Citizen Science – Reef Check

Reef Check: Ceningan Divers’ Efforts to Protect Nusa Penida’s Coral Reefs

Many of us fall in love with the ocean because of its beauty. But how can we tell if the coral reefs we admire are healthy? The answer is Reef Check.
As part of our commitment to conservation, Ceningan Divers regularly conducts Reef Check surveys, a scientific monitoring method used to assess the condition of coral reef ecosystems worldwide. But don’t imagine this as dull laboratory work. Reef Check brings science directly into the ocean, opening our eyes to the reality beneath the surface.

Behind the beauty of Nusa Penida’s underwater world lies a continuous conservation effort to ensure the ecosystem remains sustainable. One of the areas under monitoring is the waters of Toyapakeh, renowned as one of Bali’s top diving spots. 

Understanding Reef Check

We use Reef Check, a globally recognized, monitoring protocol designed to be accessible to both scientists and trained divers. Developed in 1996 by marine ecologist Dr. Gregor Hodgson, Reef Check was created in response to the global coral reef crisis with the aim to standardize how data is collected around the world to allow for comparisons between different studies and areas. It has since grown into a global network with teams operating in more than 80 countries, helping to build a consistent picture of reef health globally.

In our monitoring activities, we follow Reef Check’s standardized method, which focuses on four main components: substrate cover, invertebrate abundance, human impacts, and fish indicator species.

• Substrate surveys assess the percentage cover of different benthic types such as live hard coral, dead coral, algae, rubble, and sand.
• Invertebrate surveys focus on species that are ecologically or economically significant, such as sea cucumbers, giant clams, diadema sea urchins, and banded coral shrimp, many of which are impacted by overfishing or collection.
• Fish surveys target indicator species such as groupers (>30 cm), parrotfish (>20 cm), snappers, butterflyfish, and moray eels. These species reflect fishing pressure and reef condition.
• Surveys document human impacts like blast fishing, overharvesting, sewage input, and tourism intensity, as well as protection status.

We conduct these surveys using a belt transect method along a 100-meter reef section, divided into four 20-meter segments separated by 5-meter gaps. Fish are counted in a 5-meter-wide belt and up to 5 meters above the reef. Invertebrates are counted within a 5-meter-wide belt directly on the substrate. Substrate cover is measured at 0.5-meter intervals along the transect using a plumb line.

All observations are standardized, allowing us to collect data that can be reliably compared across years and locations. Our work contributes to a growing global database that supports reef management decisions, highlights conservation successes, and raises awareness of the urgent need to protect our marine ecosystems.

 

Marine Conservation by Ceningan Divers

As one of the leading Eco Dive Resorts in Nusa Ceningan, we at Ceningan Divers regularly conduct Reef Check Eco Diver training and field survey activities. One of our main monitoring locations is Toyapakeh, an area on the northwest side of Nusa Penida known for its high marine biodiversity.

We also integrate Reef Check activities into their sustainable diving training, introducing the importance of identifying indicator species, recording ecosystems, and low-impact diving principles. We contribute data to citizen science projects so that it can freely be available to anyone looking to perform research or learn more about the health of our coral reefs. It can also be used by local authorities to help them plan and maintain environmental protections, such as the MPA that surrounds Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Ceningan Through this approach, conservation does not feel exclusive or purely scientific but rather becomes part of the travel experience and the lifestyle of responsible divers.

Want to get involved?
We welcome anyone who wants to participate in marine conservation. If you’re a certified diver interested in purpose-driven diving, the Reef Check program with Ceningan Divers is the perfect place to start.

Contact us at info@ceningandivers.com or visit our dive center in Nusa Ceningan to learn more about upcoming training and survey programs.