Are you a diver who wants to make a difference and have a luxury vacation at the same time? Harbour Village Beach Club is located on a four-acre private peninsula on the unspoiled Caribbean island of Bonaire. This luxury resort is not only equipped with 38 Dutch-Caribbean style suites nestled amid lush tropical gardens, a white-sand beach, and an open air beachside restaurant. It also touts on-property aquatic amenities, such as a first-class, PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Center, water sports center, 64-slip marina with mega-yacht dock, and Kasa Coral Swimming Pool.

What makes Harbour Village unique is the ability for travelers to volunteer with a coral conservation program right on site. Harbour Village is the official resort of Fabien Cousteau’s Ocean Learning Center, a nonprofit organization based in New York City. Named the 2016 Diver of the Year by the international Seakeepers organization, Cousteau has set many milestones including breaking his grandfather’s record of living at the bottom of the ocean for 31 days! He has appeared in and created many scientific documentaries and spearheads conservation programs across the globe.

The satellite Ocean Learning Center at Harbour Village keeps guest updated on ongoing research, public awareness initiatives, global summits and special projects centered around how to protect and preserve the planet’s waters, endangered marine habitats, and marine life. The coral preservation efforts are also a great way for guests to volunteer their time to help conserve the reef during their stay.

Here are few cool restoration techniques they have implemented at the resort…

3D Coral Printing

Reef growth is enhanced and damaged areas are repaired using an innovative 3D coral print technology. The printed reefs have the same shape, texture and chemical make-up that attract free-floating baby coral polyps. Creating a lush, colorful coral garden, these “crown jewels” of the tropical seas sustain other aquatic life such as algae, anemones, octopus, crab and more.

Bio Rock

Transplanted coral species are attached to metal structures with low voltage DC current, which stimulated new and fast coral growth. It ultimately helps protect islands, coastal erosions and rising seas levels. Harbour Village already have 16 such rock piles fitted with underwater research webcams.

Coral Nursery

The resort dive masters spend a few hours each week caring for the underwater coral nursery of Elkhorn and Staghorn corals. Recreational divers can also help out hanging the coral on the trees, cleaning, and transporting corals from the nursery to the rock piles. Snorkelers are welcome to take a look at the preservation efforts and come back each year to watch the expanding corals.