Imagine helping to stabilise a broken reef and watching life return. On this interactive experience, you’ll play a hands-on role in restoring &Beyond Mnemba Island’s coral ecosystem by participating in the final steps of creating your own hexagonal reef star and attaching living coral fragments nurtured in the Mnemba Island coral nursery.
Following a short introduction at the Ocean Without Borders (OWB) Discovery Centre*, you’ll learn how these small reef stars fast-track reef recovery by stabilising loose coral rubble left behind by global bleaching events. You’ll then join the OWB marine rangers to attach coral fragments to your reef star, either from the shoreline or in shallow water, depending on your comfort level.
Your completed reef star is then transferred by boat to a protected restoration site within the Mnemba Island Marine Special Area (MIMSA). Guests may choose to accompany** the team to snorkel, free dive or dive to witness its placement approximately 6 m (20 ft) below the surface. The deployment is filmed, so whether you join the boat or remain on shore, you’ll receive footage of your reef star settling into its new underwater home. In time, the coral fragments will grow across the structure, creating shelter for fish and encouraging natural coral recruitment. What begins as rubble becomes reef once more.
This experience must be booked in advance (can be booked once on the island) and is subject to the availability of the OWB and marine ranger teams. As with all ocean-based activities, participation is weather dependent.
*Guest participation in this experience includes a Wild Impact OWB programme donation.
**Scuba diving participation requires Open Water certification. No diving certification is required for the shoreline assembly experience.