Tracking our very own coral reef as it grows—in the Maldives

Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru is located in a remote atoll that offers guests easy access to several world-class diving sites and coral gardens. But it’s more than just a great diving destination; biologists at Landaa’s Marine Discovery Center are working to preserve the local marine ecosystem.

One of the projects is the reef propagation effort, Reefscapers. Reefscapers is one of the most successful coral propagation projects in the world. And my family and I were delighted at the opportunity to participate by building a coral frame during our stay at Four Seasons. We have been teaching Paris and Vanessa, our nine- and seven-year-old daughters, about the importance of taking care of the environment. Building a coral reef was a fun and educational way to practice what we preach.

We attached pieces of coral fragments onto a specially designed frame, hoping to boost existing reef habitats and encourage the growth of new ones.
“Kind of like an apartment building?” asked Vanessa, my seven year old.
“Yes. A bit,” confirmed the biologist.

After we finished building the coral frame, it was time to plant it. We carried it over to the jetty and gently tossed it into the shallow water, where it stayed for a couple of days until biologists took it to deeper water.

My husband Thai used his new diving skills to take a picture of the frame under water. The frame has a plate that bears our name, and an identification number, which allows both us and the biologists to monitor its growth—as it changes from this,

to this

over time.

Monique blogs at Motravels.com.

Read more about the Maldives in Four Seasons Magazine.