CELEBRATING 10TH ANNIVERSARY
AND WORLD OCEANS DAY
June 5th-7th, 2025
CORALPALOOZA™
A GLOBAL MOVEMENT FOR OUR CORAL REEFS!
To celebrate World Oceans Day every year, Coral Restoration Foundation mobilizes thousands of ocean lovers in Florida and around the world to take action to restore our planet’s disappearing coral reefs.
Year after year, Coralpalooza makes waves with large scale action taking place over three days in Florida, and with reef-saving activities happening around the world as part of the Coralpalooza Community.
Recognized by the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, and listed as a UN Ocean Decade event, we are shining a light on the urgent need for collaborative efforts to restore our planets’ coral reefs.
Coralpalooza™ 2025 Dive & Snorkel registration is now open!
The cost is $120 per person, per event, covering activities in the Florida Keys on different days. You’re welcome to sign up for multiple events, but we recommend against doing both a morning and afternoon trip on the same day—restoration work can be tiring.
Each registration form accommodates up to 10 participants. If you and your buddy are registering separately, please note their name so we can try to place you on the same vessel.
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Every participant receives:
- Coralpalooza™ 2025 event shirt
- Two-tank dive trip (tanks and weights included)
- Evening social event and food ticket:
Friday, June 6 (Upper Keys)
Saturday, June 7 (Lower Keys)
Please review the FAQs and the registration materials carefully.
For questions, please contact coralpalooza@coralrestoration.org
Florida Keys Dive Day Registration
Upper Keys Location
Key West Location
If your preferred day is SOLD OUT, please choose another day or join the waitlist.
THE CORALPALOOZA™ COMMUNITY
Originally launched in 2015 as a local reef restoration event in the Florida Keys, it has now evolved into a global movement.
In 2024, Coralpalooza™ saw more than 4,000 corals returned to reefs around the world, thanks to the dedication of partner organizations from multiple countries. Over several days of action, more than 1,000 participants contributed over 1,500 hours both above and below the water.
In addition to outplanting and nursery maintenance, Coralpalooza Community participants conducted experiments, surveys, and monitoring to assess reef health, while educational outreach—through workshops and cleanups—engaged local communities, youth groups, and women’s empowerment initiatives.
Coralpalooza™ continues to be a testament to the power of collaboration, reminding us that international collaboration is critical if we are to be successful in restoring our reefs worldwide.
2024 Coralpalooza™ Community Participants
- Blue Corner Marine Research: Nusa Lembongan, Indonesia
- CoralCatch: Indonesia
- Coral Nurture Program: Australia
- CRF South Florida: US
- CRF St. Croix: USVI
- Marhe, Marine Research and Higher Education Center: Maldives
- Misool Foundation: Raja Ampat, Indonesia
- Nature Seychelles: Seychelles
- Reefscapers: Maldives
- Rescue a Reef: Miami, Florida, USA
- Seascape Caribbean: Jamaica
FAQs
Is Coralpalooza 2025 happening after the 2023 bleaching and heat disturbance event?
YES, it is still happening! In fact, we feel that Coralpalooza is more important than ever since it represents the resilience of restoration efforts in the face of adversity and disturbance events. As always, we will be basing our in-water restoration activities on the forecasted conditions so that the health of the coral stays our priority!
How is this Coralpalooza 2025 different from previous years?
We heard you loud and clear – that you wanted MORE ways to make a difference! This year we are repeating our three-day format (Thursday, June 5th through Saturday, June 7th) for dive day opportunities. Each dive registration is for a half day, two tank trip, which means more trips per day and more opportunities for people to participate. We are adding a Friday night social celebration and working with local dive operators to offer unique add-on dive programs to increase your chance to make a positive impact! At registration, you will see multi-day and multi-location options on registration forms and the chance to opt-in for additional activities organized by local dive shops. Each Coralpalooza day is a separate registration and cost. For additional activity details offered by dive operators, please refer to the participating dive shop.
So how will this year’s event work?
Participants can choose to participate for multiple options Thursday, June 5th through Friday, June 7th. Registrants will be assigned to dive operators based on the location and day that they selected (Upper Keys or Lower Keys), but the location you go to may all be different! Two dives per registrant are coordinated (two tanks and weights included) and boats are scheduled for half days to allow for the operators to still get in a second dive trip. This means that, if you want to fit in a fun dive the same day, you can! Travel times on the vessel will vary from 30 to 60 minutes and you can plan for 4 hours on the boat.
What will I be doing?
Restoration activities and SCUBA diving are always weather dependent activities. The safety of our divers, both participants and our CRF team, is our ultimate priority. We plan to maximize the restoration impact through coral outplanting, coral reef maintenance or reef monitoring based on the forecasted conditions, but activities may be changed or even cancelled last minute. Should the weather not allow for restoration activities but is deemed safe enough for recreational diving per the dive operators, then activities will be revised. Should a small craft advisory or warning be issued, dive activities may be cancelled entirely in the interest of safety. Coralpalooza™ registration is non-refundable and non-transferable.
How long are the dives?
Times will be given per location and activity! All divers and their buddies must return to the vessel with no less than 500PSI in their tanks.
Can I spend one dive taking pictures?
We do encourage people to document their experience, and we are excited to all be working towards a positive mission together! Please feel free to take the occasional picture, but otherwise, focus on the task at hand to ensure that our work is benefitting the coral.
How many dives are included?
Two dives are coordinated for all registrants. The CRF™ representatives on board coordinating the restoration activities (the “Coral Crew”) may conduct a third dive to finish any remaining restoration work.
How many sites will we visit?
Depends on the day, the work goals, and the weather! Should the weather not allow for a particular activity, then the plan will be altered, and sites will be selected based on conditions.
Are they morning or afternoon dives?
Dives are offered Thursday morning and afternoon, Friday morning, and Saturday morning and afternoon.
Do you provide rental gear?
Coral Restoration Foundation™ works with local dive operators for the restoration activities and vessel usage. All registrants will be assigned a liaison dive operator once registration closes, and this dive operator can assist with any rental gear. Please contact your assigned dive operator well in advance to request rental gear or any other accommodations.
How about tanks/weights?
The dive operator that you are assigned to will provide the tanks and weights!
How about Nitrox?
The dive operator that you are assigned to may be able to support your Nitrox request!
Can I bring my own tanks?
Please direct this question to your assigned dive operator once registration closes and more details have been sent out!
How deep are the dives?
Dives may vary from 15-30 ft (5-10m) in depth for restoration activities. Should restoration activities be impacted due to weather and recreational diving occur, dive depths may vary pending the operator’s discretion.
How will I receive training?
Training will be coordinated remotely through mandatory Zoom sessions. Once registration closes, multiple Zoom classes will be offered in the weeks leading up to June 1st. All registered dive and snorkel participants MUST attend a Zoom training or participation will be limited to snorkeling.
I’ve already done a dive program; do I have to attend training?
Yes! Coralpalooza™ is such a unique event that being familiar with its programming is necessary!
I don’t have a buddy. What now?
Not a problem! There are many individuals who have registered. You will be buddied randomly with another individual unless previously indicated on your registration form. If you are a minor, then an adult must accompany you in the same activity. If the minor doesn’t have an adult parent or guardian, the dive operator can hire a dive master – please let us know if this is the case!
My minor child wants to participate. What now?
We welcome ages 12 and upwards to participate. Minors must be accompanied by an adult participating in the same activity – if a minor is snorkeling/diving then an adult parent/guardian must snorkel/dive with them as a buddy. If that is not possible, please contact the assigned dive operator to coordinate a private divemaster/buddy. Please also work with your minor to monitor email updates and requirements for participation, otherwise participation may be limited.
What should I bring?
- Food & snacks! We will be out on the water for 4 hoursand it’s easy to get hangry (sorry, “hungry”) on boats! If snacks are important to you, please plan to bring some food for yourself and group.
- Water! While there will be water on board the boats, please plan to bring a refillable water container(s), and maybe even some electrolytes to ensure proper hydration. SCUBA diving is a thirsty sport!
- Please protect your skin and eyes by covering up, using zinc- or titanium-based sunscreen (please NO sunscreen with oxybenzone chemicals; if unsure, then leave it at home!), bringing a hat and wearing sunglasses.
- Bring a simple pair of gardening gloves for nursery maintenance work!
- A towel(s)
- Whatever else you need for a morning on the water
