Biorock Coral Reef Restoration

We run marine volunteer internships throughout the year which start with our ‘zero to hero’ 2 week intensive workshop in marine restoration, we run 6 of these courses every year. This course combines knowledge, lectures, theory, dives, and practical Biorock reef building and maintenance through a 2 week course where you will gain a Reef Check certificate and Introduction to Biorock reef technology specialty at the end. 

The first week of the course consists of detailed marine species identification and substrate identification in preparation for the Reef Check training and surveys. Reef Check is a scientific transect survey which is recognized globally and you get a certification in Reef Check research methods, that you can then take part in, in other places around the world as well in future. It gives a great insight in the functioning of a healthy coral reef ecosystem, and after extensive identification training dives, you can carry out at least two surveys on the reefs around Gilis that we already have long term data for. It is really important that we can compare data we have to assess health and speed of recovery of our reefs.

 The second week  is the start of the course Introduction to Biorock technology. After diving a few times on the Biorock and participating in a few presentations about the science behind the technology, and why it is more efficient than other forms of reef restoration on the Gilis, you work with the team of students to design and build structures to sink underwater to then transplant broken healthy corals from other reefs to give them a better chance at survival or to continue to maintain, repair, add to exisiting structures depending on which course in the year you join.

This week gives you the PADI Distinctive specialty : Introduction to Biorock Process. Along with lots of applicable experience such as coral gardening, removal of coral predators and underwater clean ups.

 Throughout the 2 week course you will dive twice a day every day (apart from Sunday – which is a day off to explore the island) and then have a lecture, or theory or Biorock maintenance in the afternoons.

 Once you have completed this prerequisit course, you will be assigned to check and maintain the Biorock structures – which needs to be done weekly. Whilst also taking out groups of tourists on snorkel tours, explaining about the shallow Biorocks and what aquatic life you can find on each. If you are here volunteering for a period of time after the course, then you will be checking weekly the health and status of all the Biorock structures, carrying out additional dives where maintenance is needed with our Blue Team.

Divers need to be minimum Padi Advanced with at least 20 dives. This is to ensure you have sufficient buoyancy skills as we are working very close to the reef and picking up heavy corals unlike regular recreational diving. It is a great course, with lots of information for those starting out with a passion to help save our oceans, all the way to Masters graduates in marine biology. If you are not yet certified, you can do this in less than a week leading up to the workshop.

After the 2 week training you will be assigned as a research assistant to interns of the Gili Eco Trust who are carrying out data collection and studies on the Biorock, species and abundance surveys are also included here, along with forwarding our efforts to ensure that boats are not illegally anchoring on the reefs. 

Starting with the prerequisite 2 week training:

Whilst Gili Trawangan is being fast recognized as the party central of Indonesia, there are plenty of free time activities to be getting on with that doesn't involve alcohol.