A coral restoration dive trip is an immersive travel experience that combines world-class scuba diving with hands-on marine conservation work. Unlike standard dive vacations, a coral restoration dive trip allows certified divers to actively participate in rebuilding degraded reef ecosystems by learning techniques such as coral nursery maintenance, fragment collection, and outplanting corals onto reef sites. The Green Turtle Cay expedition with Perry Institute for Marine Science offers a week-long coral restoration dive trip that includes 9 dives across adventure sites and restoration activities, PADI Reef Rescue Diver specialty certification, and guidance from marine scientists who have been restoring Caribbean reefs for over 15 years.

To participate in the Green Turtle Cay coral restoration dive trip as a scuba diver, you must hold a minimum of Open Water Diver certification (PADI or equivalent agency), have at least 20 logged dives, and have dived within the last 3 years. Participants must be 12 years or older, with divers under 18 requiring accompaniment by a certified adult parent or guardian. No prior coral restoration experience is required—our PADI instructors and PIMS coral restoration specialists will provide all necessary training through the Reef Rescue Diver specialty course included in your trip. Non-diving companions are also welcome to join at the same rate and can participate in snorkeling activities.

During this coral restoration dive trip, you'll spend dedicated dive days collecting staghorn and elkhorn coral fragments from underwater nurseries and carefully outplanting them onto nearby reef restoration sites. You'll learn proper coral handling techniques, nursery maintenance procedures, and the science behind why these critically endangered species are essential for reef recovery. Between restoration dives, you'll explore spectacular adventure dive sites including the Coral Caverns with their dramatic underwater topography and resident groupers, the Catacombs' sunlit passages, and the historic San Jacinto wreck—a Civil War-era steam frigate now covered in coral and marine life. The week also includes an eco-snorkel at Turtle Lagoon to observe wild green and hawksbill turtles.

The Green Turtle Cay coral restoration dive trip is priced at $2,999 USD per person based on double occupancy at The Bluff House Beach Resort & Marina. This includes 7 nights accommodation, all 9 dives (refresher, adventure, and restoration dives), PADI Reef Rescue Diver specialty certification, the Reef Rescue Diver manual, tanks, weights, and weight belts, the Wild Turtle Lagoon eco-snorkel experience, and a Reef Rescue Network t-shirt. Single and triple occupancy options are available at adjusted rates. Not included are flights to Marsh Harbour in the Abacos, airport/ferry transfers, dive equipment rental, golf cart rental, meals and drinks, and travel/dive insurance (which is required).

The Bahamas, and Green Turtle Cay specifically, offers an ideal setting for a coral restoration dive trip due to its crystal-clear waters, diverse reef systems, and the presence of established coral nurseries managed by Perry Institute for Marine Science's Reef Rescue Network. The Abacos region features exceptional diving conditions with warm water, excellent visibility, and varied underwater topography from shallow coral gardens to dramatic cavern systems. Green Turtle Cay also offers authentic Bahamian culture, historic New Plymouth village, and uncrowded beaches—making it perfect for combining meaningful conservation work with a memorable Caribbean vacation. The partnership with Brendal's Dive Center, recognized with a National Geographic Geotourism Stewardship Award, ensures world-class dive operations rooted in decades of local expertise.

The Green Turtle Cay coral restoration dive trip is led by a team of PADI-certified instructors and Perry Institute for Marine Science coral restoration specialists. Key expedition leaders include Alex Frans, PIMS Coral Programs Manager and PADI Instructor who oversees restoration initiatives across the Reef Rescue Network; Anwar Godet, a veteran Restoration Specialist and PADI Instructor with extensive hands-on reef rehabilitation experience; and Kyle Stevens from Brendal's Dive Center, whose family has operated award-winning dive operations on Green Turtle Cay since 1985. This combination of scientific expertise, dive instruction credentials, and intimate local knowledge ensures participants receive both rigorous training and an authentic Bahamian experience. The expedition is strictly limited to 8 divers for personalized mentorship.

Your participation in this coral restoration dive trip directly contributes to active reef recovery in the Abacos. The corals you plant during the expedition become part of Perry Institute's long-term monitoring program, which has tracked restoration sites for up to 15 years and documented measurable increases in coral cover, fish populations, and overall reef health. Trip fees help sustain the Reef Rescue Network's operations across more than 50 coral nurseries throughout the Caribbean, supporting ongoing nursery maintenance, scientific research, and community engagement programs. Beyond the immediate restoration work, your participation helps fund the broader mission of protecting and restoring Caribbean coral reefs for future generations while demonstrating that sustainable dive tourism and meaningful conservation can work hand in hand.

The PADI Reef Rescue Diver specialty certification, included in your coral restoration dive trip package, is a hands-on course developed in partnership with the Reef Rescue Network that teaches the practical skills of coral restoration diving. The curriculum covers essential coral reef biology, the threats facing reef ecosystems including climate change and coral bleaching, various restoration methodologies, coral nursery maintenance and propagation techniques, and proper outplanting procedures. You'll complete classroom sessions and multiple training dives where you practice fragment collection, coral handling, and transplanting nursery-grown corals onto reef restoration sites. Upon completion, you'll receive your PADI specialty certification card recognizing your training in coral restoration techniques—a meaningful credential that demonstrates your commitment to marine conservation.