"What stood out was RRUSA’s absolute desire to involve their volunteers in the full operation and efforts. Every volunteer was given the opportunity to learn and execute on each of the necessary task to maintain a nursery and out plant in the reefs. The empowerment given to us volunteers was appreciated and it made us all feel part of the solution and promotes the desire among our group to return and do more. It wasn’t just a taste of the everyday, it was involving us to the whole process and trusting us to be able to do what was needed. This type of program hands the public that gets involved full investment in the cause and the efforts."

"Going to the reef renewal site was an amazing learning experience as a new scientific diver. We were able to safely learn how to fragment coral and tie coral to the coral tree. My favorite exposure to the reef renewal program was cleaning the coral [trees]."

"Working with Reef Renewal was an amazing experience! The instructors were engaging and really provided us with a hands-on-experience. Protecting our coral is essential for marine life and the health of our ocean and I think Reef Renewal provided a great experience in teaching us how to restore our reefs."

I was a part of a group of divers from Vermont who spent time volunteering with Reef Renewal USA in April 2022. Even though we were only there for one week, we all felt like valuable members of the team. Their online training platform makes it easy for you to complete the orientation & training before you get to the site, enabling you to start the hands-on work the minute you arrive. We all spent time working with the staff to propagate corals on land as well as build and clean the coral nursery trees. The staff was incredible and included us in all that they were doing. They were open to educate us about coral propagation and were always excited to answer our questions. Being able to work in the coral nursery was truly an amazing experience I will never forget. It's hard to put into words what it felt like cleaning off the nursery trees. It's calming, therapeutic and incredibly inspiring.

I have to say I have lived in the Keys for 18 years and I have always been in love with the reefs here. I feel my happiest when I am underwater and exploring all the beautiful diversity in the reefs. I have been saddened over the years as I have watched the reef looking worse and seeing coral disappearing. About two years ago I started to see some corals that had been planted in different reefs and I have also seen corals growing in the past few years. It has given me hope. I had often fantasized that I could be of some help. I knew people were planting corals and were helping to save the reefs. When I saw an opportunity to learn how to do coral fragging and coral cleaning with Reef Renewal I was so excited that I immediately signed up to volunteer and called my husband to tell him. I had since gotten to learn how to frag corals, how to clean corals in the nursery and even as of yesterday I learned how to harvest and plant Staghorn corals. I felt so elated that I could finally be a part of the process of helping to save the reefs that I adore and cherish. Thank you to Reef Renewal!!

Working with Reef Renewal was such a delightful and educational experience. Being a relatively new diver- I didn’t know much about Coral Life and how necessary it is to our environment. In just one week I learned how to help restore and maintain different corals in an educational and fun way that anyone can do! Reef Renewal taught me how I can be a part of the positive changes the Florida Keys need beneath the surface. Not to mention, some amazing mentors and memories that last a life time! Thanks Reef Renewal!

Reef Renewal provides a great immersive experience when it comes to coral fragmenting and nursery work. Being able to participate in every step of the process was very rewarding! Each of the staff were very knowledgeable and went above and beyond when giving directions and answering questions. I’m looking forward to my next RRUSA volunteering day!