ICARE Coral Restoration Dive – Key Largo

On August 2, 2025, ADA Members took part in a powerful and purpose-driven coral restoration dive with I.CARE, hosted by the incredibly professional and supportive team at Amoray Dive Center in Key Largo

🌊 ICARE Coral Restoration Dive – Key Largo

📅 Date: August 2, 2025

🕘 Time:

• Morning Session: 9:00 AM – 11:50 AM (Education & Training)
• Dive: 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM
  📍 Location: Key Largo, Florida
  🤿 Dive Center: Amoray Dive Center

👥 Participants

I.CARE Instructors & Volunteers: James, Layren, Kerri, James, and Annalise

ADA Members: Roy Wasson, Michael Wasson, Ashley Tippins, Nancy Frank, Vittorio Lacagnina, Eduardo Lacagnina, Ena Cea and Anand Ranganathan

📝 Event Summary

Our day began at 9:00 AM with an insightful and engaging educational session led by the passionate I.CARE instructors—James, Layren, Kerri, James, and Annalise. They shared in-depth knowledge about the native coral species of South Florida, the history of reef loss in the Florida Keys, and the science behind coral restoration. Their passion was contagious and set the tone for a day of learning and impact.

Second half of the morning, they gave hands-on instruction on how to clean a coral site, lay a cement base, and correctly plant coral fragments. This training was key to preparing us for what was to come underwater.

How the corals are protected.  Tepee construction

coral planting example 

After a midday break, we gathered at the dock around 1:00 PM and began loading our gear. We left the dock shortly after, and after about a 30-minute boat ride, we arrived at our designated restoration dive site. Once on-site, we entered the water in small batches, each group accompanied by a dedicated I.CARE dive master (1 per 4 divers), ensuring both safety and effectiveness. During the first dive, we prepped the site, cleaned the substrate, and laid down the cement base just as we had been trained. 

We then planted the coral fragments with precision and care.

A Note of Gratitude

We are incredibly grateful to the I.CARE team for their dedication, instruction, and the inspiring work they do every day to protect our reefs. Their guidance not only made the dive impactful—it transformed it into a deeply meaningful act of marine conservation.The Amoray Dive Center team also deserves a special thank-you for their professionalism and hands-on support throughout the day. Their boat crew and dive coordination made everything smooth and enjoyable from start to finish.

💙 A Fulfilling Experience

This dive wasn’t just about restoration—it was about connection.

Connection with the ocean, with a passionate community of conservationists, and with a cause bigger than ourselves. Each Active Diver surfaced with not just the satisfaction of completing a dive, but the pride of leaving a lasting, positive impact beneath the waves. We look forward to many more missions like this—restoring, protecting, and giving back to the ocean that gives us so much.

Testimonials

"Fantastic Experience Planting Coral. Had a wonderful time" ... Nancy Frank

"Lucrecia, Eduardo and I had an unforgettable experience participating in coral plating dive in Key Largo witnessing the beauty of the underwater eco system in firsthand while helping to restore coral reef was humbling and inspiring. We are deeply grateful to I.Care and Active Divers Association for making this opportunity possible and for showing how each one of us can take meaningful action to improve the health of the oceans" ... Vittorio   Lacagnina