Coral restoration or reef habilitation: what is it, why would you do it, what is the best place to go?

What is coral rehabilitation abroad like?

Coral rehabilitation or also called coral restoration is the repair of damaged coral reefs.
While coral is rehabilitated, corals grow in nurseries and are when they are big enough transplanted back onto the reef.
The aim is to accelerate natural recovery from environmental pressures like climate change, bleaching, and pollution by rebuilding structural complexity and increasing biodiversity.

It is important to rehabilitate corals to restore biodiversity, protect coastlines from storm surges, and secure livelihoods for coastal communities. Around the world 30% to 50% of the coral is already less than before.

Pieces of healthy corals are collected and grown in underwater or land-based nurseries. It is important to clean the corals, and make sure the algae are removed, the algae smother and damage new coral.
In nurseries the cleaning of the corals is often done, once a month for the duration of 6 to 12 months, until the corals are big enough, depending on the sort of coral and the kind of water.
When the corals are large enough to be planted, a process coral gardening will happen.
The corals are moved to the degraded reef, where they are secured in place for example with bamboo.
Restored areas are all the time monitored and maintained for survival, growth, and overall ecological impact.

A tree is made, often done by volunteers or interns, where the corals can be hung and rehabilitated. The pieces of healthy corals are cut and hung by, for example a fishline.
The corals need to be monitored. The tree with the pieces of coral need cleaning. The tree trunk is often cleaned with a brush, and you have to scrub, it is important to remove all the algae. The branch of the tree is cleaned with a sponge. The hook where the corals are hanging, and the clips are cleaned with a toothbrush.
You have to make sure that you can manage your breath, so you can maximize your air in your tank.
For example: a coral tree with 80 corals, 8 corals per branch, with 10 branches, is on average 12 meter deep, and it takes around 60 to 75 minutes to clean.

Anyone who can dive and is an open water diver, can help with the out planting of corals and clean corals underwater!
It is important that you are a diver, and that you have buoyancy control.
It is helpful when you are calm and are aware of your surroundings, underwater as well, in case one of your buddies need help.
Most organizations also have work available which can be done above the water.
A lot of marine biologist or marine biologist interns do research and monitor the corals closely. Photos are taken of the progress of the corals, coral growth is measured, Ph values in the water are checked, etc.

To stay and feel involved: you care about the environment and want to play an active role in helping.
To broaden your view and to understand what happens underwater: when you restore corals, it broadens your horizon, since you start understanding more about the underwater world.
To have self-confidence: you are secure enough to clean your own coral tree.
To be able to communicate underwater: you need to be aware of the handsignals underwater, to be able to make clear when you need to get a message across.