Professional diploma800 h · Online · 8 modules

Professional Diploma in Coral Reef Restoration

This professional diploma prepares you to understand and apply coral reef restoration techniques in one of the ecosystems most threatened by ocean warming. You will study coral biology, bleaching and its causes, coral nurseries, microfragmentation and assisted reproduction, and learn to design projects with rigorous monitoring, aware that restoration complements, but does not replace, the reduction of global and local pressures.

Duration800 h
ModeOnline
Start1 December
Modules8
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Prior knowledge check

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You are starting from scratch in this subject. The program is designed precisely for that.

About the program

What is the Professional Diploma in Coral Reef Restoration?

This professional diploma prepares you to understand and apply coral reef restoration techniques in one of the ecosystems most threatened by ocean warming. You will study the anatomy, symbiosis and growth of corals, the causes of bleaching and reef degradation, and the main restoration methods: fixed and floating nurseries, coral gardening, microfragmentation, larval rearing and substrate stabilization. You will then learn to design monitoring programs, involve local communities and plan budgets and adaptive management.

What sets this diploma apart: a realistic view of what coral restoration can and cannot achieve; current techniques, from nurseries and microfragmentation to larvae and artificial substrates; a climate focus, with the selection of heat-tolerant corals and restoration in the face of warming; project management covering logistics, biosecurity, local communities and funding; and a practical case in which you design a restoration project for a specific reef.

Program typeProfessional diploma
ModeOnline
Duration800 hours
Modules8
Start1 December

Program highlights

  • Realistic view: what coral restoration can and cannot achieve.
  • Current techniques: nurseries, microfragmentation, larvae and artificial substrates.
  • Climate focus: selection of heat-tolerant corals and restoration in the face of warming.
  • Project management: logistics, biosecurity, local communities and funding.
  • Rigorous monitoring: survival, growth, coral cover and reef photogrammetry.
  • Practical case: a restoration project for a specific reef.
Syllabus

Syllabus of the Professional Diploma in Coral Reef Restoration

8 modules. Select a module to see its content.

Module 1

Coral biology and ecology

  • 1.1. Anatomy of the coral polyp
  • 1.2. Symbiosis with zooxanthellae
  • 1.3. Calcification and growth
  • 1.4. Hard and soft corals
  • 1.5. Asexual reproduction
  • 1.6. Spawning and sexual reproduction
  • 1.7. Reef structure
  • 1.8. Associated biodiversity
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 2

Threats to coral reefs

  • 2.1. Bleaching and heat stress
  • 2.2. Ocean acidification
  • 2.3. Coral diseases
  • 2.4. Pollution and sedimentation
  • 2.5. Overfishing and loss of herbivores
  • 2.6. Predators such as the crown-of-thorns starfish
  • 2.7. Physical damage and tourism
  • 2.8. Assessing reef condition
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 3

Principles of coral restoration

  • 3.1. What restoration is and what it is not
  • 3.2. Reducing local pressures
  • 3.3. Ecological and social objectives
  • 3.4. Scale of interventions
  • 3.5. Species selection
  • 3.6. Genetic diversity
  • 3.7. International good practice guidelines
  • 3.8. Common mistakes
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 4

Coral nurseries and gardening

  • 4.1. Types of nursery: fixed and floating
  • 4.2. Sourcing donor fragments
  • 4.3. Nursery maintenance
  • 4.4. Controlling algae and fouling organisms
  • 4.5. Biosecurity and disease
  • 4.6. Transplanting to the reef
  • 4.7. Attachment techniques
  • 4.8. Survival after transplanting
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 5

Microfragmentation and sexual reproduction

  • 5.1. Microfragmentation and colony fusion
  • 5.2. Land-based culture
  • 5.3. Collecting gametes during spawning
  • 5.4. Larval rearing
  • 5.5. Settlement on substrates
  • 5.6. Seeding recruits
  • 5.7. Genetic advantages of sexual reproduction
  • 5.8. Limits of scale
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 6

Substrates, structures and new technologies

  • 6.1. Rubble stabilization
  • 6.2. Artificial structures and their risks
  • 6.3. Substrates that encourage settlement
  • 6.4. Experimental acoustic enrichment
  • 6.5. Heat-tolerant corals
  • 6.6. Assisted evolution in research
  • 6.7. Robotics and automation
  • 6.8. Assessing emerging technologies
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 7

Monitoring and project management

  • 7.1. Designing the monitoring
  • 7.2. Survival and growth
  • 7.3. Coral cover
  • 7.4. Fish and herbivores
  • 7.5. Reef photogrammetry
  • 7.6. Involving local communities
  • 7.7. Budget and funding
  • 7.8. Adaptive management
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 8

Practical case: restoration project for a reef

  • 8.1. Selecting the reef
  • 8.2. Diagnosing its condition
  • 8.3. Reducing local pressures
  • 8.4. Selecting techniques
  • 8.5. Nursery plan
  • 8.6. Monitoring program
  • 8.7. Budget and stakeholders
  • 8.8. Presenting the project
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Plan your pace

Duration and format of the Professional Diploma in Coral Reef Restoration

It is 800 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.

4 h30 h
With 12 h per week
15
months to finish
67 weeks
weeks in total

This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the installment plan.

Faculty

Academic leadership and faculty

The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programs.

Dra. Marina AlcoverDr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Ing. Diego CifuentesEng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Capt. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerDr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dra. Nuria LlobregatDr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Ing. Javier BañulsEng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Ing. Sofía MarquinaEng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Ing. Tomás RieraEng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration Coordinator
Objectives

Objectives of the Professional Diploma in Coral Reef Restoration

01Understand coral biology.
02Analyze the threats to reefs.
03Know the restoration techniques.
04Manage coral nurseries.
05Design the monitoring.
06Plan a restoration project.
Careers

Career opportunities after the Professional Diploma in Coral Reef Restoration

01Reef restoration techniciandesign and delivery of coral restoration projects.
02Coral nursery coordinatormanagement of nurseries in conservation programs.
03Marine protected area managerconservation of reefs in protected sites.
04Sustainable tourism specialistconservation programs with dive operators.
05NGO project officercoastal conservation projects in tropical regions.
06Reef monitoring specialistassessment of reef condition and recovery.
Frequently asked questions

Questions about the Professional Diploma in Coral Reef Restoration

Not on its own. It is a complementary tool that only works if local pressures and global warming are also reduced.

No. The program neither includes nor replaces the diving qualification needed to work underwater.

Yes, such as assisted evolution and robotics, presented as emerging lines that are still at research stage.

Yes. The content applies to reefs in any tropical or subtropical region.

A complete restoration project for a specific reef, with techniques, monitoring and a budget.

Fully online, through a virtual campus available 24/7, with live sessions that are recorded and tutorials with the teaching staff.

The professional diploma comprises 800 hours of study across 8 modules of about 100 hours each and ends with a practical case. You can progress at your own pace within the schedule set when you enroll.

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Online admission

Admission process

No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.

Entry requirements
  • Profile: aimed at biologists and marine science graduates who wish to specialize in coral reefs, diving and tourism professionals involved in conservation programs, marine protected area staff who manage reef sites, international NGO professionals who coordinate coastal conservation projects, and environmental consultants working in tropical and subtropical regions. A degree in biology, marine science, environmental science or a related field, or professional experience in marine conservation, scientific diving or nature tourism, is recommended.
  • Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
  • Technical resources: a computer with a stable internet connection, an up-to-date browser and a camera for live sessions and project presentations.
  • Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
  1. 01
    Application
    Your details, background and documents.
  2. 02
    Instant review
    We check that everything is complete and in order.
  3. 03
    Enrollment
    Choose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Start my applicationFrom $444 deposit

Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.

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