Citizen Science

CCMI has teamed up with EarthWatch to give citizen scientists a unique opportunity to work side-by-side with our researchers. Little Cayman is home to the critically endangered staghorn and elkhorn corals, known as Acropora ​species. CCMI is beginning an ambitious project to photodocument all the Acropora species across the island. We have teamed up with Earthwatch to allow recreational snorkelers and citizen scientists to dedicate their enthusiasm to a cause that makes a difference.

Join us for a week of tropical sun, science, and snorkeling on the pristine beaches and palatial coral reefs of Little Cayman! Please click HERE <http://earthwatch.org/Expeditions/Helping-Endangered-Corals-in-the-Cayman-Islands> for how you can get involved with Earthwatch.

Earthwatch participants must be adventurous, enthusiastic, and be confident swimmers. Some previous snorkeling experience is expected.

As terrestrial beings, most people are challenged to understand the unique processes of the ocean or even fathom being able to take the plunge and dive below the waves. Among the challenges is that urban, rural and geographically land-locked people perceive the ocean to be a distant place beyond their reach. In addition, scientists are often conducting research on relevant topics at remote locations where it is virtually impossible for the majority of the general public to gain a first-hand experience. This reality creates enormous financial, logistical, physical constraints on bringing people into the field where they can directly explore the ocean.

CCMI’s education team is developing a pilot project that will transform how we teach children about the ocean. The Reefs Go Live pilot will use the Virtual Live Experiences (VLEs) method in connecting students and the public to real-time coral reef activity, in an informal science setting. Scientists use high tech face masks and streaming computer equipment to deliver live lessons from the underwater and lab environment. Innovative technology enables VLEs to reduce barriers to learning by communicating interactive ‘real-life’ experiences in an informal, scalable science setting.

The project has the capacity to deliver curriculum relevant lessons that can be streamed directly to classrooms anywhere in the world. This groundbreaking work will be piloted in local schools initially but has the potential for becoming an international project.

Do you want your students to be a part of this adventure below the waves? Contact us here<link to [email protected]>.

Reef Lecture Series

CCMI’s scientists conduct weekly lectures on CCMI’s current research interests as well as other issues impacting the marine environment. These lectures are held locally at Southern Cross Club at 6pm on Mondays and are open to the public including visitors. The topics covered will include themes like climate change and its impact on coral reefs, the invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish, ongoing efforts to recover local Nassau grouper populations and a variety of other issues impacting Cayman Islands reefs. For the most current information on the lecture series, please see our Facebook Page: REEF LECTURE SERIES EVENTS PAGE 

Research Station Tour

Weekly tours are conducted on Friday at 2:30pm at the Central Caribbean Marine Institute for guests on Little Cayman. Visitors are able to see the research facilities firsthand and get an inside look into our current research programmes. Visitors to Little Cayman interested in a tour of the station should inquire at the reception desk of their hotel or call CCMI on: 1 345 948 1094 or email [email protected].

Dollar a Dive

Little Cayman’s Bloody Bay Marine Park is among one of the most diverse and pristine coral reefs in the world and unlike other marine parks around the world is open to divers free of charge. For divers who would like to support research to protect and preserve this natural wonder, CCMI has created the “Dollar-a-Dive” campaign. For a donation of $1 per dive done in the marine park (usually about $10), divers will receive a dive tag to place on their equipment to show their support for marine conservation and commemorate their dive trip in Little Cayman. All proceeds go toward funding CCMI’s research in Little Cayman. Dive tags are available for purchase at the Central Caribbean Marine Institute and also at local dive shops on Little Cayman.