This online course is a precursor to the field training on coral nursery development. It is also a continuing education program to the coral reef rehabilitation. Initial training on coral propagation must complete before the student is enrolled in this course. The purpose of this course is to instill an understanding of the environment where the coral nursery is developed. It also outlines the protocols to protect the underwater environments from stressors from the nursery development. By learning and following the right protocols, a holistic and true conservation results can be achieved. This training is also a requisite for the Ocean Quest Global – Coral Propagation Trainer Course.
PREREQUISITES
Entry pre-requisite for this course is:
1. Have completed the Ocean Quest Global – Coral Propagation Course.
2. Advanced Scuba Diver certification or higher.
3. Have at least 30 logged dives and with good buoyancy
4. Those with extended diving inactivity (more than six months) must attend a scuba refresher training before enrolling
5. Have the following documentations prior to the field training:
a. Prove of diving certification
b. Dive logbook
c. Prove of completion of the Coral Propagation Course
 
COURSE DURATION
This online course is spread over six weeks to allow the student to have enough time to study and work on the quiz. During the period of their course, they are able to communicate with their tutor through email.
COURSE MATERIAL
The student will be given access to course material which consists of:
1. Six sections of pdf manuals (Part 1 to Part 6)
2. Course video presentation (Part 1 to Part 6)
3. Quiz and questionnaire
Upon completion the student will be issued a certification and they will keep this certification as prove of training prior to enrolling in the field train later.
COURSE SYLLABUS
The course syllabus includes:
- Week 1 – Introduction to Coral Nursery Development
- Week 2 – Environmental Cascade and Cycles
- Week 3 – Conducting Environmental Observations
- Week 4 – Site Assessments and Documentations
- Week 5 – Nursery Building
- Week 6 – Coral Nursery Monitoring and Management

FIELD TRAINING ACTIVITY
Upon completion of the Coral Nursery Development and Management online course, the students are ready for their field training. This is conducted by the Ocean Quest Global field training instructor and it reflects the lesson learnt in the course. Every chapter of the coral nursery development and management course is design as transition from knowledge to practice. Guided by the field training instructor, the students are exposed to skills and experience based on the sequence of the course. These skills are:
1. (Day 1 – on shore) Assessments and observations of the ecological cascades and cycles. This includes:
a. Coastal and island hydrology
b. Shoreline profiling
c. Weather measurements
d. Applying survey techniques for reef assessment
e. Documentation of surveys
2. (Day 2 and Day 3 – 2 dives daily, total of 4 dives) The students are also exposed following diving skills:
a. Coral reef survey using belt transects
b. Coral reef survey using Scuba search patterns
c. Applying reef assessment design to a dive
d. Scientific diving skills and practice
3. (Day 4 and Day 5 – Snorkelling and Scuba diving, total of 4 dives) nursery development:
a. Locating and identifying source of substrates
b. Substrate gathering
c. Demarcation, alignment and positioning of coral nursery
d. Nursery construction
4. (Day 6 – 2 dives) Coral nursery monitoring and management.
a. Conducting inspection dives
b. Reporting
c. Coral nursery maintenance

Exclusions
This itinerary does not include preparatory dives for the students. The preparatory dives include:
1. Diver competency assessment dive.
2. Buoyancy training dives.
3. Scuba refresher training dives.
Therefore, it is best for the students to arrive a few days prior to the commencement of the training and complete these dives.
Student Preparation
This coral nursery development and management training is physically demanding. It is important that the students have physical readiness to complete the training and dives. The students are advised to be well rested and fit to dive. The Field Training Instructor will require the students to complete their enrolment to the course and sign the student training agreement. The students are required to print the medical history form and this form must be complete by their physician. The students are also be asked for the proof of completion of their knowledge development online course. Registration papers that the students must complete are:
1. Student field training agreement
2. Waiver, Release and Indemnity form
3. Medical history assessment form

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