

Do you have a desire to participate in global efforts to preserve, protect, and restore endangered
coral reefs? Coral reefs around the world are threatened with extinction. Key Largo Dive Center has
partnered with Reef Renewal USA and PADI to bring an exciting conservation opportunity to you and
your dive buddies! You can get “hands on” experience cleaning, working with, and preserving live
corals at the nearshore coral nursery in Key Largo. Coral reefs are delicate and sensitive to changes
in the environment including changes to water chemistry, temperature, and pollution. You can make a
difference. Join us to help save our coral reefs so that future generations can enjoy them.
The Reef Renewal USA Level I program is an opportunity for volunteer divers to serve as citizen
scientists and help benefit Reef Renewal, PADI, and Key Largo Dive Center in our objective to
restore and maintain the coral reef.
The Reef Renewal USA Level I Certification Course consists of the following elements:
Upon successful completion of the PADI Reef Renewal USA Level 1 Certification you will be qualified
to participate in Key Largo Dive Center’s regularly scheduled boat trips to the Coral Nursery to put
your new coral preservation and care skills to use. Once you are issued your Reef Renewal Level 1
certification card, you are not required
The dive takes place in the Reef Renewal USA Coral Nursery which is about a 20-30 minute boat ride
from Key Largo. All dives are under the supervision of a Key Largo Dive Center Instructor or
Divemaster staff members who are qualified as PADI Reef Renewal USA Dive Professionals.
You will be assigned a set of loaner cleaning tools to use during your training dives. The tools must be
properly used as described in the classroom training session and returned upon completion of the
dives.
The nursery consists of several different sections, each containing a different species of coral. These
include staghorn, elkhorn, brain, and other varying species. As part of your training you will be
assigned a “coral tree” to clean. This includes the removal of any algae, crustations, bivalves, and
other biological contaminants that inhibit coral growth. This ensures that the corals have a chance to
grow up healthy and attain a size suitable for future transplant onto the reef. After the dive we will
return to Key Largo.
Upon successful completion of the E-learning, classroom briefing, and in-water dive you will receive
the PADI Reef Renewal USA Level 1 specialty certification. This certification is accepted by PADI
towards your Master Diver training specialties.
10 Years or Older
1. Must be a certified Open Water Scuba Diver from any approved agency.
2. Minimum age is 10 years old. (All minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian).
3. Must be able to demonstrate acceptable neutral buoyancy skills.
4. Must complete the E-learning and the short classroom portion prior to the training dives.
The remaining gear required can be rented from Key Largo Dive Center. View our rental gear.
The PADI Reef Renewal USA Level 1 specialty course is offered once a month at the present time. Usually on the 4 th Saturday of the month. E-learning must be completed prior to attending. Check-in time for the classroom training session is 11:00 AM on the day of your training. You will select your training date when you click the “Book Now” button.
