TIDES Coral Reef Experience
~ Coming Summer 2025 ~ Are you fascinated by the most biodiverse marine ecosystem in the world? Students participating in the TIDES Coral Reefs program will hone their dive skills by completing the SSI scuba specialties Navigation and Night and limited visibility and participating in coral reef restoration activities.
Availability: Contact us for booking information
Students participating in the TIDES Coral Reefs program will complete Ocean First Institute’s Natural History of Caribbean Coral course and hone their dive skills by completing the SSI scuba specialties Navigation and Search and Recovery.
Their knowledge of coral ecology will be put to use with a 5-day expedition to MarineLab and our Ocean First location in Key Largo, Florida. Here students will participate in citizen science projects that survey reef health and utilize restoration techniques to contribute to coral restoration projects.
Prerequisites
- Age: 12-18
- Open Water Diver Certification
- Enriched Air Nitrox and Perfect Buoyancy scuba specialty certifications (can be added onto the cost of the expedition)
- All participants must complete a SCUBA medical waiver and be in good health
- Gear: Students must own their own snorkel equipment (scuba mask, fins, snorkel)
Program Cost: Coming Soon!
Cancellation Policy:
- Changes made to the reservation may result in additional fees.
- Cancellation 180 days or more: refund given based on reselling the space, minus the initial deposit.
- 179 - 120 days: payments made to date are forfeited as well as any vendor fees.
- 119 days or less or a no-show: no refunds given.
- We strongly recommend securing trip cancellation insurance to protect your investment in the unlikely event you need to cancel your trip. Our preferred provider is DAN Trip Insurance.
Inclusions:
- SSI Navigation, Search and Recovery, and Coral Ecology Certifications
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Rental SCUBA equipment
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5day/4night Dorm-style lodging at MarineLab
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All meals
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TIDES T-shirt
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Review of in-water scuba skills
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8 open water dives: includes 2 night dives, 2 navigation dives, 4 coral restoration focused dives (pending weather conditions)
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Digital copies of all certification cards earned & 1 hard copy of coral ecology certification card
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Ocean First Institute’s Natural History of Caribbean Corals Short Cours
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MarineLab Activities
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Discussion: Advanced Coral Reef Ecology Lecture (Coral Bleaching and Disease Monitoring)
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Field Trip: Advanced Coral Reef Ecology (Coral Bleaching and Disease Monitoring) with Citizen Science Mote Marine Lab
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Lab: Microplastics
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Lab: Invertebrate Diversity
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Coral Restoration Activities with Reef Renewal Foundation
Not Included:
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Roundtrip Airfare
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Please note parents/guardians are responsible for arranging travel for their students. Students will be chaperoned for the duration of the program beginning and ending with arrival and departure at MarineLab respectively.
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Chaperoned transportation from the Miami airport to MarineLab may be added on for an additional fee.
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Contact us to request chaperoned airport transfer. (Est. fee $165 - $325 based on transfer requests)
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For Denver area students only, chaperoned travel through the airport may be added on for an additional fee from DIA, beginning at designated airport meeting time (subject to change if the flight is delayed) and ending upon student pickup at baggage claim.
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Contact us to request chaperoned airport travel from DIA ($100 fee/student)
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Personal Snorkel Equipment: Scuba mask, fins, dive booties, snorkel
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Contact us about any questions regarding purchasing snorkel equipment or to receive a complimentary equipment buying guide
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For Denver area students, gear can be purchased at our Ocean First, Boulder location
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1 dive light, one backup light will be provided
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Personal Dive Accident Insurance (we recommend DAN)
Coming soon!
For Questions or Inquiries:
Contact Jaimie Albach, TIDES OFKL Program Coordinator
- Email: jaimie.albach@oceanfirst.blue