I.CARE
Reef Restoration Program
Islamorada - Key Dives
Saturday,
July 9
Why
Participate?
Coral reefs are facing numerous
challenges. Some of these challenges
include environmental stressors such
as increased sea water temperature,
decreased pH levels, or increased
nutrients in the water column blocking
sunlight.
Coral reefs located in the middle keys
experience high exposure to high
nutrient and variable temperature
water from Florida Bay. The result has
been major declines in coral cover and
fish abundance.
What is
I.CARE?
I.CARE was
founded in 2019 by Kylie Smith, PhD
and Michael Goldberg around the idea
that the Islamorada community can act
now to save their own coral reefs for
future generations.
Dr. Smith has been studying the
factors influencing coral transplant
survival and reef fish behavior in the
Florida Keys since 2012. Specifically,
she studied the impacts of consecutive
bleaching events, Hurricane Irma, and
disease on coral transplants.
Michael has been a scuba diver for
over 30 years and started, along with
his wife Marcia, Key Dives in 2004. He
has had a front row seat to the loss
of our coral reefs and is now
dedicating this chapter of his life to
the success of I.CARE.
I.CARE maintains a strategic
partnership with Mote Marine Lab and
has established a satellite lab
facility on the Key Dives property. To
date, the program has transplanted
~3,000 Staghorn, Elkhorn, and Starlet
Corals to the reefs around Islamorada.
What
is included in the program?
It is a full day filled with
education, training, and of course,
diving! The day will begin at 8:30 AM
with an educational training where you
will learn about corals, their
environment, and what you will be
doing at the reef site. Lunch will be
provided on site by the deli at Bud N’
Mary’s Marina.
That afternoon, you will make 2 guided
dives to assist the I.CARE team by
transplanting coral, maintaining the
reef, removing snails and algae from
the reef sites, and monitoring the
transplanting.
The $100 fee for ADA members covers
class instruction and materials,
sandwich lunch with snack and drink, 2
dives with tanks and weights, I.CARE
staff guides for the dives, and a $25
donation to the I.CARE organization
Seats are limited! Don’t wait
and book your reservation now!
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| Hurry!
Sign up for your favorite
dives today before they
sell out! |
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DON'T LET
"SOLD OUT" MAKE YOU MISS THE
BOAT!
We typically book ten spaces
per dive at the beginning of
the year when we set our dive
schedule. We often book up
these spaces, and even more
often there is still space
left on the boat on top of the
ten we originally booked.
Therefore we can often get
more space, and even when that
isn't possible you can get on
the waitlist. Most people who
are waitlisted end up being
offered a spot on the dive. So
if you see a dive that you
want to go on that says "SOLD
OUT" do not despair, just hit
the reply button on this email
and/or contact Rachel at
786-316-9852 and ask for your
spot. Chances are you'll be
diving down with us on that
dive! PS: If a dive says it's
sold out when you try and book
it contact Rachel to check for
additional space. |
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Saturday,
June 25
Key Largo - morning
dive (tanks
included)
Amoray
Dive Resort
Check in at 7:30 a.m.
Hurry!
Only 3 spaces left!
BOOK
NOW! |
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Saturday,
June 25
Key Largo - afternoon
dive (tanks
included)
Amoray
Dive Resort
Check in at 12:00 noon
SOLD
OUT
Contact Rachel at 786-316-9852
or reply to this email to be
added to the waitlist. |
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KEY LARGO
MARINE FORECAST FOR JUNE
25-26: SEAS LESS THAN 1
FOOT!
Conditions promise to be
extraordinary for the
back-to-back dives coming up
this weekend. Space available
on both. Dive into Lake
Atlantic with us and don't
miss out!!! |
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Saturday,
July 2
Sea Turtle Dive
Kyalami
Charters
Jupiter Scuba Diving
Check in at 9:00 a.m.
ADVANCED DIVE
SOLD
OUT
Contact Rachel at 786-316-9852
or reply to this email to be
added to the waitlist.
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| On the annual
Sea Turtle Dive, we've seen up to 20
turtles on a single dive. Check out
this video from our past dive for a
sneak peek at what you'll experience,
and join us for this unforgettable
experience! |
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Saturday,
July 9
Coral Restoration
Experience
Key
Dives
Check in at 9:00 a.m.
Full day includes instruction,
lunch and boat dive to help
restore the reefs.
BOOK NOW |
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Saturday,
July 16
Looe Key (tanks included)
Looe
Key Reef Resort
Check in at 12:00 pm
SOLD
OUT
More space may be available.
Contact Rachel at 786-316-9852
or reply to this email. |
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Sunday,
July 17
Vandenburg Wreck in Key
West
Lost
Reef Adventures
Check in at 7:30 a.m.
SOLD
OUT
More space may be available.
Contact Rachel at 786-316-9852
or reply to this email. |
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| Join us for
the best weekend of the season with
Looe Key and Key West July 16-17.
Enjoy this video from the Vandenburg
Wreck and find out what happens to the
unsuspecting skeleton! :) |
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Saturday,
July 23
Blackwater Drift Dive
Walker's Dive Charters
Check in at 6:30 pm
ADVANCED DIVE
SOLD
OUT
More space may be available.
Contact Rachel at 786-316-9852
or reply to this email. |
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| The
Blackwater Drift dive is an incredible
experience not to be missed. Check out
this video and see for yourself! |
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