On the coast off Padangbai, the beautiful coral reef is a mesmerising underwater world which attracts divers and snorkellers from far and wide. Like all reefs, it’s one of the most biodiverse and productive ecosystems on the planet. Operating sustainably is vital to protect the natural environment which many tourism-related industries rely on.  

However, as water temperatures increase due to climate change, the reef in Padangbai faces challenges. The algae which live in the coral, giving it its incredible colour and providing it with food, are masters at storing environmentally unfriendly carbon dioxide. But changing sea conditions means they’re abandoning their home - and if they don’t return quickly, the coral is left without its main food source. This results in coral bleaching – where it loses its colour and dies. 

Like coral, seagrass is also integral part of the marine ecosystem, serving as a food source and habitat for marine life. It also takes in carbon dioxide and can store up to 35 times more than tropical rainforests. So, protecting coral and seagrass is vital to help tackle climate change and maintain marine biodiversity.

Sea the Change Bali focuses on protecting and restoring ocean, coastal and marine ecosystems. This will help to increase carbon intake by preserving and cultivating coral and seagrass in the local environment. It will also work to restore seagrass in the bay, which has been gradually degrading over the years due, but is still home to young fish and other species.  

In partnership with scuba diving company Livingseas Asia, the TUI Care Foundation is helping to restore coral and seagrass in the bay. Livingseas aims to deploy 8650 reef fragments over the next two years and plant 1000 m2 of seaweed. Tiny coral fragments are attached to steel framed ‘reef stars’ which allow new coral to grow and restore the reef. This helps to increase carbon dioxide intake and mitigate the effects of climate change by absorbing carbon at a rate of 1kg per 1kg of coral grown.  

12 members of the local community are also being trained in scuba diving and conservation to help with the restoring and conserving the coral reef and seagrass in the bay. By engaging hotel staff and local young people, the project will create sustainability champions who can implement what they have learnt within hotels and across the community. There will also be an emphasis on empowering local women, by aiming for 75% female participation in the ambassadorship programme.    

As part of the awareness conservation programme, partnerships with hotels will help to engage the community and tourists to put eco-tourism firmly on the agenda in Padangbai.