral formations with abundant marine life at the “Catacombs” followed by diving the historical remains of an American steam frigate from the US Civil War (sunk 1865) now covered in coral and marine life.
Coral Planting - Elkhorn
After collecting corals from the nursery you will enjoy two dives planting elkhorn coral onto a shallow reef restoration site.
Coral Nursery & Turtles
Complete your Reef Rescue Diver certification learning and conducting maintenance at the coral nursery followed by a relaxing Wild Turtle Lagoon Eco Snorkel to see Green and Hawksbill Turtles.
Explore & Farewell Party
Relax lay day to explore Green Turtle Cay by golf cart with a farewell party in the evening.
Departure
Departure Day.
Please note: Day 7 ‘Lay Day’ and the general itinerary is subject to change based on local weather and schedules.
During the coral restoration dives you will learn coral nursery maintenance and coral outplanting techniques guided by experts who will demonstrate all skills first and then guide your learning and assist your skill development during the dives. A large proportion of these dives will planting corals that have been grown in the nurseries at a designated restoration site to restore the local reefs.
Basecamp &
Territory
The Island Rhythm
Afternoons on Green Turtle Cay are yours to unwind and explore at your own pace. Relax on a private stretch of white sand at Bluff House Beach, or hop on a paddleboard or snorkel to discover nearby turquoise waters. Beyond the resort, secluded beaches like Gillam Bay, Ocean Beach, and Bita Bay are just a short golf-cart or boat ride away — many of them long, natural, and often all to yourself.
Green Turtle Cay
A captivating three-by-half-mile island in The Bahamas' Abaco chain, Green Turtle Cay charms visitors with its historic streets and rich Loyalist heritage tracing back over two centuries. Its main community, New Plymouth, features New England-style ancestral cottages, white picket fences, and a close-knit population of 550 who maintain a strong connection to the sea. It's the perfect place to stroll pastel cottages, visit local museums, or enjoy a Goombay Smash at the legendary Miss Emily’s Blue Bee Bar.
The Bluff House
Nestled on 12 breathtaking tropical acres, the historic Bluff House Beach Resort & Marina is the oldest resort in the Out Islands. It stretches from White Sound to the Sea of Abaco, featuring its own private white-sand beach—the only one on the Cay. The resort’s eight spacious suites offer a fusion of Caribbean flair and British West Indies sophistication. The heart of the scene is the Boathouse Bar & Restaurant, the ideal spot to enjoy a cocktail and share stories of the day's adventures overlooking the marina.
Visit bluffhouse.comExpedition Intel
Trip Details
Based on Double Occupancy
Other room options available at additional cost for single or triple occupancy
- 7 Nights Accommodation
- 9 Dives Total
- PADI Reef Rescue Certification
What's Included
- • 7 nights accommodation.
- • Snorkel companions welcome at same rate as divers.
- • Led by PADI Instructors & PIMS Coral Restoration Specialists.
- • 9 Dives (Refresh, Exploration, & Restoration).
- • Wild Turtle Lagoon Eco Snorkel.
- • Tanks, weights, & weightbelts.
- • Reef Rescue Diver Manual.
- • PADI Reef Rescue Diver certification.
- • Reef Rescue Network T-Shirt.
Not Included
- • Flights to Marsh Harbour, Abaco, The Bahamas.
- • Airport/Ferry Transfers.
- • Dive Equipment Rental.
- • Golf Cart Rental.
- • Meals & Drinks.
- • Travel & Dive Insurance (Required).
Prerequisites & Requirements
Certified Open Water Diver (or higher) - Minimum 20 logged Dives - Dived within the last 3 years - 12 years or older
To join this trip as a scuba diver, you must be a certified open water diver (or higher), have a minimum of 20 logged dives, and have dived within the last 3 years (date of last dive must be provided). Must be 12 years or older to participate and be accompanied by a certified diving adult parent or guardian.
In signing up to the trip you agree to our Cancellation Policy and our booking T&C’s.
Scientific
Authority
The Perry Institute for Marine Science
The Perry Institute for Marine Science (PIMS) is a leader in innovative coral reef protection and restoration, replanting thousands of corals onto reefs each year. Long-term monitoring, in some areas for up to 15 years, has shown the positive impact of this restoration work, including an increase in the number and size of critically endangered corals, and the return of fish and other marine life. Recognizing the vital role of coral reefs in maintaining marine biodiversity and ecosystem services, PIMS established the Reef Rescue Network to expand and scale up its efforts.
Learn more at perryinstitute.orgReef Rescue Network
The Reef Rescue Network (RRN), a vibrant global initiative spearheaded by the Perry Institute for Marine Science (PIMS), unites dive shops, non-profits, and businesses in a common goal: the restoration and protection of Caribbean coral reefs, spanning locations like The Bahamas, St. Lucia, Barbados, and Grenada. With a network of over 50 coral nurseries, the RRN actively involves local communities, tourists, and volunteers in practical coral restoration efforts. This direct engagement nurtures environmental stewardship and heightens awareness of crucial marine conservation issues. Through the RRN, PIMS effectively integrates rigorous scientific research with community participation.
Mission Commanders
Alex Frans
PIMS Coral Programs Manager
PADI Instructor
Anwar Godet
Restoration Specialist
PADI Instructor
Kyle Stevens
Brendals PADI Instructor
Enquire Now
"Secure your place on the Green Turtle Cay mission and receive your detailed mission brief."
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