Coral Restoration
Coral reefs around the world are facing serious threats, with human activities at the heart of their rapid decline. In Costa Rica’s Tropical Eastern Pacific, these vibrant ecosystems are under pressure from unsustainable fishing practices, invasive species, sedimentation from rivers, and agricultural and urban runoff. The impact is clear—our reefs are in trouble. But there’s hope. Through dedicated research into reef health and the potential for coral restoration, we’re taking action to protect and revive these essential marine habitats.
Bringing Coral Reefs Back to Life in Costa Rica
Since 2019, our coral restoration project in Manuel Antonio has successfully outplanted over 3,000 new coral colonies. We carefully collect coral fragments from healthy sources—using naturally broken pieces or, when needed, sustainably harvested fragments from the wild.
These coral fragments are nurtured in our ocean nurseries, where they grow on ceramic discs close to key reef restoration sites. Once they’re large enough, we transplant them back onto damaged reefs, giving these ecosystems a chance to thrive again.
Currently, we’re restoring six species of hard coral that are native to Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, helping to rebuild biodiversity and protect our ocean’s future.
Get Involved
Become part of the solution! Join us as a coral restoration intern or enroll in our coral restoration certification course to gain hands-on experience and make a real impact in protecting our reefs.
Pavona gigantea
P. gigantea comes in various formations, here it tends to grown in lobulated or plated colonies. When the tentacles are visible, the colony has a furry look. Pavona has an orange, brown or pinkish color in our region. It is normally found in the between 10 and 30 m depth range and is quite slow growing.
Porites lobata
Porites colonies are encrusting and can reach several meters in diameter. Polyps are very small, pentagonal and look like little pores. They are normally found in 12-20m and slow growing. Colonies often display scars and white markings caused by fish bites and are a generally beige or greenish in color.
Pocillopora sp.
Pocillopora is a genus of branching corals with quite short branches. It is normally brown to greenish in color. and Found slightly shallower in the 5-15m depth range.
They grow well in stronger currents or surge and grow reasonably quickly for a stony coral.
Pavona frondifera
Commonly known as Leaf Coral. Colonies are thin plates and/or contorted fronds with narrow bases and which divide irregularly.. Corallites are aligned in irregular shallow valleys roughly parallel to plate or frond margins.. Pale or dark brown.
Pavona duerdeni
Commonly known as Porkchop coral, colonies have a smooth appearance and forms large structures of cream-colored lobes or upward pointing discs. The colonies are divided into ridges or hillocks, and can be beautifully sculptured in pale brown or dark yellow.
Psammocora stellata
This coral forms compact colonies with “nubby’ branches & encrusting bases, which ar light to dark browm. Corallites have a star formation, giving this coral its common name of Stellar Coral – (Stellata meaning star in latin)
