Written by Silia Woodside, Natalia Hurtado, MSc., & Elizabeth Mao

Across the world, the ocean shapes cultures, sustains livelihoods, and provides a home for extraordinary biodiversity. 

In The Bahamas, we are no strangers to the ocean’s coral reefs and all of the wonders that they provide.  From the food on our tables to protection from storms, these ecosystems support our daily lives in countless ways. Yet, as these marine ecosystems face increasing threats, the need to inspire and empower the next generation of conservation leaders has never been greater. 

Change starts small from those directly on the ground––or in this case, in the water. Conservation is not just about the knowledge of expert scientists but also empowering future generations and inspiring community-level action. A significant component of improving coral health and resilience lies in the smaller steps: raising awareness of the issue, sharing education about the solutions, and engaging the community in actionable initiatives. 

The Bahamas Coral Innovation Hub (BCIH), based at the Cape Eleuthera Institute, is dedicated to advancing coral restoration while ensuring that local communities are deeply involved in the process. By building skills and creating opportunities for South Eleutherans to engage directly with conservation, The BCIH is working to secure a brighter future for both people and reefs.  As a part of this initiative, The BCIH provided training to South Eleutheran residents giving them the opportunity to dive into the world of conservation.

This past summer, The BCIH partnered with several community engagement programs to inspire the next generation of ocean stewards by introducing participants to an exciting new skill ––scuba diving–– fostering growth, confidence, and a deeper appreciation for the underwater world.

New Faces Below The Surface: Young Leadership Program

The Island School’s Young Leadership Program (YLP) was developed with the goal to provide young men and women of South Eleuthera with the skills and mentorship to become leaders in their communities. Through their training with The BCIH, participants not only built leadership capacity, but also began their journey into the world of diving.  From completing the required online training, to learning about dive safety, and mastering equipment preparation, the participants completed all the required steps to become Open Water Scuba divers allowing them to explore life below the surface. 

Summer Apprentice Program: Taking the Giant Stride

Additionally, participants of The Island School’s Summer Apprentice Program had the chance to get their feet wet—literally—by taking part in a Discover Scuba Dive. For those not yet ready to take the plunge into a full Open Water certification, Discover Scuba is the perfect introduction to the underwater world, offering a glimpse into the beauty that coral reefs have to offer. 

With masks on and fins in place, the apprentices geared up and took the giant stride into an experience of a lifetime—their very first breath beneath the surface! Their fear quickly transformed into excitement as they encountered vibrant reef fish living in their natural habitat amongst the coral reef.  Alongside their dive, the apprentices earned their PADI Coral Reef Conservation certification, equipping them with the knowledge to advocate for these delicate ecosystems.

Inspiring the Next Generation for Reef Conservation

To further their training, participants have the opportunity to receive a specialty certification designed to teach them about coral restoration: the PADI Reef Rescue Diver. This course teaches divers the proper techniques for helping to maintain coral nurseries, where corals are grown before outplanting them onto reefs. These skills can be utilized for coral conservation in other locations in the Reef Rescue Network, a collaboration of dive organizations across the Caribbean working together in the restoration movement. 

For these young stewards, the experience was more than just diving and snorkeling for the first time. It was a chance to connect deeply with their environment and gain perspective on the importance of protecting it, starting a journey toward conserving the reefs that sustains life in The Bahamas. By opening doors to the underwater world, the BCIH is not only training new divers, it is nurturing the next generation of Bahamian conservation leaders.

The Bahamas Coral Innovation Hub is a collaborative initiative between the Cape Eleuthera Institute (CEI) Perry Institute for Marine Science (PIMS), and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to drive coral research, restoration, and conservation forward. We are powered by the labs, boats, and facilities of The Island School on South Eleuthera.