Coral Restoration Snorkeling in Candidasa: Plant Your Own Reef

You fragment a coral cutting and anchor it to grow back on the reef

Snorkel Candidasa's coral nursery with a local Indonesian marine biologist, learning reef ecology and coral restoration while you plant your own coral fragment to be monitored and outplanted to restore surrounding reefs. The activity runs four hours and includes a classroom presentation on coral biology, snorkeling gear, and hands-on work mounting corals onto plugs. No boat is needed. You gear up on shore and swim to the reef during low tide. Minimum age is 16. A minimum of two people is required for the tour.

The experience

The morning starts on shore with a presentation on coral biology, the shapes corals form, and the threats reefs face today. Your guide, a local marine biologist, walks through hard versus soft corals, how they reproduce, and the mechanics of coral farming and restoration. Then you gear up with snorkeling equipment included and swim out to the nursery during low tide. No boat needed, which makes this accessible for beginners and keeps the focus on the work itself.

In the water, your guide points out specific corals in the nursery while you observe how the shelter they create brings fish life back to the area. You then work alongside the biologist to fragment a coral cutting from a donor colony and attach it to a plug so it has something to anchor to as it grows. Your plug goes back into the nursery, where Ocean Gardener continues to monitor it. When your colony is large enough, they outplant it onto the surrounding reefs to restore them.

All profits from the activity go back to Ocean Gardener's coral restoration program, so the money you spend funds the work you just helped do. The guide speaks English and the activity suits all fitness levels, though it is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnancy.

What’s included

• Snorkeling equipment.
• classroom presentation on coral biology and reef restoration.
• hands-on coral fragmentation and planting work in the nursery.
• guidance from a local marine biologist throughout the activity.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Under 16: can't be booked

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Ocean Gardener

Is this one for you?The four-hour commitment leaves room for another activity or meal elsewhere in your day, and the shore-based entry means you can join even if you're a beginner swimmer or uncomfortable with boats.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What does the presentation cover before we get in the water?

The presentation covers coral biology, the different shapes corals form, hard versus soft corals, the threats coral reefs face today, coral reproduction, and how coral farming and restoration actually work, so you understand what you're seeing when you snorkel the nursery.

Do I need a boat to reach the coral nursery?

No boat is needed. You gear up on shore and swim to the reef during low tide, which makes the activity perfect for beginners and keeps the focus on the restoration work itself.

What exactly do I do with the coral I'm planting?

You fragment a coral cutting from a donor colony and attach it to a plug so the coral has something to anchor to as it grows. Your plug then goes back into the nursery for Ocean Gardener to monitor until it's large enough to outplant onto the surrounding reefs.

Is snorkeling equipment included, or do I need to bring my own?

All snorkeling equipment is included. You just show up ready to learn and explore.

What's the minimum group size for this activity?

A minimum of two people is needed for the tour to run.