Our Impact: Citizen Science and Reef Protection in Curaçao
At The Little Green Boat, every trip is also a chance to do something good for the ocean. We document Curaçao’s marine life, we roll up our sleeves alongside local conservation groups, and we follow certified responsible diving practices. Here’s what we actually do, and how you can be part of it.
Our impact in numbers
iNaturalist figures as of October 18, 2026, since our profile launched in May 2026.
1. Every dive helps map Curaçao's biodiversity
On our shore dives, we photograph the marine life we come across: fish, corals, sponges, invertebrates and sea turtles. These photos go straight onto our iNaturalist profile, the global citizen science platform used by naturalists and researchers alike.
The iNaturalist community reviews every identification. Once confirmed, an observation becomes “Research Grade” and is shared with GBIF (the Global Biodiversity Information Facility), the international database scientists around the world rely on. Today, most of our observations have reached Research Grade.
Some of the species we see most often: green sea turtles, French angelfish, staghorn coral (a threatened species), spotted scorpionfish, flying gurnards and parrotfish.
2. Working alongside Sea Turtle Conservation Curaçao
We regularly support Sea Turtle Conservation Curaçao (STCC), the organization protecting the island’s sea turtles. In the field, we help spot turtle nests and, when needed, relocate them to a safer area. We also lend a hand with their turtle monitoring work and join their awareness and fundraising events.
In July 2026, we attended the very first Science Night at STCC’s new rescue center in Boka Sami, focused on fibropapillomatosis, a disease affecting sea turtles in Curaçao and around the world.
A sea turtle release during an STCC event in Curaçao.
3. Coral restoration with Reef Renewal Curaçao
We work with Reef Renewal Curaçao, the organization that grows and replants corals to restore the island’s reefs. We support their projects and events, like the Raise the Reef 2026 fundraiser, and we make sure our divers understand why corals matter and how to protect them.
4. Regular underwater clean-ups
Ghost nets, ropes, plastic waste: we regularly dive to remove what doesn’t belong on the reef, sometimes teaming up with other dive centers on the island like Rebel Diving Curaçao. On our boat tours, the 3D sonar also helps us spot this kind of debris on the seabed.
5. Certified practices: Green Fins and SSI Blue Oceans
We’re members of Green Fins, the international initiative led by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and The Reef-World Foundation that sets the standard for responsible diving: no touching the reef, no feeding marine life, anchoring without damaging coral, and environmental briefings before every dive.
We’re also an SSI Blue Oceans dive center, committed to SSI’s program that raises every diver’s awareness of ocean protection and encourages hands-on action, from clean-ups to cutting waste.
6. Listening to the reef: our hydrophone recordings
On our boat tours, we lower an Aquarian H2D hydrophone connected to a Zoom F3 recorder into the water. A healthy reef is noisy: it crackles, grunts and pops. We record and archive these soundscapes of Curaçao’s reefs, and we’re happy to share them with any research project that could use them.
7. On camera: filmed for French television
A French TV crew came to Curaçao to film our work. Here’s the footage: dives, boat tours and our commitment to the reef, all on video.
How can you get involved?
- During the dive, we point out the species to look for and photograph them together.
- After the trip, we upload the observations to iNaturalist and send you the link, so your sightings join a global scientific database.
- On the boat, you explore the seabed with our 3D sonar and listen to the reef through the hydrophone, without getting wet.
- Every day after that, you take the Green Fins best practices with you on all your future dives.
Want to dig deeper? Read our guide to eco-friendly diving in Curaçao or find out why we’re winners of the 2026 Arival Spotlight Awards.
FAQ: citizen science with The Little Green Boat
What is citizen science in diving?
It’s when divers contribute to scientific research: photographing and reporting the species they see, spotting marine debris or ghost nets, or helping monitor species like sea turtles. At The Little Green Boat, our observations are published on iNaturalist and shared with GBIF.
Where do the observations from our dives go?
To our iNaturalist profile. Once the community confirms them, Research Grade observations are shared with GBIF, the global biodiversity database used by scientists.
Which organizations do you work with in Curaçao?
Mainly Sea Turtle Conservation Curaçao (STCC) for sea turtle protection, and Reef Renewal Curaçao for coral restoration. We’re also Green Fins members and an SSI Blue Oceans dive center.
Do I need to be a certified diver to take part?
Not at all. Beginners can take part from their very first Discover Scuba Diving experience from the shore, and our boat tours let you explore the seabed with 3D sonar and the hydrophone without getting in the water.