Valentina Serrazanetti – Senior Instructor
The past quarter at the Bira Project has been full of growth, collaboration, and meaningful moments that continue to remind us how special this community truly is. We proudly graduated 12 interns, and we genuinely loved every single one of them. Each arrived with their own story and left a unique mark on Bira. Davis from the US stood out for having one of the kindest hearts we’ve ever met, always caring deeply for everyone around him.
Lana, his girlfriend also from the US, together with Davis formed one of the sweetest, most respectful couples we’ve had the pleasure of hosting—often seen walking around Bira, warmly integrating with the local community. Barbie (they/them) brought unstoppable passion and an incredible work ethic, always giving their absolute best in everything they did.
Randi Renate, our talented artist, left a truly lasting legacy: a stunning three-meter-high shell sculpture created for Blue Planet, which now proudly stands facing the sunset. Randi truly left a piece of their heart here, and we will hold it with love and care. Alongside them were many other wonderful individuals who made this quarter unforgettable.
On the professional training side, we conducted an impressive 59 Dive Master Development Workshops. These ranged from rescue scenarios—where interns practiced staying calm and in control even under the pressure of emergency situations—to our leading dives workshops. This particular workshop has recently been updated with new material, including detailed teachings on how to manage currents and how to safely lead dives on the specific sites our interns will guide here in Bira.
We also expanded and enriched our Science of Diving workshop, which now includes even more instructor-level knowledge, ensuring our students are more than ready to become the confident, capable dive professionals they aspire to be.
Ecology in Bira has also been incredibly active over these past months, with several exciting developments. IOP Bira has already deployed multiple new coral nurseries on our house reef, under the coordination of our fantastic marine biologist Sudar. Watching these nurseries grow is a powerful reminder of how much impact small, dedicated actions can have on reef restoration.
One of the most exciting new initiatives is our collaboration with the Dego Dego School in Bira. We will now be supporting them with their coral nursery and restoration site, strengthening the connection between education and marine conservation within the local community.
As part of this collaboration, we will begin monthly visits to their house reef with our boats to help deploy a total of 50 coral restoration structures. We will also start hosting a monthly “Coral Day,” where we’ll snorkel together with the students and help with whatever coral maintenance work is needed, making it both a learning opportunity and a celebration of reef conservation.
Above all, the Bira Project continues to be a big, happy family. Day after day we work together to build a loving, respectful, and supportive community. We could not be more proud of our students, our team, and the shared effort that keeps making this place so special.
Kert Kaspar Karema – Project Instructor
As the windy season continues, the team in Bira keeps adapting to the changing weather and the logistics that come with it. Mornings usually begin calm and quiet, with the wind gradually picking up closer to midday. Because of this, most of our diving has been taking place on the East Side, where conditions remain more manageable.
Evenings on our house beach have looked a little different lately. Strong waves and high tides have taken much of the sand away, making relaxed sunset beach sessions less common. That said, the wind does come with one big advantage — it offers welcome relief from the tropical heat. This is the time of year when sweaters mysteriously reappear, even though temperatures are still hovering around 30°C.
One thing that never changes, however, is the beauty of Bira’s sunsets. Even though sunsets on paddleboard are often not possible during this season, the recently built sundeck at Blue Planet has quickly become a favorite gathering spot after long dive days — the perfect place to unwind, connect, and add yet another sunset photo to an already overflowing gallery.
Cooking dinners together remains one of the warmest traditions here. Having our shared kitchen truly makes a difference, bringing everyone together at the end of the day. It’s in these simple, shared moments — chopping vegetables, swapping stories, laughing over slightly overcooked rice — that the sense of community feels strongest.
Interns’ Future Plans
Many of our interns are finding island life surprisingly difficult to let go of. For several of them, this has sparked a strong interest in continuing their professional diving journey — particularly by pursuing their Instructor certification. Some have already begun researching dive centers where they might take the next step.
At the same time, it’s been common for interns to continue traveling around Indonesia after graduation, with destinations like Raja Ampat high on the list. And what better way to experience some of the best diving in the world than as a confident dive professional, equipped with excellent buoyancy control and even better air consumption!
We’re also proud to share that some of our recent graduates have already secured conservation-focused Divemaster positions around the globe, contributing to coral restoration projects and supporting marine programs. It’s inspiring to see that life after IOP can be just as exciting as the journey itself.
It seems that the plans formed after graduating are often just as adventurous as the decision to join the IOP program in the first place.
Sudar Syarieff – Marine Biologist & Project Instructor
The seasons are shifting, and with this transition, we are adapting our operations to the changing winds and water conditions. Following the successful completion of our annual targets last year, we have moved our operations back to the East side. This quarter marks a pivot in our scientific focus, as we introduce new technology into our shark research and pioneer more efficient coral nursery techniques to enhance our reef restoration.
A huge thank you to my dedicated interns and our research fellows; their adaptability during this seasonal change has been essential in keeping our field operations running smoothly as we begin a new cycle of monitoring.
Mangrove Efforts
Our commitment to the coastline remains a steady priority. This quarter, we successfully outplanted the 250 mangroves (Rhizophora sp.) that had been maturing in our nursery. We also held two successful planting days to add 334 new mangroves propagules to the nursery. By maintaining this constant cycle of collection and cultivation, we are ensuring a steady expansion of the Bira mangrove fringe, providing vital coastal protection and habitat.
Monitoring Progress: Benthic & BRUV
We have officially kicked off our data collection for the new year, focusing our efforts on the East side reefs :
We have completed our first 16 benthic surveys of the quarter. This method involves using a 50×50 cm transect frame to meticulously document the “benthos” (the ocean floor). We are currently focusing on percent cover and diversity analysis, which allows us to track the ratio of hard corals to algae, sponges, and sand. These surveys are essential for establishing a new seasonal baseline, helping us identify how the substrate responds to shifting water temperatures and nutrient levels as the seasons change.
BRUV (Baited Remote Underwater Video): We successfully deployed 16 BRUVs this quarter. This technique uses a remote camera system with a bait canister to attract and record fish without the presence of a diver, which often scares away larger predators. The manageable currents on the East side have allowed for very stable deployments and exceptionally clear footage. These videos provide us with an unbiased look at the “hidden” inhabitants of Bira, already capturing high activity from Whitetip Reef Shark (Triaenodon obesus) and Blacktip Reef Shark (Carcharinus melanopterus).
Rare Pelagic Encounters
The seasonal shift and our continued work on the East side have provided some of the most breathtaking encounters :
Blacktip Shark (Carcharhinus limbatus): The absolute standout for me this quarter was a rare encounter with an Oceanic Blacktip. Seeing this powerful pelagic species on our reefs was a fantastic reminder of the connectivity between our local waters and the open ocean.
Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus): To top off our sightings, we were graced by the presence of a Whale Shark casually swimming at our house reef, a sight that never fails to leave me in complete awe. This whale shark sightings become a game changer since we encounter them more often, 3 sightings in 3 months.
Shark Research: Laser Photogrammetry
This quarter, we have officially introduced Laser Photogrammetry into our shark monitoring. This non-invasive technique involves using parallel lasers mounted on cameras to project a scale onto the animals we film. This allows us to accurately measure the total length and maturity of individuals, such as the Whitetip Reef Sharks (Triaenodon obesus) we encountered, without needing to catch or disturb them. This data is crucial for understanding the population structure and growth rates of the sharks that call Bira home.
Innovation in Coral Restoration: New Nursery Methods
We have reached a major milestone in our restoration methodology by deploying two additional nurseries using an entirely new technique and method.
Fishing Line Method: We have moved away from traditional rope and are now using fishing line for these two new structures. This change is designed to minimize the growth of competitive sponges and algae, which often thrive on rope and can disturb or smother young corals.
The Merulina Breakthrough: Because this new method provides a cleaner, more stable environment, we have finally been able to start planting Merulina coral (Merulina ampliata). This is a significant success, as it allows us to include plate and encrusting coral forms in our nursery, which were previously difficult to manage with older methods. With this we can have more diverse corals and growth forms to fit on our reef.
Restoration Maintenance & Progress
In addition to the new nurseries, bringing our total to 5 nurseries (3 rope-based and 2 fishing-line models) with 508 total fragments. Our permanent restoration site continues to grow:
Expansion:
Maintenance: Weekly sweeps remain a priority to remove Drupella snails (Drupella sp.) and any opportunistic algae. The health and maturity of these corals remain our top focus as we transition into the new season.
Want to join the team?
We are always seeking hard working and enthusiastic ocean lovers to join our award-winning and innovative divemaster and research diver internship. Contact us and apply online today!
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