By Monique Berlie
Three years ago, I came to the Gili Islands to do my Divemaster training with Ocean 5. That’s when I first met the incredible women of the third Coral Catch batch—the “shark and coral girls.” I watched them every day, planting corals, restoring the reef, and working with so much passion and purpose. I remember thinking to myself: One day, when I come back to Gili, I want to be part of this.
This year, I returned—and I kept that promise.
I joined the Coral Month program, spending four transformative weeks immersed in coral conservation. I learned how to plant corals, identify different coral species, and understand the complex ecosystems they support. I even learned how to build my own hexdomes from scratch—cutting, welding, and coating the structures that would one day become homes for marine life. We also explored coral research methods, giving me a whole new perspective on reef monitoring and restoration.
Every single day, I was learning—about the ocean, about conservation, and about myself.
I’ve always felt deeply connected to the sea. It gives me energy, it recharges me like a battery. So being able to give back, even just a little, means the world to me. No matter how much we do, it never feels like enough compared to what the ocean gives us.
One of the most powerful things I experienced was the spirit of teamwork. It didn’t matter where we came from, how old we were, or how much we knew. We supported each other. We learned together. We made an impact together. Every small effort added up to something meaningful.
Thank you for welcoming me, for trusting me with your precious coral babies. This experience will live forever in my memories and my heart. 💙
