Virgin Islands students advance their diving, citizen-science and coral-restoration skills through intensive international program
From identifying coral and reef fish to removing marine debris and learning coral-restoration techniques, three Virgin Islands high school students took their passion for the ocean to new depths during an intensive two-week marine conservation and diving experience in Utila, Honduras.
Zuma Nisbett of St. Croix and Zoe Danet and Ava Smith of St. Thomas recently completed the Diving With a Purpose CARES program, joining young divers from the continental United States for hands-on training in diving, marine science and coral reef conservation.
The students represented the University of the Virgin Islands’ (UVI) Youth Ocean Explorers program, which prepares young Virgin Islanders to explore, understand and protect the marine environment surrounding their islands.
“Providing Virgin Islands youth with experiential opportunities such as the DWP CARES program is beyond priceless in terms of career preparation as well as ocean stewardship,” said Howard Forbes Jr., territorial coordinator for the Virgin Islands Marine Advisory Service (VIMAS) at UVI. “These experiences give young people the skills, confidence and sense of responsibility to become active stewards of the marine resources that are so important to our islands.”
Throughout the program, Nisbett, Danet and Smith strengthened their diving proficiency while working as citizen scientists. They sharpened their ability to identify fish, corals and algae; participated in marine-debris removal; and learned coral-outplanting techniques designed to restore reef habitats and improve coral survival.
For Danet, a 10th grader at Virgin Islands Montessori School & Peter Gruber International Academy, the experience went far beyond diving. It gave her an opportunity to connect with other young people who share her love of the ocean while deepening her sense of responsibility for protecting it.
“Diving in Utila with the Diving With a Purpose CARES program wasn’t just a trip,” Danet said. “We were out there like real citizen scientists, learning how to track the reef and protect it. I’m so proud I got to be part of that mission.”
The Honduras experience allowed the three students to build on the skills they developed through UVI’s Youth Ocean Explorers program and apply them in a new marine environment alongside other young conservationists.
Coordinated by VIMAS within UVI’s Center for Marine and Environmental Studies, Youth Ocean Explorers introduces Virgin Islands middle and high school students to marine science, environmental stewardship and potential ocean-related careers through immersive, hands-on experiences. Participants develop swimming, snorkeling and diving skills while learning about marine ecosystems and the importance of protecting the natural resources surrounding the Virgin Islands.
Diving With a Purpose’s CARES program—Collective Approach to Restoring Our Ecosystems—engages young divers in marine conservation and citizen science. The program combines dive training with coral-ecosystem monitoring, species identification, marine-debris removal and coral restoration, empowering participants to become advocates for healthy oceans and resilient coral reefs.
Experiences such as the CARES program extend the impact of Youth Ocean Explorers by giving participants opportunities to put their training into practice, learn from marine professionals and gain exposure to conservation work beyond the Virgin Islands.
Through Youth Ocean Explorers, UVI is helping to cultivate the next generation of Virgin Islands marine scientists and ocean stewards. By introducing young people to marine science, diving and conservation early, the University is also helping them envision pathways to higher education and careers in research, conservation, fisheries, coastal-resource management and other ocean-related fields.
For more information, contact Howard Forbes Jr. at howard.forbes@uvi.edu or log on to vimas.uvi.edu.
About Diving With a Purpose
Diving With a Purpose (DWP) is an international organization dedicated to submerged heritage preservation and marine conservation, with a particular focus on the African diaspora. DWP is known for documenting and interpreting shipwrecks associated with the transatlantic slave trade and preserving Black maritime history. Through its CARES (Collective Approach to Restoring Our Ecosystems) program, DWP also engages young people and coastal communities in coral research, restoration and ocean stewardship.
