Learn How to Plant Corals Organically on Usukan Island, Borneo
- Malaysia
- Kota Kinabalu
Frequently asked questions
This program starts at $1,008 USD. For full pricing, visit the provider’s website.
This program is open to participants aged 18 to 40.
The program runs for 4 to 12 weeks.
Yes, the program includes housing. Participants stay in guesthouses or tents.
The program fee includes some accommodation, some activities, equipment, some meals, and transportation.
This program is located in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.
About Program
Usukan Island's coral reefs have lost 70–80% of their coral coverage from blast fishing and heat wave bleaching — and we're rebuilding them from scratch. As a Coral Ranger, you'll work directly alongside Monica Chin, our lead instructor of the organic coral propagation method that uses natural ocean-derived substrates instead of metal frames and man-made materials — a methodology we used for nearly a decade. Your days include coral nursery maintenance, underwater monitoring dives (if you are certified), and reef surveys that feed into real long-term restoration targets. This is a working conservation centre on a living island — not a resort activity. We run intentionally small: maximum 6 volunteers at any time, so every person has real responsibility, not a supporting role. You'll leave with PADI-level dive exposure, hands-on restoration skills, and a conservation portfolio built on actual field data from Usukan Island.
Program Highlights
- Learn How to propagate corals organically instead of using man-made materials and structures — no metal frames, no shortcuts, developed on this reef
- Two rest days a week that are entirely yours — snorkel, explore the island, sit by a bonfire, or do nothing. You earned it
- Wake up on a protected island in Borneo, dive or snorkel into the ocean before breakfast, and spend your mornings restoring a reef that was nearly wiped out
- Leave with an SSI-recognized certificate & real field credentials you can add to your CV
Video and Photos
Program Impact
Since 2022, we've hosted over 200 volunteers from 38+ countries, maintaining a 4.8 average rating across the board. Our coral restoration work has propagated over 10,945 coral fragments across 20+ nurseries, achieving a 70% coral survival rate and impacting 735 metres of reef. Alongside that, we've made an impact across 45 acres of forest — and we're just getting started.
