Coral ID Workshop
****Registration is now closed. Submit your interest in a future Coral ID Workshop HERE***
When: (Registration closed) November 12 -14, 6pm – 10pm Brisbane (GMT+10, good for Australia / Asia / EU participants), registration closes at on October 25. Tickets available at the bottom of the page. (Registration closed)
(Sold Out) November 5 – 7, 6:30pm – 10:30pm Eastern US (good for US / Asia / Australia) (Sold Out)
Where: Online, Interactive over Zoom
How Much: $350 USD
Target Audience: Scientists, Students, Naturalists, CITES, Coral Collectors, Exporters, Importers, Wholesalers, Retailers, Hobbyists, Academics, Researchers.
Includes: Three 4-hour sessions in an interactive AV training call in a small group, physical training materials including the Coral Finder Toolkit 2.0 (Indo Pacific Coral Finder 2021 and a comprehensive workshop manual, a $110 USD value, shipped to you for the workshop).
Additional Info: This workshop is presented in English (American & Australian accents), and all of the training material is in Australian English. Workshop fee is in US dollars. Registrations must be purchased in full. Only one person per registration. No transfers, refunds, or group deals. Sorry, we do not accept bank transfers, Paypal or card only. Note, every registration includes one set of the physical training materials. Participants will be contacted after registration with more information on how to receive the training materials. Training materials will start shipping the first week of October. Participants are encouraged to turn their cameras on and engage in conversation.
Participation limited to 18 people
In line with MASNA’s Goals and Charter, MASNA presents the MASNA Coral ID Workshop.
The workshop will be based around the new 2021 Coral Finder Toolkit, a suite of proven, practical resources for coral identification. The Indo Pacific Coral Finder uses a visual approach that makes it possible for beginners to advance rapidly with little prior knowledge.
Led by Russell Kelley – author of the Indo Pacific Coral Finder & the Reef Finder – the workshop uses audio-visual and hands-on training, tutorials and instruction and includes a take home Coral Finder Toolkit: Coral Finder 2021, a comprehensive workshop manual and audiovisual training.
Participants learn how to use the newly updated Indo Pacific Coral Finder 2021 to identify Indo Pacific corals to genus regardless of growth form. Special emphasis is placed on techniques for field identification, self directed learning and problem solving. For non-coral specialists, the workshop rapidly develops basic coral identification skills.
For current or future coral specialists will upgrade their ID skills to the current state of molecular taxonomy. The workshop provides an introduction to species identification and how to approach it maturely. The training applies equally topside or underwater. Even people with extensive prior knowledge of corals benefit significantly from the problem solving training built into the Coral Finder workshop.
The workshop also summarizes the changes and implications of new molecular taxonomy findings while providing an easy- to-grasp, practical, field focussed approach to coral identification.
****Registration is now closed. Submit your interest in a future Coral ID Workshop HERE***
Includes a take-home Coral Finder 2021, workshop manual, and video training.
Russell Kelley works as a marine educator, film maker, author and science communicator with a special interest in coral reefs.
He is manager of BYOGUIDES and author of the Indo Pacific Coral Finder and the Reef Finder – the world’s first searchable, smart ID guides – www.byoguides.com – which form the basis of the training courses he runs world wide.
He has trained over a thousand people in coral identification.
Russell is a coral reef geologist and biologist by training and has a passion for telling stories about the natural world. In particular he loves revealing the ‘big picture meaning’ in the smallest of things.
His other published work spans scientific papers, book chapters, educational tools and international natural history television productions.
The NEW Coral Finder 2021
The completely revised & up-to-date 4th edition of the book that took the mystery out of coral ID is now available. The Indo Pacific Coral Finder delivers easy genus level coral ID anywhere between the Red Sea and Easter Island.
- Over 1730 images & expanded genus coverage
- Updated to reflect molecular taxonomy as of Dec. 2020
- Includes bibliography to molecular literature
- Twice the visual coverage (80 pages) of the previous edition
Workshop Participant Feedback
“A very big thank you for all your expertise and knowledge you shared with us! The course was an absolute blast and I loved every bit of it! I’ve been practicing my ID with photos nearly every night.”
Carine Lefevre
Australian Institute of Marine Science
“It hands down was the most interesting, engaging and intriguing course I have ever been on – so thank you for all the hard work you’ve put into it! The course is already being put to use at work and at home to help me identify both living and coral skeletons.”
Colette Gibbings
Qualified Keeper – Aquatics, BUGS Department, ZSL London Zoo
“Clearly the best guide out there for understanding how to identify corals in the field. Teaches the process, allowing identification to different taxonomic levels and can adapt to taxonomic changes in future.”
Tom Bridge
Senior Curator
Corals, Queensland Museum
“Difficulties in identifying corals underwater have been hampering coral enthusiasts and researchers alike for decades. I feel that the Coral Finder is a huge leap ahead. It is exceptionally well designed and easy to master. It is also timely, as the need for accurate survey has never been so pressing. I strongly endorse it for use anywhere in the Indo-Pacific.“
Prof. J.E.N. (Charlie) Veron
Author Corals of the World, former Chief Scientist of the Australian Institute of Marine Science
“I personally really enjoyed the course, as it was very informative, useful, stimulating, interactive and interesting! I would highly recommend the course to any person interested in or working with corals; it brings motivation to learn more and go diving!”
Katarina Damjanovic
Australian Institute of Marine Science
“We use the Coral Finder across our entire aquarium business and our collectors, aquarists and facility staff find it very easy to use. There is no other tool for quick and easy coral identification.“
Lyle Squire Junior
Director, Cairns Marine, Australia’s largest aquarium exporter
Workshop Tickets
(In US dollars)
(In US dollars)
