Methods in tropical reefs monitoring
Sakatia island
Coral Reef Workshop
14-28 november 2026
27 march -9 april 2027
Sakatia Island
Sakatia Lodge is a unique resort on Sakatia Island, Nosy Be, Madagascar. Nestled beside a lush primary forest, it brings together travelers, divers, underwater photographers, and marine biologists. Built to place guests at the center of the experience, it creates a warm, social atmosphere for those who share a love of the sea. It all started in 1992 when a young marine biologist followed his dream and set up a marine outpost on the island, aiming to create a hub for divers, universities, and students to exchange ideas and work on tropical marine projects. After building the dive center and putting in plenty of hard work, Sakatia Dive Inn opened later that year, blending science with a passion for the ocean. In 1994, the team carried out the first REEF Check surveys and embarked on exploration cruises to untouched sites. By 2002, it had transformed into Sakatia Lodge, offering greater comfort while keeping its original community vibe. Today, guests can enjoy 12 private beachfront villas along with upgraded rooms and services, adding a touch of luxury without losing its signature charm.
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Reef Check EcoDiver Program
This program is perfect for anyone passionate about the ocean and eager to learn about tropical coral reefs. Reef Check blends education with hands-on action, giving volunteers a unique chance to actively help protect the world’s reefs. You can become certified to conduct Reef Check surveys and play a role in conserving your favorite coral reefs. The course covers everything you need to run full-scale surveys, including the globally standardized Reef Check methods and how to identify key indicator fish, invertebrates, and substrates used for global monitoring and conservation. Completing it will let you join the Reef Check team and take part in underwater surveys worldwide.
Methods include conducting transects for substrate, fish, and invertebrates. Materials used are the Reef Check EcoDiver Kit for the Indo-Pacific, complete with a data board. Testing and certification involve a PowerPoint ID test, requiring an 80% pass mark, and a field ID test, requiring 90% to pass. Successful certification allows participation in regional Reef Check surveys and submission of data to the global database.
Coral Finder Method
An underwater book to learn how identify hard corals and discover the huge species diversity in a coral reef. The answer to the question “What coral is that?” is in your head – literally. Your eyes and brain are the world’s most powerful supercomputer capable of solving complex visual problems instantly. Traditional field guides put text between you and the answer – and text needs to be interpreted. The Coral Finder reduces the problem of identifying corals to a series of simple visual choices. The Coral Finder makes coral identification practical and easy by using WYSIWYLF –
What You See Is What You Look For! Instead of memorising thousands of images and names in your head you just look up the shape and the Coral Finder gives you a simple matrix of best bets to choose from. Simple – just the way we like it. The Coral Finder creates a choice matrix for easy, at-a-glance decision making.
Materials: underwater book.
Coral Watch Protocol
CoralWatch is a citizen science project based at The University of Queensland, in Brisbane, Australia. CoralWatch helps non-scientists around the globe understand and support effective reef management by using engaging tools that provide people with accessible information and hands-on-experience collecting scientific data about the health of corals using the Coral Health Chart. This chart standardises changes in coral colours and provides a simple way for people to quantify coral health and contribute to the CoralWatch global database. The Coral Health Chart is used by dive centres, scientists, school groups, and tourists.
Materials: an underwater kit with Coral Health Chart and data board.
Course fee and accomodation
Course fee: CHF 450.00
Includes:
- lectures
- teaching materials
- Reef Check Tropical EcoDiver certificate
- 3 Marine ecology specialities certificates ( Coral, Fish,invertebrates)
Accommodation&Dives: CHF 1'175
Includes:
- 8 days Bed&Breakfast accommodation in double Bungalow ( Mango)
- 10 boat dives
- House reef & mangrove snorkeling
- Local transfer from/to Nosy Be airport airport
Extension week from the 21 to the 28 november 2026: CHF 1'175
Extension week from the 2 to the 9 april: CHF 1'175
Includes:
- 8 days Bed&Breakfast accommodation in double Bungalow ( Mango)
- 10 boat dives
- House reef & turtle reserve snorkeling
- Participating on surveys as an Ecodiver
- Local transfer from/to Nosy Be airport airport
Total : CHF 1'625.00 for staying from the 15 to the 21 november
Total : CHF 2'800.00 for staying from the 15 to the 28 november
Night and Fluodives, dive equipment rental, additional excursions, and any extras are not included and can be paid on site.
Who can participate?
Participation in the course is open to anyone who is passionate about coral reefs and has a minimum of diving experience and marine life knowledge.
All participants must hold at least a open water dive certificate and a minimum of documented 30 dives, a medical certificate, and international dive insurance (e.g., DAN, DiveAssure).
Each participant should carry his/her full diving equipment, except scuba tanks and weights, provided on-site. Equipment rental has to be arranged in advance with the Sakatia Lodge resort.
The number of participants is limited to 10
Contact us
Contact us in order to recieve a complet information&package
