Projects and Research
Protecting and Restoring Costa Rica’s Marine Ecosystems
At the heart of our work is a commitment to safeguarding the health of our ocean through impactful, hands-on projects in marine conservation in Costa Rica. From our flagship coral rehabilitation program to community-based marine education and sustainability initiatives, we are dedicated to creating lasting change both underwater and onshore. Below, you can explore our current conservation projects as well as upcoming initiatives designed to protect marine biodiversity for generations to come.
Coral Reef restoration project
Our flagship project is our coral restoration work in Manuel Antonio. Coral reefs around the world are under threat. By growing and restoring our local reef, we are fighting the battle to keep our local reef system healthy. Learn more about our coral project here.
Marine education
One of our biggest weapons is that of education. By educating local communities and visitors on the many different issues facing our oceans we can help conserve. Some of our projects include talking with local schools and community groups on many local issues. In addition to that we offer workshops with local tourism companies and visiting tourists. Our training grants sponsor local marine sciences university students, supporting Costa Rica’s future marine health.
REEF Health
We monitor various biotic and physical parameters on the reef, so that we can track changes over time. Such as the impact of our reef restoration project. We monitor fish and invertebrate populations, coral and substrate cover, topograpy, water temperature, turbidity and quality.
Sustainable business & tourism
To most people, “sustainable” is pretty much the same as “eco-friendly.” They think of complicated conservation efforts and companies concerned with their carbon footprints. And it’s true that being environmentally-conscious is a big part of being sustainable. But it’s not the only thing to consider. An establishment can be as “green” as possible, but still not be sustainable. When it comes to sustainability, there are three main sections we need to look at and can be considered the pillars of sustainable tourism, These include environmental, socio-cultural and economic sustainability. Sustainable businesses in our area will help it grow in the right way and we are looking to help businesses and marine tourism grow and operate in the right way.
Driving Research for a Sustainable Ocean Future
At the heart of our work is a commitment to safeguarding the health of our ocean through impactful, hands-on projects in marine conservation in Costa Rica. From our flagship coral rehabilitation program to community-based marine education and sustainability initiatives, we are dedicated to creating lasting change both underwater and onshore. Below, you can explore our current conservation projects as well as upcoming initiatives designed to protect marine biodiversity for generations to come.
Some of the projects that are available include the following:
– Dive Site Population Variation: An Investigative Study of Coral Species Abundance and Corresponding Reef Fish Abundance
– Reef Degradation: Using Reef Relief and Related Surveys to Determine Overall Growth and or Erosion of Various Reef Sites in the Manuel Antonio Area
– Shifts in Benthic Populations: A Quantitative Analysis of Reef Site Benthic Topography and Invertebrate Abundance
– Growth Rate Analysis of In-Situ Coral Fragments Across Various Nursery Locations
– The Impacts of Anthropogenic Dive Site Conditions on Overall Coral Survivorship
– Coral Fragment Outplant Growth, Survivorship and Recruitment
– Water Quality Metrics Across Various Dive Sites and Corresponding Sponge Abundance
– Invasive Corals and their Impacts on Native Coral Species
– Nudibranch Abundance throughout Dive Sites across the Manuel Antonio Area
– Understanding Octopus Mating Season