Launched in 2011, the Adopt A Reef Program encourages stakeholders dependent on a healthy reef to monitor their favorite dive or snorkel site. Dive centers and marine guides that adopt sites are asked to submit a monthly Coral Watch report, keep their reef clean of lionfish, and to report all sea turtles observed.

ECOMAR needs your help to monitor reef sites throughout Belize. Dive Centers, marine guides, coastal residents, NGOs and park rangers are asked to adopt their favorite reef site, whether it is a shallow snorkel site or deeper dive site.  If you can adopt more than one that will be great!  

We need sites of all depths monitored so that we can record changes on the reef over time. The first step is to learn about the Belize Coral Watch Program and learn how to identify healthy coral from diseased coral from bleaching coral.  In the program you'll also learn about coral growth forms and Coral Reef Biology 101.

We also encourage you to keep your reef clean of lionfish.  Remember lionfish are the vacuum cleaners on the reef and eat all fish, up to 75% their body size!

The number of sea turtles that frequent your reef site is also important to us while we conduct the 2011 Sea Turtle Census.  This involves recording all dive or snorkel trips to the site so we can estimate abundance.

Once you adopt a reef you will receive a "Certification of Adoption" for the site and will receive training materials that will guide you through the steps required to monitor the reef. The materials will show you how to report your observations on the following programs.

Coral Watch

Lionfish Project

Turtle Watch

When you adopt a reef and submit reports on a monthly basis then we can track the health of the reef and compare it to other sites throughout Belize.

Pleaseto the left maps of dive sites around Ambergris Caye, Turneffe and Lighthouse.  If you are adopting reef sites in other areas we do not have maps yet so please provide details on where the site is on the form.

AMBERGRIS CAYE

Map courtesy White Sands Dive Shop

San Pedro Ambergris Caye

LIGHTHOUSE ATOLL

TURNEFFE ATOLL

Map courtesy Turneffe Flats

Blackbird Caye, Turneffe Atoll

Is there a dive or snorkel site that you visit regularly each week? 



Does your livelihood depend on a healthy site with colorful corals, native fish and large marine life like sea turtles?

Then Adopt a Reef Today

and Start Making a Difference!