Whenever you consider diving in Lembeh, Anilao or anyplace within the Coral Triangle, the very first thing that involves thoughts is commonly the astonishing range of marine life—uncommon muck critters, crafty octopuses, frolicking mantas, gliding whale sharks, frenzied sharks and dazzling reefscapes. However what in case your subsequent dive may additionally make an actual contribution to marine science?
Connecting dive journey with international marine analysis
That’s precisely what Solitude World is encouraging by means of its newest citizen science initiative: two long-term species documentation tasks hosted on iNaturalist.org, one of many world’s largest biodiversity databases.
Below the banners of the Solitude World Species Examine in Lembeh and Anilao, and the Solitude World Species Examine within the Coral Triangle, the Solitude resorts and liveaboards are inviting visitors, dive guides and underwater photographers to doc and add their marine life observations from their dives. These contributions go far past private data—the info turns into a part of a worldwide useful resource accessed by researchers, conservationists and nature fans worldwide.
Operating from June 2025 to June 2028, the research invitations divers and underwater photographers to assist construct a scientifically usable, open-access archive of the assorted marine ecosystems throughout the Coral Triangle.
Constructing a Residing Archive
This isn’t a behavioural research—it’s one thing extra foundational. By capturing photographic sightings over time and pairing them with environmental metadata, we intention to:
- set up a baseline of species presence and abundance
- observe ecological shifts tied to moon part, temperature, seasonality and diver exercise, to call a number of
- create a residing archive of reef life
Methods to Get Began on iNaturalist
Getting concerned is simple, whether or not you’re a first-time consumer or a seasoned diver with an eye fixed for species ID. Right here’s methods to register and be a part of the Solitude World tasks:
Create an Account
- Go to inaturalist.org
- Click on “Signal Up” within the higher proper nook
- You possibly can register together with your e mail, Google, Fb or Apple account
- Full your profile—it helps others join together with your observations
Be part of the Initiatives
As soon as your account is ready up, seek for our tasks and click on “Be part of” on the prime proper of every undertaking web page.
- Solitude World Species Examine in Lembeh and Anilao
- Solitude World Species Examine within the Coral Triangle
Begin Observing
- Take clear images of marine life throughout your dives
- Add your sightings by way of the iNaturalist app or web site
- Embrace the date, location and particulars like Depth and Temperature and Behaviour Noticed and Habitat within the “Statement Fields” for every species uploaded
- iNaturalist’s AI and neighborhood will assist determine species for those who’re not sure
Make It Rely
- Tag your observations to the suitable Solitude undertaking
- Your information has now turn out to be a part of a worldwide biodiversity file utilized by scientists and conservationists
Divers Can Fill the Gaps
The Coral Triangle, which spans elements of Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea and past, is dwelling to the very best marine biodiversity on Earth. However lots of its species are under-documented, and a few are nonetheless being found. With researchers unable to cowl each reef and muck website, the assistance of extra eyes and lenses—like these of divers—is invaluable.
Supporting the trouble is marine biologist Dr Dave Harasti, who will write and current a scientific paper on the finish of 2028. He’ll evaluate the observations, guarantee correct species identification and analyse the info.
Why This Issues
By means of constant, moral sightings and observations from Anilao and Lembeh, we acquire the uncommon capacity to review comparable ecosystems facet by facet. Each websites are practically alongside the identical longitude, permitting us to look at environmental components with minimal geographic bias.
By documenting when and the place marine species are seen within the Coral Triangle as a complete, divers assist construct detailed maps of species distribution and set up baseline information on biodiversity and abundance. Over time, these data permit scientists to detect ecological adjustments linked to components like local weather shifts, seasonal patterns and human exercise. Citizen-submitted sightings can even result in the invention of uncommon and even beforehand undocumented species. With researchers unable to be all over the place directly, this collaborative method drastically expands the attain of marine science and helps extra knowledgeable conservation efforts throughout one of the vital biodiverse areas on the planet.
Why Now
Ocean situations are altering quick. Local weather shifts, warming waters and rising tourism imply that marine ecosystems are being reshaped—typically invisibly. That is the second to create a dependable reference level—a snapshot in time that future generations (and researchers) can look again on to trace what’s modified, and why.
Why We Want You
Your dive has a deeper goal – it turns into information, proof, and a bit of a worldwide puzzle that helps us perceive and shield the very creatures you like.
Each time you enter the water, you’re not simply exploring, you’re contributing. Your sightings have worth. Your pictures turn out to be proof. Your time beneath the floor turns into a part of a much bigger image—one which helps us all perceive, shield and observe the rhythms of the reef.
By submitting your sightings that embody easy particulars like depth, temperature, location, time and moon part—you turn out to be a significant contributor to this three-year scientific archive. It’s about constructing one thing collectively that lasts far past a single season.
From Images to Conservation
The tasks additionally tie into Solitude World’s upcoming REAL FOCUS Underwater Images Shootout in 2026, hosted in partnership with the #makrogehtimmer Fb group.
Individuals are inspired to not solely seize inventive pictures, however to doc and determine species by way of iNaturalist—giving their pictures twin goal as inventive and scientific contributions.
REAL FOCUS
Underwater Images Shootout 2026
15 February to 30 April 2026
Areas: Solitude Acacia Resort (Anilao) & Solitude Lembeh Resort (Lembeh Strait)
A Motion for the Future
These tasks mirror a broader pattern within the dive business: the rise of citizen science tourism, the place travellers not solely pay to devour the expertise, additionally they need to contribute to conservation.
Dive In, Log On, Make a Distinction
Whether or not you might be recognizing uncommon nudibranchs in Anilao or admiring the colorful reef life in Indonesia, your subsequent dive may assist form marine science within the Coral Triangle. Your dive tales can do greater than encourage. They will inform, shield and protect. All it takes is a photograph and some clicks on the iNaturalist app or web site.
