Sandals Resorts Caribbean Coral Restoration Expansion

Sandals Resorts Expands Coral Restoration Efforts Across the Caribbean, Introducing New Programs in The Bahamas and Curaçao for World Ocean Month. This exciting expansion brings fresh conservation initiatives to The Bahamas and Curaçao, complementing ongoing programs in Jamaica, Saint Lucia, and Grenada. The resort chain continues to engage guests in hands-on coral restoration activities, reinforcing its leadership in Caribbean marine preservation.

Coral Restoration Initiatives at Sandals Resorts: Expanding Across the Caribbean

Sandals Resorts has significantly broadened its coral restoration efforts throughout the Caribbean, revealing a deep, ongoing commitment to marine conservation. Now featuring fresh programs in The Bahamas and Curaçao, these initiatives complement the resorts’ existing work in Jamaica, Saint Lucia, and Grenada. In The Bahamas, Sandals Royal Bahamian collaborates with the Perry Institute for Marine Science’s “Reef Rescue Network,” launching the Reef Rescue Diver Specialty Course that combines online education and practical in-water training. Guests who enroll learn about the delicate coral ecosystems, the threats they face, and how coral nurseries serve as pivotal tools for reef regeneration. Participants gain hands-on experience maintaining coral nurseries, propagating new coral fragments, and outplanting reef-ready corals to damaged reef sites. For those pressed for time, the resort provides a one-dive Reef Rescue Experience that still allows meaningful participation in coral restoration efforts during a single dive. Looking towards the future, Sandals Royal Curaçao is preparing to open its PADI BRANCH Coral Restoration Course in 2026. This program, established in partnership with the BRANCH Coral Foundation, offers guests the opportunity to learn coral propagation and outplanting techniques crucial for sustaining the island’s fragile reefs. The nursery, already hosting five coral trees and hundreds of Staghorn coral fragments, is maintained regularly to ensure the vitality of the corals. The expansion of these initiatives across multiple islands highlights Sandals Resorts’ dedication to not only protecting but actively restoring the Caribbean’s vibrant underwater ecosystems.

Community Engagement and Conservation Impact at Sandals Resorts Caribbean Coral Programs

Sandals Resorts Caribbean coral programs place a strong emphasis on community involvement and impactful conservation outcomes. In Saint Lucia, the resorts have led effective coral conservation efforts since 2018 through the Coral Nursery Transplanting Specialty Course offered at Sandals Grande Saint Lucian, Sandals Regency La Toc, and Sandals Halcyon. Developed with CLEAR Caribbean, this course educates guests about reef ecology and allows them to participate directly in transplanting coral fragments at nursery sites near the UNESCO World Heritage Pitons. Impressively, over 2,000 coral fragments have been planted annually, demonstrating sustained ecological benefits. Importantly, this program is accredited as a Caribbean Vocational Qualification, empowering local community members with valuable marine conservation skills and opening pathways for them to assume leadership roles in reef stewardship. In Jamaica, Sandals Foundation oversees two marine sanctuaries, employing local wardens to protect these sensitive ecosystems from degradation. Alongside coral reef protection, the Foundation supports turtle conservation and educates fishermen on sustainable fishing practices, thus underpinning marine ecosystem resilience at multiple levels. Meanwhile, Grenada’s coral restoration efforts, supported through a partnership with the Grenada Coral Reef Foundation, focus on community-driven reef recovery using innovative BIOROCK structures and coral trees. The program also champions youth scuba initiatives and public education, instilling ecological responsibility among local populations. Collectively, these efforts underscore the meaningful connections Sandals Resorts fosters between guests, local communities, and the natural environment to enhance coral reef conservation.

Enhancing Guest Involvement and Sustainable Practices through Sandals Resorts Conservation Programs

Guest engagement is central to Sandals Resorts’ coral restoration and ocean conservation initiatives, transforming vacation experiences into meaningful contributions to environmental preservation. Through PADI dive programs, guests who are certified divers can immerse themselves in the Caribbean’s stunning underwater ecosystems while participating in conservation-centered activities such as coral restoration dives at various resort locations. Sandals Royal Bahamian offers specialized courses and single-dive experiences designed to fit diverse guest schedules and interests. In addition, conservation merchandise such as reef-safe sunscreen, 4Ocean bracelets, and exclusive Sandals Foundation rash guards are available at resort dive shops, with a portion of the proceeds directed to ongoing marine protection projects. This empowers guests to extend their environmental support beyond their stay. A particularly innovative initiative underlining Sandals’ broader ecological mission is the “Future Goals” program in Curaçao, which creatively repurposes ocean waste into soccer goals for local schools. With more than 1.4 million plastic bottles and hundreds of square meters of fishing nets transformed into over 60 soccer goals, this program brings sustainable resources directly to communities while raising awareness about marine pollution. To celebrate its third anniversary, Future Goals is engaging schools in an island-wide Clean-Up Challenge around World Oceans Day, inviting young people to actively participate in protecting their environment. These multifaceted approaches reflect Sandals Resorts’ holistic approach to marine conservation by blending education, community outreach, and interactive guest participation to safeguard the Caribbean’s precious marine ecosystems.

Through its expanded coral restoration and conservation initiatives, Sandals Resorts continues to lead transformative efforts in protecting the Caribbean’s marine environments. Guests, communities, and partners alike are invited to join this vital mission through hands-on programs, education, and sustainable practices. Looking ahead, the resorts plan to deepen their engagement and grow these programs, enhancing coral reef health and inspiring a broader culture of ocean stewardship across the region.