ICONIC REEF GUARDIANS

An Underwater Experience
You Wonʼt Soon Forget

Experiences

2025 Schedule

Participating Operators

ICONIC REEF GUARDIANS

An Underwater Experience You Wonʼt Soon Forget

Experiences

2025 Schedule

Participating Operators

July 2025

An Underwater Experience
You Wonʼt Soon Forget

Photo by Jay Clue

The effort to put Florida Keys coral reefs on track for recovery is an enormous undertaking, requiring long-term collaboration between many partners. Iconic Reef Guardians is an opportunity for the public to lend a hand.

Harnessing the power of the recreational dive community, Iconic Reef Guardians works with BLUE STAR DIVING OPERATORS and OCEAN-BASED PROPAGATION PARTNERS to educate and empower scuba divers and snorkelers to become stewards of our iconic reef sites.

Along with a virtual coral reef and restoration training element through the Tovuti online learning platform, four unique experiences provide opportunities to witness the sensitivity and resilience of the coral reef ecosystem firsthand and contribute to restoration success.

Passive Coral
Nursery Experience

Jump into the turquoise blue waters of Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and take a tour of some of the most innovative coral nurseries in the world.

Active Coral
Nursery Experience

Lend a helping hand in the care of nursery corals by completing hands-on maintenance that promotes a safe place for them to grow up.

Reef
Experience

Support coral growth at Mission: Iconic Reef sites by helping with maintenance and care, ensuring they thrive in a safe, healthy environment.

Coral Health
Experience*

Dive into Coral Health Experience to help monitor coral bleaching, disease, and resilience and submit vital data to help our scientists assess the health of the reefs.

*It is important to note that dates for the Iconic Reef Guardians Coral Health Experience are not prescheduled and instead are offered based on the discretion and overall availability of the respective Blue Star Dive Operator. In contrast to other Iconic Reef Guardians Program Experiences, you will not see Coral Health Experiences listed on the Calendar. To join for one of these experiences please contact the shop you are interested in diving with to see when their next experience is being offered! Contact information for these shops can be found under the “Participating Operators” section of this page. Please know that the current shops that are participating in this experience are Amoray Dive Center, Florida Keys Dive Center, Southpoint Divers, and Quiescence Diving Services.

Are YOU interested in helping us restore coral reefs in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary? Contact one of the Iconic Reef Guardians permitted dive shops listed below to book a dive or snorkel experience and mention that you are interested in helping to restore coral reefs in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

If your dive shop or organization would like to take part in Mission: Iconic Reefʼs Iconic Reef Guardians program through Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, contact

Chandler.Wright@noaa.gov

Click on a tile below to learn more about these participating operators.

Conch Republic Divers

Florida Keys Dive Center

Island Ventures

Pirates Cove Watersports

Amoray Dive Center

Finz Dive Center

Quiescence Diving Services

Southpoint Divers

Rainbow Reef Dive Center

10 QUIESCENCE Learn More Join Quiescence Diving Services for an Iconic Reef Guardians trip to the Coral Restoration Foundation’s Tavernier Coral Nursery. During this half-day morning trip, you will be led on a tour of the coral nursery by a trained Iconic Reef Guardians dive professional and passively observe these innovative underwater locations that play a vital role in coral restoration. You will then head over to a nearby active restoration site to see where these coral fragments go after completing their time in the nursery. We look forward to having you join us as an Iconic Reef Guardian and helping support the long-term goals of MissionIconic Reefs. To book or learn more, please contact us at 305.451.2440 July 10, 2025 Read more

13 12:00 am: Conch Republic Divers Learn more 12:00 am – 1:00 am July 13, 2025 Read more

18 Rainbow Reef Dive Center Learn More Join Rainbow Reef Dive Center for an Iconic Reef Guardians trip to the Coral Restoration Foundation’s Tavernier Coral Nursery. During this half-day morning trip, you will be led on a tour of the coral nursery by a trained Iconic Reef Guardians dive professional and passively observe these innovative underwater locations that play a vital role in coral restoration. You will then head over to a nearby active restoration site to see where these coral fragments go after completing their time in the nursery. We look forward to having you join us as an Iconic Reef Guardian and helping support the long-term goals of MissionIconic Reefs. To book or learn more, please contact us at 800.457.4354 July 18, 2025 Read more

24 FLORIDA KEYS DIVE CENTER Learn More Join Florida Keys Dive Center for an Iconic Reef Guardians trip to the Coral Restoration Foundation’s Tavernier Coral Nursery. During this half-day morning trip, you will be led on a tour of the coral nursery by a trained Iconic Reef Guardians dive professional and passively observe these innovative underwater locations that play a vital role in coral restoration. You will then head over to a nearby active restoration site to see where these coral fragments go after completing their time in the nursery. We look forward to having you join us as an Iconic Reef Guardian and helping support the long-term goals of MissionIconic Reefs. To book or learn more, please contact us at 305.852.4599 July 24, 2025 Read more

26 Island Ventures Learn More Join Island Ventures for an Iconic Reef Guardians trip to the Coral Restoration Foundation’s Tavernier Coral Nursery. During this half-day morning trip, you will be led on a tour of the coral nursery by a trained Iconic Reef Guardians dive professional and passively observe these innovative underwater locations that play a vital role in coral restoration. You will then head over to a nearby active restoration site to see where these coral fragments go after completing their time in the nursery. We look forward to having you join us as an Iconic Reef Guardian and helping support the long-term goals of MissionIconic Reefs. To book or learn more, please contact us at 305.451.4957 July 26, 2025 Read more

27 Pirates Cove Watersports Learn More Join Pirates Cove for an Iconic Reef Guardians trip to the Coral Restoration Foundation’s Tavernier Coral Nursery. During this half-day morning trip, you will be led on a tour of the coral nursery by a trained Iconic Reef Guardians dive professional and passively observe these innovative underwater locations that play a vital role in coral restoration. You will then head over to a nearby active restoration site to see where these coral fragments go after completing their time in the nursery. We look forward to having you join us as an Iconic Reef Guardian and helping support the long-term goals of Missioniconic Reefs. To book or learn more, please contact us at (305) 453-9881. July 27, 2025 Read more