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Gili Matra Marine National Park
Gili Air Island & North Lombok

Blog

Stories from the reef and the people protecting it. Explore coral science, marine life, and what conservation work really looks like on Gili Air.

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coral-matter

Why Coral Reefs Matter to Humans (Even If You Never Dive)

Coral reefs protect coastlines, support fisheries, and contribute to medicine and tourism. Learn why reefs matter to everyone, not just divers, and why their protection is essential.
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coral-architecture

How Fish Build Cities: The Hidden Architecture of Coral Reefs

Coral reefs function like underwater cities, with highways, cleaning stations, shelters, and specialized roles. Learn how fish and marine creatures shape the architecture of reef ecosystems.
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turtle-personalities

Turtles Have Personalities Too: What We’ve Learned From Guiding Snorkelers

Sea turtles show curiosity, preferences, and individual behavior patterns. Learn how turtles interact with snorkelers, why they approach humans, and what their habits reveal about reef life.
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coral-reproduction

The Secret Life of Baby Corals: How Coral Reproduction Really Works

Coral reproduction is one of the most spectacular natural events in the ocean. Learn how coral spawning works, how coral larvae travel, and why this process is essential for reef survival.
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coral-Biofluorescence

Why Coral Reefs Glow at Night: The Science of Biofluorescence

Coral reefs glow at night through a natural process called biofluorescence. Learn how and why corals produce fluorescent proteins, what this means for reef health, and why scientists study this phenomenon
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From Bubbles to Breakthroughs: How Guest Donations Build Future Reef Guardians

Explore how guest donations at Indo Coral Conservation support local education programs — including weekly educative classes for fifth graders and full-time internships for university students.
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blog9-Dive-Training-Builds-Reef-Guardians

Breathe In, Protect Out — How Dive Training Builds Reef Guardians

Learn how Indo Coral Conservation’s dive training programs foster reef protection, responsible diving, and community-led ocean stewardship on Gili Air Island.
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blog8-snorkeling-courses-gili-islands-indocoral-conservation

Snorkeling with Purpose: How We’re Teaching Ocean Respect in Gili Air

Explore Indo Coral Conservation’s snorkeling education courses on Gili Air Island. Learn about reef species, coral fragility, and how ocean knowledge inspires protection.
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blog7-healthy-coral-vs-bleached-coral

Threats Beneath the Surface: What’s Putting Coral Reefs at Risk?

Learn what’s threatening coral reefs in Indonesia and globally. From warming oceans to tourism impacts, Indo Coral Conservation breaks down real challenges and what you can do to help.
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blog6-Coral-Farming-indo-coral-indonesia

Inside Our Coral Farming Method: Growing Reefs with Precision

Explore Indo Coral Conservation's coral farming program on Gili Air, Indonesia using microfragmentation techniques to restore damaged reefs.
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What is BRUV – Baited Remote Underwater Video method?

A camera is placed on the seafloor with bait positioned in front. It records fish that come to investigate over a set time. Footage is reviewed later to identify species and behavior. It’s a passive method like setting a camera trap for marine life.

In short: BRUV = film fish attracted to bait, then analyze the video later.

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What is UVC – Underwater Visual Census method?

Divers swim along a transect line and visually record all fish seen within a defined area. They note species, size, and numbers during the dive. It’s a live fish count. Like taking attendance in a moving classroom.

In short: UVC = spot and count fish by eye while swimming the transect.

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What is Belt Transect method?

A measuring tape is laid out along the reef. In our case divers count all visible invertebrates (e.g. sea cucumbers, starfish) within a set belt width usually 1 or 2 meters. They record species and numbers while swimming slowly along the line. It’s a wide-area visual count like sweeping a corridor for invertebrates.

In short: Belt = count all invertebrates within a set zone along the tape.

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What is 3D Coral Monitoring method?

Divers take multiple photos of coral structures from different angles. Photos are processed using software to build a 3D model of the coral. This model shows shape, size, and changes over time. It’s like creating a digital twin of the coral to track its growth.

In short: 3D = capture coral from all sides, then build a model to monitor changes.

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What is UPT – Underwater Photo Transect method?

A measuring tape is also laid out along the reef. Instead of recording points manually, divers take overlapping photos along the line. These images are later analyzed on a computer to assess coverage and species. It’s a visual capture method like scanning the reef with a camera for later analysis.

In short: UPT = record the whole transect with photos, then analyze later.

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What is PIT – Point Intercept Transect method?

A measuring tape is laid out along the reef. Divers record what’s directly under specific points at fixed intervals (e.g. every 10 cm). It’s a manual, visual sampling method. Like checking what’s beneath each tick mark on a ruler. Data is written down underwater, point by point.

In short: PIT = record what’s under each point by eye, underwater.