EcoExpeditions

Methods in Tropical Reef Monitoring at Bangka Island, North Sulawesi, Indonesia

Reef Check Italia and Coral Eye organize an international field course on coral reef monitoring approaches open to both marine biology students and diver volunteers from around the world. The course, taught in English, aims to:

• Provide the basic knowledge for the identification of hard corals and their diseases
• Present an overview of the well-established coral reefs monitoring approaches
• Learn and apply different methods underwater, including Reef Check and Coral Watch protocols
• Contribute to the monitoring and conservation of the coral reefs at the Bangka outpost

Lectures and seminars will be alternated with day and night dives, as well as practical sessions. At the end of the course, it is expected that the participants demonstrate what they learned and discuss the results achieved. Participants will obtain the international tropical EcoDiver certification issued by the Reef Check Foundation.

For more information about this course and how to sign up, please visit:

https://www.reefcheckmed.org/italiano/reef-check-tropical/bangka-2026

Reef Check/Biosphere Expeditions EcoExpedition: Maldives

This marine volunteering expedition with SCUBA diving will take you to the beautiful 26 coral atolls that make up the Republic of Maldives. Based on a very luxurious and modern liveaboard yacht, you will help marine biologists study and protect the Maldives’ spectacular coral reefs and resident whale shark population. All this because the Maldives government identified a need for further research and monitoring work as far back as 1997. Biosphere Expeditions is addressing this need with your help and will train you as a Reef Check EcoDiver. With this qualification you will then gather important reef and whale shark data.

For more information about the Maldives EcoExpedition and how to sign up, please visit:

https://www.biosphere-expeditions.org/volunteeringinmaldives

Mora Mora EcoExpedition: Madagascar

Mora Mora Conservation with the University of Marche organize two sessions of 14 days/13-night field courses on coral reef (2026 and 2027) that will take you to the island of Sakatia in the north west of Madagascar. The reefs are world renowned for having more than 400 coral species and fish species from all over the Indian Ocean. This expedition gives divers a superb opportunity to become EcoDiver certified. All guests will be provided with the materials needed. Lectures and presentations on reef survey techniques will be given.

Biologist Christian Solterer, who is leading the workshop, has been involved in Reef Check surveys in  Lemur country since 2003. He is also a NAUI Course Director CMAS*** Instructor.

This workshop taught in English, French or German aims to:

•      Provide the basic knowledge for the identification of fish, hard corals and invertebrates
•      Find a least 2 new sites to install permanent transects
•      Teach different survey methods underwater, including Reef Check and Coral Watch protocols
•      Contribute to the monitoring and conservation of the coral reefs

Participants will obtain the international tropical EcoDiver certification issued by the Reef Check Foundation as well as 3 marine ecology specialties issued by SSI

For more information about the Madagascar EcoExpedition contact biodiversity@moramora.ch or please visit:

https://www.moramora.ch/reefchecksakatia