Welcome to those who joined us this month in our field journal – N°12 / August 2026
EDITORIAL
This edition, we’re taking you to Indonesia, at the heart of the Coral Triangle, in the Karimunjawa archipelago, where we opened our 9th and 10th coral restoration zones.
A mission we’ve lived from day one alongside you, and one we can’t wait to share in full.
Thank you for being part of The Coral Planters community. Happy reading!
Together, let’s make the ocean’s voice heard.
Antoine — The Coral Planters
Featured: Indonesia, launching a new restoration zone.
Project launches take months to anticipate and build, if they ever come together at all. For nearly a year, we had been working behind the scenes on the opening of this new zone: discussions with local partners, site surveys, long-term feasibility, constraints, assets, logistics. And then in May 2026, we took off.
Destination: the island of Karimunjawa, in the heart of the Java Sea. An archipelago of 27 islands, a national marine park, one of Indonesia’s richest reef systems. On Friday 29 May, for the very first time, we set foot on the ground.
We didn’t know exactly what we’d find underwater. We had a plan, structures to build, and 1,500 corals to plant. Opening a new zone starts with a vision and a strategy, then you have to adapt to the reality and constraints of the field.
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What we found were sections of degraded reef but alive. And where there is life, there is a lot of it. The coral density in certain areas is extraordinary. That vision fills us with hope. There is something to restore.
Two dives per day, for 7 effective days in the water. Every fragment harvested by hand from healthy colonies, fixed onto structures, laid on the seabed. In partnership with Trilogy Ocean Restoration, the local team in Karimunjawa who knows these waters better than anyone.
After 10 days on site, the final count came to 2,000 corals planted across 2 different zones.
Why Indonesia?
Indonesia is home to 18% of the world’s coral reefs and 76% of all coral species on the planet, it is the epicentre of marine life on Earth. And it is also one of the most threatened areas. Overfishing, pollution, climate change.
Field story
We found an Acropora millepora of an intense violet, the likes of which you rarely come across. A colour so vivid, so rare, you can barely believe it’s real. A reminder of what we’re here to protect.
« Pinguin »
That’s the nickname the crew gave us on just the second day.
The reason? Our DaFin fins, designed for lifeguards and bodysurfers, built for riding waves rather than diving. They were nothing like the gear the crew used day-to-day.
We all burst out laughing, and right there on that boat in the middle of the Java Sea, the barriers came down.
It’s moments like these that turn a partnership into a team.
New: DaFin x The Coral Planters
cc @tilt_pan
Our collaboration with DaFin officially launched on 13 July. A limited t-shirt collection bringing our two worlds together.
For every t-shirt sold, one coral planted.
Podcast : FROM THE LANDES TO THE LAGOONS
Every month, Antoine takes to the microphone at Wave Radio Hossegor for a monthly feature on coral reefs and The Coral Planters’ actions.
Episodes are available on our website: PODCAST
To listen to the segments live, tune in to the Wave Radio website at 8:30 AM once a month: WAVE RADIO
Thank you for reading and for your engagement.
The Coral Planters team
