On each Dive with A Purpose week, up to 20 recreational divers can join the marine expeditions and get involved in Crown of Thorns Sea Star removal and collect valuable data on the diverse reef fish communities and larger megafauna such as sharks, manta rays and turtles. Divers must have an Advanced PADI qualification, excellent buoyancy control and ideally a minimum of 70 dives.
Working in buddy teams to remove the COTS from the reef, divers will be assisting Coral Reef CPR scientists in all aspects of research, including reef assessment surveys, collection of samples, and removal of crown of thorns starfish, cushion stars and coral eating snails. Across each of the one-week trips, divers will be trained in reef conservation methods and survey approaches, and learn about coral reefs and the vibrant and diverse life found on reefs through nightly workshops and discussions. Joining these “Rescue a Reef” expeditions will provide divers with an opportunity to be part of a team who are saving thousands of hectares of reef and preventing the potential for future outbreaks.
