Coral Restoration in the Florida Keys

      Key Largo, FL, USA

      BP
      Blue Planet Scuba
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      142 reviews
      Sep 21 - 25, 2019
      Group size: 11 - 22
      Coral Restoration in the Florida Keys
      Key Largo, FL, USA

      Blue Planet Scuba
      • Email address verified
      • Facebook verified
      • Twitter verified
      142 reviews

      Sep 21 - 25, 2019
      Group size: 11 - 22

      About this trip

      Join Blue Planet in the Florida Keys for two days of hands-on training in coral reef restoration and monitoring with the Coral Restoration Foundation plus one day of recreational diving. This is your chance to “get your hands dirty” and give back to the beautiful coral reefs that we all love!


      CORAL RESTORATION

      We’ll be volunteering with the Coral Restoration Foundation (CRF), a non-profit conservation organization created to develop offshore coral nurseries and reef restoration programs for critically endangered coral reefs at local, national and international levels.


      On Monday and Tuesday mornings, we will learn about coral nursery operations, coral restoration techniques and coral monitoring procedures. We’ll then apply what we learn on two afternoon dives at a staghorn nursery and restoration sites. By the end of the trip, you will qualify for the optional PADI Coral Restoration Distinctive Specialty.


      On Sunday morning, we’ll dive on wrecks and reefs to get a taste of the great diving in Key Largo. Want to dive more? Jump back in Sunday or Tuesday afternoon. Or add on extra days at the end of the trip.


      THE DIVING

      The 120-mile Florida Keys island chain is home to the continental United States’ only living-coral barrier reef. This teeming backbone of marine life runs the length of the Keys about five miles offshore and offers easy access to beautiful reefs and impressive wrecks.

       

      We’ll be diving with Conch Republic Divers in Tavernier with access to the reefs from the southern edge of Pennekamp Park off of Key Largo down to Alligator Light just south of Islamorada. This gives us access to some of the best scuba diving in the Florida Keys including Molasses Reef, Pickles Reef, the Conch Reef System, Davis, Crocker, Victory and many, many others. We can also dive the major wrecks in the area, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutters Duane and Bibb, Spiegel Grove and the Eagle.


      ACCOMMODATIONS

      We’ll be staying at the Marina del Mar Resort, right on the marina and only 8 miles from John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. Each marina view room comes with 2 double beds and a common balcony facing the marina, plus mini-fridge and coffeemaker. There’s also free WiFi, a fitness center, outdoor pool and more. Parking is included as is a light continental breakfast.


      TRAVEL

      Fly into Fort Lauderdale or Miami on Saturday, September 21st and drive down to Key Largo. We’ll be staying at the Marina del Mar Resort, right on the marina and walking-distance from a few great restaurants. You can fly back on Wednesday, September 25th — just be sure you give yourself 18-24 hours after your last dive! Fly on Southwest out of DCA for only $350 and get 2 free checked bags. We can help coordinate carpooling/rental cars too.


      Please check in with Blue Planet staff before booking flights. Or if you need assistance with flights, just let us know!

      Cancellation Policy

      Upon cancellation of a reservation for any reason, the refund of the deposit and payments made or due will be contingent upon Blue Planet reselling the participant's reservation. Any refund may also be subject to a $100 cancellation fee and payment of any non-refundable fees imposed by the tour company, dive operator or any other contractor associated with the trip. 


      Dive accident insurance is required for all divers on this trip. We strongly recommend travel insurance to protect your vacation investment. Contact us if you need more information. 

      What’s included

      • 4 nights accommodations
        Single or shared rooms available
      • 4 CRF dives
        2 days of 2-tank boat dives focused on Coral Restoration and Monitoring Training
      • 2 recreational dives
        1 morning of local wreck and reef diving

      What’s not included

      • Airfare
        Book your flight to Miami or Fort Lauderdale
      • Ground transportation
        You'll need to rent a car to get to Key Largo, or hook up with other divers on the trip and carpool
      • Scuba equipment
        Only tanks and weights included; rental gear available
      • Tips
        Tips for the boat's excellent crew
      • Meals
        There are a ton of great options at and near the hotel

      Available Packages

      Standard Room, Double Occupancy

      Double occupancy in a Standard room with two double beds, bathroom, television, mini fridge.


      Bringing a non-diving companion? Contact us for pricing!

      $845
      Deposit: $400
      Standard Room, Single Occupancy

       Single occupancy in a Standard room with two double beds, bathroom, television, mini fridge. 

       

      Bringing a non-diving companion? Contact us for pricing!

      $1,230
      Deposit: $400

      Available options



      Itinerary

      Saturday
      Arrival in Key Largo

      Fly into Fort Lauderdale or Miami and drive down to Key Largo. Check into hotel and dive shop. Dinner with the group.

      Your Organizer


      BP
      Blue Planet Scuba
      142 reviews
      Blue Planet is a different kind of scuba diving organization — aimed at providing the best education and experiences to divers in the Washington, DC area and beyond, while harnessing the excitement and adventure of scuba diving to help protect our fragile oceans.

      Reviews

      Heather & Jonas were excellent trip leaders making sure everyone was well taken care of. The Galapagos Aggressor had a super crew and the diving was challenging and stunning! We saw hammerheads, penguins, seals, sea lions & dolphins! I really appreciated the personal touches like our matching jackets and a cake for my birthday. I would highly recommend this trip.
      By Catherine W for Explore the Galapagos on Mar 02, 2024
      This review is belated, I know... ...But that only means I took **serious*** consideration into reviewing my experience with Blue Planet DC, and ranking them very highly. Its been almost a year since I was OW Certified with Blue Planet in Cozumel - my training during that trip was thorough enough to provide me with a solid foundation to continue scuba diving afterwards many, many times. The trip itinerary, accommodations, and overall pacing of the scuba lessons were incredibly well organized. The instructors were patient and attentive - at various times I was provided specific one-on-one, actionable feedback regarding things like my trim or my breathing rhythm impacting my buoyancy and what I could do to improve my technique. They made sure we knew our stuff before letting us loose into the ocean, and during our checkout dives they stayed closeby and kept a watchful eye on us, so I felt more at ease and safe. (Even with the drift moving us around!) My main priority for this trip was to learn how to scuba, but that said, there were opportunities at Cozumel to (after the day's lessons are done) be a tourist and explore the area. The resort itself is a very beautiful spot with relaxing, open air dining, lounge, and balcony areas as well as a fantastic view of the ocean horizon. I also really appreciated that lodging AND meals were included in this travel package - it saved me the trouble of having to figure that out on my own, which made a big difference by freeing up more time after each full day of lessons to just relax and chill. I know each trip is always different of course in terms of other group trip attendees you may end up with, so of course this can just be sheer dumb luck, but everyone else on this trip was chill. Even the more seasoned divers who were already certified and doing this for years were friendly and happy to drop useful advice or recount from their personal experiences how it was like them becoming certified the first time. The time I did this it was "drift diving" and of course that scared me a ton. But the PADI material that is mandatory to study goes over what drift diving is. When doing my checkout dive the drift didn't like, wash me away from the group dive route. You'll be under instructor supervision so people are keeping an eye on you, and the drift itself is mild - I didn't have to struggle against the current (if you've ever surfed, you'll see that this isn't at all like a riptide or undertow). If anything, managing your buoyancy will end up your primary concern or worry during the checkout dive. Hope this review helps anyone considering who to go with for getting certified on their first ever scuba trip! I'm very glad I went with Blue Planet.
      By M T for March Certification Weekend in Cozumel on Feb 19, 2024
      EM
      This was my first liveaboard! 🛥️ Anthony was a fantastic trip leader and teacher, as always! The Aquacat crew was fun, the food was delicious and the diving and excursions were great! I would definitely recommend this trip with Blue Planet, especially as a first liveaboard experience! I had a good time learning about sharks, too! 🦈
      By Elsbeth M for Ring in 2024 on a Liveaboard in the Bahamas! on Jan 15, 2024
      Thanks for joining on another amazing trip! Hopefully we will be on another fun trip in sharky waters soon.
      By Anthony White on Jan 17, 2024
      AW
      This was my first trip with Blue Planet and my first liveaboard - both were a great experience! The communication and prep from Blue Planet was excellent (pre-trip meeting was really helpful, paperwork was clear and organized). My husband and I are new divers and Anthony (trip lead from Blue Planet) was an invaluable resource - we learned a lot during the dives and felt safe with him looking out for us. The liveaboard itself was amazing. The bed was comfortable, the food was amazing, the staff were wonderful. This was one of the best trips of my life - it's going to be hard to top with the bar now set so high!
      By Rachel L for Ring in 2024 on a Liveaboard in the Bahamas! on Jan 08, 2024
      Thank you so much, Rachel! I am glad you and Ben had such a good time on the trip. You were both great divers, and I can't wait to see you on more of our trips. I look forward to diving with you some more!
      By Anthony White on Jan 13, 2024
      AW
      JR
      Had a great time diving, wonderful people and nice accommodations; hotel was super convenient to dive boats.
      By Jennifer R for December Certification Weekend in Cozumel on Dec 11, 2023
      Thank you so much, Jennifer! We’re so happy to hear how much you enjoyed the dive experience with Blue Planet in Cozumel. We look forward to you joining with us on a future trip!
      By Blue Planet Scuba on Dec 12, 2023
      BP
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