Caring for Corals! Help Us Restore Coral Habitats!

We are Elizabeth and Wes, a married couple who left the US in 2022 and moved to Cozumel, Mexico. We feel very strongly about contributing to our local community, and as SCUBA divers this means Caring for Corals.

Check out this short video to learn more about what we do, or scroll down for a short description of what we do and why we need your help.

We volunteer weekly to help remove harmful macroalgae from coral habitats for Cozumel Coral Reef Restoration Program. Algae smothers the corals, and prevents new coral from properly attaching to its habitat. It's a big issue on Cozumel, as cruise ship discharge, sewage runoff, and other pollutants cause unnaturally heavy algae growth.

We are truly happy to roll up our sleeves and do this hard work on a volunteer basis, BUT we need more training and our own gear.

Renting SCUBA equipment each week has become cost-prohibitive for us, and we do not have the funds to buy equipment or get necessary certifications to keep contributing to our local community in this way.

Can you help us raise the funds for certification and gear? Direct donations of new gear are also much-welcomed (assuming you're able to ship to Cozumel through FedEx or DHL)!

Check out this short video to learn more about what we do and why it matters!

I've listed our specific needs and put the price range based on preliminary research, so you understand why we need help!

We need:

*1 Small BCD - $250-$600

Update: We now have a new BCD, thanks to the generosity of folks who donated!

*2 (full regulator packages (including gauges, 1st and second stage, etc.) $500-$1,500 each, $1,000-3,000 total

Update: We now have one regulator package, thanks to the generosity of folks who donated!!

*2 dive computers (bells and whistles aren't necessary, just the basics): $250-$1,200 each, $500-$2,400 total

Update: Because of the cost of dive computers, we bought a dive watch + dive compass, to tide us over until we have funds for computers--this is to ensure we do not exceed depth/time limits or get lost!

*1 weight belt and 12 lbs of weights (or just weights if the BCD is weight-integrated): $75-$100

*Various brushes and scraping tools - $50-75

*2 dive knives: $40-60 each, $80-120 total

*1 large full wetsuit (3mm): $150-300

*1 small wetsuit (5mm): $300-$500

*2 pairs of dive boots: $40-100 each, $80-200 total

*1 pair of durable large men's work gloves: $30-50

*1 Coral Reef Conservation Course fee: $250

A fund for air tank rentals and servicing (each day of diving requires roughly $12 for tank rental; not sure what servicing will cost but I'll assume about $750 would be good for both tanks and servicing for a year or so).

Low end: $3,015

High end: $8,295

We would LOVE:

1 Large BCD (weight integrated): My used BCD works, but it is tight, uncomfortable, and quite worn. I'd also love to have a weight integrated BCD, as the weights on my weight belt dig into my back. This is just a nice-to-have. $350-$600

1 Science Diver Certification Course: This would position me to do scientifically accurate monitoring and lead on restoration efforts: $400

Nice to have:

$750 low end, $1,000 high end

So, we are going to set the goal at $5,000, assuming we

can mix and match good quality gear for the important stuff (like breathing underwater) and lower end quality for the utilitarian stuff.

Any extra funds will be donated to Cozumel Coral Reef Restoration Program.

We also welcome sponsorships from SCUBA gear manufacturers and sellers! We don't have the connections to solicit those directly, but absolutely feel free to connect us with them if you do!

Please subscribe to our YouTube channel: @wavesandwi-fi490

Finally, please consider subscribing to our blog, Waves & WiFi: Seeking Peace Through Emigration: www.patreon.com/wavesandwifi

Thank you for helping us to keep on CARING FOR CORALS! :)