Everything we experienced in Bonaire was incredible, and unique, but working with the Coral Reef Restoration Foundation was by far the most rewarding adventure we were blessed with on this amazing trip.

Before we were even allowed to dive near the CRF nursery we had to attend an instructional lecture about CRF, it’s mission, and most importantly how to help plant the coral without completely destroying it. While we were in class we were given small pieces of dead coral to practice their method of attaching the monofilament, and hanging the coral. Each of us was given pointers on what we were doing wrong, and many examples of how not to handle the coral. By the time the lecture was over we were all ready and excited to get in the water and practice our new coral skills.

First (so they could gauge our diving abilities and buoyancy control) they tasked us with cleaning harmful algae off of the coral “trees”, and checking for any predators that might be lurking around waiting for an opportunity for a coral snack. After the CRF workers were satisfied that we were not going to destroy their nursery with bad diving practices, they allowed us to try hanging the coral clippings which we fondly referred to as “babies” from the trees.

One of the ways coral can reproduce is by fracture, when a piece of coral breaks off it is possible for the coral to continue to grow as a clone of its parent. Each of our babies were clipped off of a larger parent coral, and secured to a piece of monofilament which was then secured to the coral tree. Coral trees are large PVC structures which are perfectly suspended in the water column through a series of weights and buoys, they allow the coral to grow in an optimal environment for growth, relatively free from predation and competition. Hanging the clippings from the trees was challenging at first, but after the first few nail biting moments of fear for the life of the babies, we were able to establish a routine and it became relatively simple and incredibly fun. I had never gotten choked up under water until this dive, it may sound cheesy, but I was so overwhelmed with the joy of being able to participate in this amazing project I may have had to clear my mask a time or two.

When the coral babies have grown large enough and have healed from any pruning they may have been subjected to, it is time to  remove them from the nursery and “plant” them in their new home, this was the most challenging part of the CRF experience. We filled a medium sized basked with a variety of oddly shaped coral babies, and swam them from the nursery to Buddy dive’s home grown staghorn coral stand. In order to protect the babies from predations as long as they possible can a rebar structure was created to keep the coral off the ocean floor for just a bit longer. Babies were zip tied securely to this structure in such a way that they did not wobble or sway in the surge. Planting the corals and securing the zip ties without knocking into the reef or covering them in sediment proved to be incredibly difficult, it was like putting together a jigsaw puzzle made of babies, but as difficult as it was I will never forget the incredible feeling of satisfaction and pride which rushed over me as I floated above the coral stand and surveyed my work. I will never forget this day….I have the coral love.