From Learning to Action, CCMI’s Summer Courses Train and Empower Ocean Stewards

Experiences equip students, professionals, and organizations with knowledge and skills to protect marine biodiversity in the Caribbean and beyond

The Central Caribbean Marine Institute (CCMI) has launched an expanded portfolio of hands-on marine education programmes this summer! Designed to empower individuals and organizations, these courses combine classroom learning and practical field experiences that inspire participants to act in meaningful ways for the future of marine biodiversity. From teens to university students and graduates, conservation professionals, and companies, CCMI aims to build a community of ocean ambassadors armed with scientific knowledge and practical skills to respond to the very real and growing challenges facing our ocean.

As the threats to coral reefs from climate change, disease, and pollution increase, CCMI is scaling up efforts to educate and outfit participants with the key knowledge and skills needed to bridge the gap between research and real-world impact. We know from our 28 years of coral monitoring that Little Cayman’s reefs are not immune to the impacts of global pressures; we also know these reefs are resilient, and with the support of evidence-based action, they can adapt. Coral reefs are changing, and the need to act for the future of our ocean is greater than ever. Immersive, hands-on courses designed to reach new segments of the community, sharing knowledge about local reefs and how fundamental they are to society, and providing actionable efforts to protect them are some of the innovative ways to engage people in impactful marine conservation.

“Protecting coral reefs requires action at all levels in the community,” said Dr. Daria Siciliano, CCMI’s Head of Marine Science Education. “Through these programmes, we are communicating scientific knowledge and results while also empowering people from a variety of backgrounds to become active participants in marine conservation, which is part of CCMI’s effort to grow our impact at this critical time for coral reefs.”

CCMI’s Field Research Skills in Coral Reef Management and Restoration course is the perfect experience to strengthen in-water research skills in coral reef monitoring and management. During this seven-day course, participants will gain hands-on training in coral restoration techniques, leveraging CCMI’s decades-old experience in its coral nursery, alongside rapid reef assessment and environmental monitoring methods, which follow and expand on Atlantic Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment (AGRRA) methodology. The course also includes valuable PADI specialty certifications relevant to careers in coral reef management and marine conservation. This course runs 14^th-20^th June and is ideal for university students/ graduates and professionals working or with an interest in tropical coastal management.

The Coral Reef Resilience and Restoration course, which runs 16^th-23^rd August, introduces students to the science and practice of coral reef resilience and restoration, combining ecological theory with hands-on training in one of the Caribbean’s most remote, least developed, and best protected reef systems. Through independent field research projects, implemented via diving or snorkelling, participants gain insight into conducting research in resilience-based management while actively contributing to coral reef conservation. This course is designed for university students, recent graduates, and early-career ocean professionals seeking hands-on experience in marine research and coral reef restoration.

For organizations seeking to align their operations with sustainability goals, CCMI’s Corporate Marine Sustainability Retreat provides a unique opportunity to engage teams in ocean conservation. Through expert-led workshops, field experiences, and collaborative sessions, corporate participants learn how to design actionable 12–24 month Corporate Marine Action Plans that strengthen ESG performance while benefiting local marine ecosystems and the communities that rely upon them. Companies can contact CCMI to book their 4-day/3-night retreat at the Little Cayman Research Centre.

Designed for teens ages 14-18 years old, the one-week Caribbean Marine Ecology Camp provides valuable, engaging experiences to students while offering all the fun of summer camp. Campers learn about tropical marine ecology and conservation as they dive, snorkel, and explore a pristine reef system, taking their classroom learning into the ocean as they follow CCMI’s research methods by conducting fish and coral surveys and laboratory experiments. The programme promotes environmental stewardship while offering an insight into careers in related fields of work, inspiring the next generation to value and protect ocean biodiversity. Camp sessions are 18^th-24^th July or 27^th July – 2^nd August 2026.

Course participants stay at CCMI’s remote field station on the north coast of Little Cayman, benefiting from direct access to some of the Caribbean’s most biodiverse reef systems. The location, which is on the doorstep of the world-famous Bloody Bay Marine Park, provides an unparalleled setting for experiential learning.

Registration for all courses is now open. For more information about these courses, please visit our Education pages. Contact education@reefresearch.org or call +1-345-948-1094 with questions or to register.

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