Indonesian expedition cruise operator SeaTrek introduced an enhancement to its signature nine-day Whale Sharks, Corals, and Dragons itinerary that enables guests to take a more active role in marine conservation.

Whilst sailing aboard a traditional Indonesian wooden pinisi ship, guests spend a morning assisting in the restoration of a coral reef off the island of Hatamin in the Komodo National Park.

A joint initiative with the Coral Guardians, a conservation group that successfully brought back an area of corals in support of a local fishing community, this unique experience involves the cultivation of new coral beds to bring indigenous marine life populations back to healthy numbers.

To do so, SeaTrek guests get to help restore the coral beds by working with the Coral Guardians to secure small pieces of coral onto a metal rack for cultivation. This experience leaves them  with a deep appreciation for the important work being done.

Restoring natural treasures

SeaTrek director Frank Hyde said of the joint initiative: “The whole team’s goal is to help maintain, and restore where necessary, the incredible nature and cultures of Indonesia.  Our belief is that by operating trips filled with pleasure, purpose, and hope, our guests can go home knowing that their travel has helped the places that they visited, the people that they met, and the crew that took care of them.”

Originally established by the Coral Guardians back in 2012, the project has restored over 53,000 corals, with five times the number of fish species reintroduced in the last four years and the local fish population has increased by over 300 percent.