Do I need scuba certification to participate?

Certified divers can perform out-planting work; snorkelers can join surface planting activities. Open Water certification is required for diving tasks.

What is included in the registration?

Registration includes two-tank dive or snorkel event registration, two standard air tanks and weights, an event shirt, and invitation to the Key Largo evening social.

The meeting point is in Key Largo at 5 Seagate Blvd, Key Largo, FL 33037, USA; operators will confirm exact dock location prior to the event.

Is rental gear available?

Yes—rental equipment can be acquired from your assigned dive operator at additional cost; requests for nitrox or special tank sizes may incur fees.

Newly certified divers are advised to gain more experience before participating; snorkelers with solid open-water skills can participate in surface activities.

What data is collected during planting?

Teams document out-plants with photos or GPS, producing records used in long-term monitoring and research by Coral Restoration Foundation and partners.

Coralpalooza: Restore Key Largo's Reefs Aboard Islamorada Dive Center Boat

On World Oceans Day the Islamorada Dive Center Boat becomes a working classroom on the water, sailing from Key Largo to the Florida Keys reef tract. Based at 5 Seagate Blvd, Key Largo, FL 33037, USA, this Coralpalooza event organized with the Coral Restoration Foundation turns volunteer divers and snorkelers into reef stewards across two-tank dives or guided snorkel swims. Participants join a coordinated, large-scale restoration push that focuses on nursery-grown fragments of staghorn and elkhorn coral—two reef-building species vital to the Florida reef tract. The dives visit shallow patch reefs and spur-and-groove formations where volunteers out-plant coral fragments into degraded areas, attach nursery-grown colonies to hard substrate, and learn techniques used by conservation biologists. Above water the boat ride offers views of mangrove-fringed channels and seagrass flats that cradle juvenile fish and foraging turtles. What makes this a standout experience for Key Largo visitors is the mix of hands-on conservation, expert-led instruction, and immediate ecological impact. Coralpalooza is recognized by the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and concentrates efforts over three days; the Islamorada Dive Center Boat hosts a focused, four-hour engagement that supplies tanks, weights, event shirts, and an invitation to the Key Largo evening social. Whether you’re a certified diver or a keen snorkeler, staff place buddies and guide teams to maximize safety and planting success. The reef here is mostly living limestone and massive coral heads punctuated by branching elkhorn and staghorn. Look for angelfish, sergeant majors, and the quiet grazing of green sea turtles. Volunteers also learn about local threats—warming seas, disease, and anchor damage—and why restoring structural corals speeds habitat recovery for fisheries and shoreline protection. Logistics are straightforward: meet at the Key Largo launch at the address above and expect a 4‑hour time commitment with surface intervals between dives. Rental gear is available through assigned operators, though experienced divers often bring their own masks and regulators. New divers are advised to gain comfort underwater before joining. Expect a pre-dive briefing covering reef‑safe practices, fish identification, and precise planting protocols; staff demonstrate cutting and attachment techniques and review boat etiquette including no-anchor zones. Divers are assigned to small teams to document each out-plant with GPS or photos—data that feeds long-term monitoring. The Key Largo evening social gathers volunteers and scientists to share outcomes and plan future steward actions and celebrate progress. This trip is more than a dive trip; it’s a civic action that lets visitors leave a measurable legacy on the Florida reef tract. For travelers who want to pair adventure with purpose, stepping aboard the Islamorada Dive Center Boat during Coralpalooza is a rare chance to put hands on the reef and help write the next chapter for Key Largo’s underwater places.

About Coral Restoration Foundation

Coral Restoration Foundation, based in Tavernier, Florida, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring coral reef ecosystems through science-based restoration, public engagement, and volunteer programs. The foundation cultivates coral fragments in offshore and in-water nurseries, conducts outplanting and monitoring on restored reef sites, and advances best practices for reef recovery. Public experiences include Coralpalooza events, boat-based restoration dives with local dive operators, and full-day programs that let participants work directly in nurseries, assist with coral planting, and learn monitoring techniques.

Programs are designed for divers, snorkelers, students, volunteers, and community groups seeking hands-on conservation opportunities. Coralpalooza is presented as a multi-day global event that mobilizes volunteers and partners to celebrate World Oceans Day with reef restoration activities. Boat-based experiences listed from local operators provide accessible ways to join restoration efforts in the Florida Keys region. Educational materials, volunteer training, and site monitoring support the foundation's restoration goals and provide measurable field experience.

The organization collaborates with regional partners, dive operators, and community stakeholders to scale restoration efforts while maintaining scientific oversight. Volunteer opportunities are structured and supervised to ensure safety and ecological best practices. Public participation supports ongoing reef resilience work and helps connect visitors to local marine conservation. For travelers seeking meaningful ocean experiences in the Florida Keys, Coral Restoration Foundation offers guided, field-based programs that combine education with tangible reef recovery actions. Programs accommodate varying experience levels, include certified-diver options and snorkel-friendly activities, and often offer opportunities to learn about coral biology and reef ecology in the Keys.