If you’re looking for activities in Bali that go beyond the usual tourist attractions, you should visit the Livingseas Coral Restoration Site in Padang Bai.
Over the past five years, they’ve planted over 100,000 corals in an area of 3,000 m2, forming the largest artificial reef in all of Bali and the second-largest in Indonesia.
We spent a day with the Livingseas Foundation divers turned coral rescuers and saw how tourism can have a positive impact on the environment and the local community.
Are Bali’s reefs dying?
Bali and its surrounding islands have incredible coral reefs, but many have been damaged by boats, disastrous fishing practices, or tourists stepping on, touching or taking coral. Combined with the effects of heavy pollution and climate change, many reefs of Bali are suffering, resulting in a steep loss of biodiversity.
There are more and more coral restoration projects appearing around Bali, but few have the necessary funds, equipment and manpower to keep up the efforts.
Planting coral is easier said than done, and even once artificial reefs have been set up, they cannot survive without years of careful maintenance and gardening.
Snorkelling and scuba diving tours make up a huge part of Bali’s tourism industry, and as reefs are slowly disappearing, not only the environment but also local communities and businesses suffer.
Scientists predict that between 70% to 90% of all coral reefs will disappear by 2050, which will lead to coastal erosion and impact many different industries, including fishing, which so many low-income families in Bali depend on to survive.
Help Bali’s ocean – plant a new reef
The Livingseas Foundation builds their own reef structures – metal frames coated with a substrate that allows baby coral pieces to grow. Just a few years after being planted, these metal structures are completely covered by a healthy reef, providing a solid foundation for thousands of marine species to live and flourish.
It costs IDR 460,000 for the Livingseas Foundation to build and plant a reef structure, and so far, they’ve already placed over 4,600 in Padang Bai. Each has space for 18 coral pieces, and if you donate one, you’ll even get a bamboo tag with your name on it and regular photo updates of how your little piece of the reef is doing.
IDR 460,000 is less than a meal with drinks for two people at a restaurant in Canggu. Why not invest the money and be a part of Bali’s largest coral restoration project?
How the Livingseas Foundation is making a difference
Located in the small town of Padang Bai, the Livingseas Foundation team has set themselves many goals: Restore the coast’s degraded reefs to their former beauty, educate the community about their impact on the ocean and provide income for local businesses by bringing sustainable tourism to Padang Bai.
Leon, who founded Livingseas, is a passionate diver and after years of spending time underwater, realised that he couldn’t just stand by and watch as more and more of Bali’s reefs were disappearing.
In 2015, he began experimenting with different methods of growing and restoring coral at his dive shop in Padang Bai. What started as a passion project on the side quickly grew into an impactful NGO during the pandemic years and has now become one of Bali’s most successful coral restoration projects.
But, simply placing coral fragments underwater isn’t enough. The delicate new coral need years of attention, pruning and gardening to make sure they grow into healthy reefs that can survive on their own.
The team at the Livingseas Foundation have a very scientific and thorough approach to their coral restoration efforts, making them sustainable with lasting positive impacts.
Candidasa’s coral reefs will be destroyed to build a beach
In an effort to bring tourism to the small town of Candidasa, authorities are planning to replenish the area’s eroded beaches with thousands of tons of sand. In the process, thousands of square metres of coral reefs will be buried and destroyed forever, killing marine life and squashing any possibilities of restoration in the future.
The Livingseas Foundation team has been working tirelessly over the past few months to harvest and save as much coral as possible, replanting at their own restoration site just a few kilometres south.
The work is tedious, and it’s a race against the clock as the deadline when the reefs will be buried is approaching faster and faster.
They need help now more than ever to save as much of this irreplaceable ecosystem as possible.
Come plant your own coral in Padang Bai
If you want to join the cause and do your part in saving Bali’s reefs, you can help in different ways. The first is to sponsor a reef structure, or a single piece of coral, which starts at just IDR 160,000.
The team of divers will plant your adopted coral for you, and the larger reef structures even include an engraved bamboo tag with your name.
If you want a more hands-on experience, you can also come to Padang Bai and join a coral planting weekend, which takes place regularly. We got to join for a day and see the operation ourselves, which was an experience I couldn’t recommend more.
You’ll get an introduction to coral planting and will spend the day on the Livingseas Pontoon, where you’ll attach coral pieces to the reef structures before getting in the water and helping with the planting and gardening process.
The team is a tightly-knit community and having lunch with everyone on the boat was one of my favourite parts of the day.
Divers can also join conservation dives, which are a great way to combine leisure with having a positive impact. You’ll get to see incredible marine life and encounter barracudas, stingrays, reef sharks, turtles and much more while you help tend to the reef.
Lastly, you can also join the cause for extended periods of time – just reach out to the Livingseas Foundation for opportunities and details.
Do I need to be a scuba diver to plant coral?
Another reason why I recommend spending a day planting coral in Padang Bai is that everyone can join in, whether you’re an experienced diver or not.
The coral planting days are great for snorkelers and even suitable for families with kids. If you’re hoping to get even more involved in the coral restoration efforts, Livingseas can also help you get your diving certifications right there in Padang Bai at their dive school.
Want to learn more and contribute? Reach out to the Livingseas Foundation today and follow their Instagram for current updates and news.
