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| Coral Reefs of Thailand |
| Snorkel or dive among Thailand's amazing coral reefs to conserve biodiversity. |
     
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On The Expedition Equipped with an underwater slate, you will snorkel or scuba dive underwater transects along coral reefs, and surprise yourself with how quickly you learn to tell a butterflyfish from a bumphead parrotfish and a sponge from a soft coral. Using the same survey sheets that Reef Check uses around the world, you will record the percent and kind of coral cover on the reef, as well as the numbers of indicator species of fish and invertebrates (giant clams, reef lobsters, sea urchins, sea cucumbers) you see. While diving, you may be lucky enough to bump into dugongs, sea turtles, or gentle whale sharks. On your recreational day, visit local Buddhist temples or trek on foot or by elephant into the rainforest. Meals and Accommodations Teams will share basic but comfortable beach bungalows that cater to adventure tourists at or near the different research locations. Bungalows usually have private bathrooms, with refreshingly cool showers (welcome in this hot climate) and conventional plumbing. Teams will eat together at the beach restaurant associated with the bungalows. The food is delicious and varied; you will enjoy typical Thai dishes of fish and seafood, beef, chicken, and vegetables with exotic tropical spices, as well as a daily treat of fresh mangos, papayas, and pineapples. More Information 
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Research Summary Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea, Thailand — Thailand's coral reefs are some of the most magnificent and diverse ecosystems on Earth. Like many of the world's reef systems, Thailand's reefs are facing the pressures of overfishing and destructive fishing practices, as well as the threats posed by global warming and coral diseases. Reef Check, a non-profit organization, has been monitoring and surveying coral reefs around the world to provide baseline data to management organizations since 1996. Now, Dr. Georg Heiss and Kim Obermeyer, both of Reef Check, are joining forces with Earthwatch to survey Thailand's resplendent coral reefs and monitor the effects of marine protected areas as well as recovery from the 2004 tsunami. With this information, government agencies and local communities can better manage and conserve these beautiful reefs. Reef Check also works with local communities to provide training in coral reef management and sustainability. Meet the Scientists  Georg Heiss Reef Check Reef Check Thailand needs divers and snorklers like you to help gather valuable baseline and long-term data on coral reefs in the Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea. We study reefs using the presence and abundance of key indicator species of fish, invertebrates, and coral. We also investigate the effectiveness of marine protected areas and the impacts and recovery from the tsunami of December 2004. Join our research to one of the most diverse ecosystems on Earth in Thailand's beautiful islands. Dr. Georg Heiss is the coordinator for Reef Check Europe and holds a Ph.D. in Natural Sciences. He has over 15 years of experience in coral reef research with various international and academic agencies, most recently with the Centre for Tropical Marine Ecology in Bremen, Germany. Dr. Heiss’ past research has focused on coral reef growth and paleogeology as well as human impacts. He has 10 years’ experience doing Reef Check training and surveys in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean. His hobbies include sailing and boating and he speaks German, English and French, plus some Arabic. He may lead training and surveys for some Earthwatch teams.  Kim Obermeyer Reef Check |
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About the Research Area The research takes place around the coastal mainland and islands of central and southern Thailand. Earthwatch volunteers will work at two main sites, Ranong Province and Koh Chang, and one team will work at a third site, Chumphon. The study sites are characterized by mountainous archipelagos covered with tropical evergreen forest. All three sites include some National Park protected areas that have maintained a high forest cover and associated fauna with very high diversity. The Ranong area has a very old tropical forest which is considered to be more ancient than the Amazon or Central African rainforest. Ranong Province also has the largest protected coastline in Thailand, a large National Park with islands and extensive mangrove habitats. The Koh Chang archipelago is entirely protected as a National Park and has several endemic terrestrial species. All Earthwatch teams will work around fringing coral reefs. Some reefs may have high coral, fish and invertebrate diversity. Thailand hosts over 200 species of hard corals and hundreds of species of marine fish. While your every dive may not be crystal-clear and on a pristine reef, you will see many interesting species, such as colorful giant clams, cuttlefish, anemones, sea cucumbers, and sea urchins, plus lots of different species of reef fish, including clown fish. Find out more |
Fact Sheet
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Locations shown are approximate.
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