REEF SPECIALIST PROGRAM

Understanding human impact and learning how divers can be part of the solution
Your Reef Specialist training begins by looking at one of the biggest pressures facing coral reefs today: marine pollution.

Morning – Marine Pollution Theory

You’ll explore how human activity on land and at sea affects marine ecosystems, including:

• Macroplastics and microplastics: where they come from and how they behave in the ocean
• Toxic pollutants and their effects on marine organisms
• How pollution alters food webs, reef health and biodiversity
• Monitoring methods and mitigation strategies used in marine conservation

This session gives you the scientific and ecological context behind the waste we see in the water.

Afternoon – Koh Tao Waste Management & Snorkel-Based Debris Survey

You’ll visit Koh Tao’s landfill to understand how waste is handled on a small island and how tourism and daily life translate into marine pollution.

Afterwards, you’ll take part in a snorkel-based Dive Against Debris, focusing on areas where waste currently accumulates:

• Collect and record marine debris
• Categorise materials (plastics, fishing gear, packaging, etc.)
• Apply Project AWARE data recording methods

Evening – Data Review & Impact Analysis

Back at the dive centre, you’ll analyse what you collected:

• Identify the most common waste types
• Discuss what they reveal about local and global pollution sources
• Explore how this data supports real conservation strategies

A full day dedicated to your Independent Project.

You’ll use this time to:

• Develop your research topic or conservation focus
• Review existing information and define your objectives
• Work with your assigned instructor mentor to refine your approach

This day allows you to shift from structured teaching into self-directed conservation work with expert guidance.

Completing your coral identification framework

This day takes coral identification to its highest level on Koh Tao.

Morning – Coral Taxonomy III Lecture

You’ll learn to identify the rare and more complex coral genera found around Koh Tao, including species that require careful morphological analysis.
By the end of this session, you will have covered all known coral genera recorded locally.

Topics include:

• Advanced colony formations and skeletal structures
• Subtle identification features
• Ecological roles of less common genera

Afternoon – 2 Coral Taxonomy III Safari Dives

You’ll apply everything you learned underwater:

• Actively search for rare and difficult coral genera
• Practice detailed identification and documentation
• Compare similar-looking species in real reef conditions

This is where theory becomes true field expertise.

Bringing Taxonomy I, II and III together

Morning – Coral Taxonomy Review

You’ll revisit all coral groups covered so far:

• Taxonomy I, II and III
• Key differences between genera
• Clarification of difficult or confusing identifications

This session ensures everyone has a solid, confident understanding before heading back into the water.

Afternoon – Mixed Taxonomy Safari Dives

During these dives, you’ll work with all coral genera mixed together:

• Identify hard corals from all three taxonomy levels
• Compare similar species side by side
• Apply real survey-style identification

This is one of the most challenging and rewarding coral ID days of the entire pathway.

A flexible day to consolidate everything you’ve learned.
You can use this time to:

• Review coral taxonomy
• Study e-learning materials
• Process your Independent Project data
• Or simply rest and recharge

This pause is important for turning information into understanding.

You’ll continue working on your Independent Project, focusing on:

• Data collection
• Literature review
• Developing outputs (research, educational materials, conservation tools, etc.)

Your instructor mentor will guide you based on your project focus.

Morning – Study & Preparation

Time to review EMP protocols and coral taxonomy before diving.

Afternoon – EMP Integration Dives

• You’ll complete EMP dives that combine:
• Fish and invertebrate monitoring
• Substrate analysis
• Advanced coral genus identification

These dives integrate everything you learned in the Conservation Specialist and Reef Specialist so far, preparing you for the more technical restoration and engineering work coming in Week 4.

Morning – Coral Restoration Lecture

You begin the week by understanding why, when and how coral restoration is applied.

You will learn:

• The main stressors currently affecting coral reefs
• When restoration is necessary — and when natural recovery is more appropriate
• How to select suitable sites for nurseries and transplant areas
• What a coral fragment is and how fragments are sourced ethically
• How nurseries are designed, installed and maintained
• The full restoration workflow: from fragment collection to long-term monitoring

You’ll also study the different attachment methods used to secure corals and how survival, growth and health are assessed over time.

Afternoon – Coral Restoration Dives

Two dives focused on hands-on restoration:

Dive 1 – Nursery & Maintenance Techniques

You will practice:

• Cleaning and maintaining coral nurseries
• Handling fragments correctly
• Applying three different attachment methods
• Preparing suitable substrate

Dive 2 – Transplant & Monitoring Dive

You will:

• Monitor newly attached coral fragments
• Assess stability, survival and early growth
• Test additional attachment techniques
• Record restoration data for long-term tracking

These dives turn theory into real conservation action.

A rest day to recover, review materials and allow information to settle before moving into engineering-based reef design.

Morning – Artificial Reef Theory

You will explore artificial reefs as ecological tools, not just structures.

You’ll learn:

• When artificial reefs are useful — and when they are not
• How site selection influences success
• What materials are suitable and environmentally safe
• How shape, complexity and stability affect biodiversity
• How artificial reefs support restoration, fisheries and habitat creation

Afternoon – Artificial Reef Survey Dives

You will dive at sites with multiple artificial reef structures and restoration frames:

• Evaluate stability, complexity and coral recruitment
• Compare different designs and materials
• Assess which structures attract the most fish and invertebrate life
• Identify pros and cons of each design

These dives give you real-world insight into what works and what doesn’t.

Morning – Wreck & Artificial Reef Surveys

You will compare wrecks and purpose-built artificial reefs by surveying:

• Fish abundance and diversity
• Coral and benthic colonisation
• Structural complexity and shelter value
• Differences between artificial and natural reefs

This allows you to understand how reef design influences ecosystem function.

Afternoon – Data Analysis & Design Brainstorming

Using the data you collected:

• Compare artificial vs natural reef performance
• Identify what makes a structure successful
• Begin developing your Artificial Reef Design Project

You will start designing your own artificial reef concept:

• Location
• Shape
• Materials
• Target species
• Ecological purpose

This project will be presented at the end of the week.

A full day dedicated to your Independent Project:

• Data collection
• Research
• Writing or design work
• One-to-one mentoring with your instructor

You continue refining your project:

• Finalise data
• Develop conclusions
• Prepare visuals or materials
• Structure your final presentation

Morning – Independent Project & Artificial Reef Preparation

Time to polish:

• Your Independent Project
• Your Artificial Reef Design

Afternoon – Presentations & Graduation

You will present:

• Your Artificial Reef Design Project
• Your Independent Conservation Project

This is followed by:

• Exams
• Career development advice
• Open Q&A with instructors
• Discussion of next steps in the conservation pathway

Finally, you will receive your Reef Specialist certification and diplomas, marking your transition from monitoring to active reef restoration and engineering.