- Messages
- 145
- Reaction score
- 85
- # of dives
- 5000 - ∞
On our designated Citizen Science trips aboard All Star Cat Ppalu, you can do your part to help make our oceans healthier while having a great time in the Bahamas! These reef restoration efforts have produced spectacular results (over 262% increase in coral coverage!) over the past 15 years on sites we've chosen for diadema relocation.
Long-spined (diadema) sea urchins are natural reef cleaners which graze on the algae that would otherwise overrun reefs, essentially suffocating the corals. Since the die-off of diadema throughout the Caribbean in the early 1980s (and again in 2022), many reefs have become overgrown with algae.
As it matures, the algae becomes toxic to the urchins. For this reason, algae must be brushed off the reefs before diadema can be relocated to the area. However, once transplanted to a clean reef, diadema do an incredible job of keeping the reef clean and able to grow healthier as time goes on!
During a Citizen Science trip on Cat Ppalu, divers are able to assist with reef cleaning, diadema collection, and diadema release...and log plenty of fun dives, of course! Joining one of these trips is a terrific way to have a blast while learning more about the delicate marine ecosystems that we, as divers, love so much.
The discussion of ocean conservation improves the world we live in. Exchanging ideas and growing passion on this enormously important subject will help make diving beautiful for generations to come, so join us in the Bahamas aboard Cat Ppalu in 2024 to play a role in our reef restoration efforts.
These are the Citizen Science trips we currently have scheduled:
Long-spined (diadema) sea urchins are natural reef cleaners which graze on the algae that would otherwise overrun reefs, essentially suffocating the corals. Since the die-off of diadema throughout the Caribbean in the early 1980s (and again in 2022), many reefs have become overgrown with algae.
As it matures, the algae becomes toxic to the urchins. For this reason, algae must be brushed off the reefs before diadema can be relocated to the area. However, once transplanted to a clean reef, diadema do an incredible job of keeping the reef clean and able to grow healthier as time goes on!
During a Citizen Science trip on Cat Ppalu, divers are able to assist with reef cleaning, diadema collection, and diadema release...and log plenty of fun dives, of course! Joining one of these trips is a terrific way to have a blast while learning more about the delicate marine ecosystems that we, as divers, love so much.
The discussion of ocean conservation improves the world we live in. Exchanging ideas and growing passion on this enormously important subject will help make diving beautiful for generations to come, so join us in the Bahamas aboard Cat Ppalu in 2024 to play a role in our reef restoration efforts.
These are the Citizen Science trips we currently have scheduled:
- April 27-May 3
- August 10-16
- October 5-11
