Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Coralpalooza™ 2025 marked a monumental milestone in the coral restoration movement.
Organized annually by Coral Restoration Foundation™ (CRF), this year’s Coralpalooza™ brought together 1,732 passionate ocean advocates, coral scientists, dive volunteers, and international collaborators for a total of 1,673 hours of action for our reefs.
Local Impact in Florida
Over the course of three days, June 5-7, CRF teams and participants adapted to weather fluctuations with flexibility and determination.
In Florida, CRF carried out a combined 760 hours on the water, with 502 hours spent underwater which is the equivalent of 62 8-hour work days! Activities included nursery maintenance, coral tree cleaning, monitoring and the outplanting of 752 corals, including over 400 boulder species. Also celebrating in the Florida Keys, ICARE outplanted a total of 96 coral specimens and Reef Renewal USA transferred 162 broodstock corals representing 13 species from their offshore nursery in Tavernier, FL, to a land-based coral propagation facility in Ruskin, Central Florida.
The celebrations continued into the evening with our Friday Night Social at the Caribbean Club in Key Largo. Divers, interns and CRF staff gathered to share stories, reconnect, and reflect on a decade of progress. Attendees showed off vintage Coralpalooza™ shirts from years past, turning the event into a vibrant, living timeline of community-driven reef restoration. The gathering offered a well-earned moment of camaraderie, honoring the people behind the progress.
This year’s event also featured a limited-edition 10th anniversary Coralpalooza™ merchandise collection. These exclusive items were a hit with participants and supporters, helping commemorate the occasion while raising funds to support ongoing restoration work. With rashguards, hats, and leggings that proudly showcased the Coralpalooza™ spirit, the collection became a symbol of our shared commitment to coral reefs.
A Global Network of Reef Stewards
One of the defining features of Coralpalooza™ is its international reach. This year, 18 coral conservation and restoration organizations from 9 countries participated in coordinated events around the globe.
International collaborators included Coral Catch, Coral Nurture, Corales de Paz, CWORI, Derby Marine Sanctuary, Iberostar Wave of Change, Mars, Planhotel, Seascapes Caribbean, South Caicos Coral Reef Consortium (SCCRC), The Oceancy, The School for Field Studies (SFS), SORCE, Kuleana Coral Restoration and Mind Blown.
These collaborators organized a range of dynamic and educational experiences, from coral outplanting in the Maldives to ocean-themed outreach booths in Hawai‘i.
- CRF St. Croix joined with two boats to outplant an additional 210 corals and clean 20 nursery trees, reinforcing their continued commitment to regional restoration.
- SFS and SCCRC led student snorkel ID lessons and beach clean-ups.
- Corales de Paz hosted an online webinar on the MARRS restoration technique.
- Planhotel Marine Lab hosted a weeklong celebration with VR reef tours, interactive workshops, and clean-ups involving 350 guests and staff.
- Seascapes Caribbean monitored on-nursery “chunk” fragments for health & growth.
- Mars led a community-engaged restoration effort that included the construction of 400 Reef Stars, the deployment of 6,000 coral fragments, and hands-on training for eight new coral practitioners.
- SORCE completed five dives to maintain 48 coral nursery structures across four sites, removing algae and monitoring coral health.
- Kuleana Coral Restoration delivered educational outreach for Ocean Day, amplifying awareness in their local community.
In total, 988 participants contributed their time and energy to Coralpalooza™ 2025. Their efforts added up to 274 recorded participant hours dedicated to reef conservation. These numbers reflect the strength of a growing global community with a shared goal of protecting coral reefs.
Community Education and Outreach
Photo: Ashley Zeitchick
Photo: Ashley Zetichick
More than 420 people attended land-based events, including those at Zoo Miami, the CRF Exploration Center, and the EcoDiscovery Center in Key West. CRF also hosted a scavenger hunt that encouraged community members to engage with coral science and local conservation efforts. Kuleana Coral Restoration, SORCE and The Oceancy also facilitated interactive booths and activities to encourage awareness and action.
From swim lessons and crafts to reef documentaries and coral scavenger hunts, Coralpalooza™ 2025 demonstrated the power of accessible education in advancing marine conservation.
Honoring Our Sponsors and Supporters
None of this would be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. We are deeply grateful to the Ocean Reef Conservation Association (Ecosystem Sponsor) and Rock the Ocean (Reef Sponsor) for their ongoing partnership. We also extend sincere thanks to our Thicket Sponsor, FURY, Coral Sponsors Georgia Aquarium and NOAMAR, and our Armada-level supporters: The Dive Shop, Conch Republic Divers, Horizon Divers, Rainbow Reef Dive Center, Silent World Dive Center, Pirate’s Cove Watersports, Ocean First, and Islamorada Dive Center. Special thanks to Nuun for contributing 300 packets of electrolytes as our Treasure Sponsor.
Their investment in Coralpalooza™ enables us to expand our impact, reach more communities, and restore more reefs each year.
The Momentum Continues
Coralpalooza™ 2025 was a meaningful milestone in the history of coral restoration. As a registered UN Ocean Decade Event for the third consecutive year, Coralpalooza™ continues to represent a collaborative, science-driven model for conservation.
Thank you to everyone who participated. Your efforts are making a difference.
