

ABOUT US
CORAL RESTORATION FOUNDATION™ IS THE LARGEST REEF RESTORATION ORGANIZATION IN THE WORLD
Headquartered in Key Largo Florida, we were founded in response to the wide-spread loss of the dominant coral species on Florida's Coral Reef.
We have been working to turn the tide for this critical ecosystem since 2007.

FLORIDA'S CORAL REEF
Running from north of Miami down to Key West in the south, right on Florida’s doorstep, lies Florida's Coral Reef.
It is the third largest barrier reef in the world and the only barrier coral reef in the continental United States.
Florida's Coral Reef was once dominated by two species of reef-building coral, staghorn (Acropora cervicornis) and elkhorn (Acropora palmata).
REEF IN CRISIS
Florida's Coral Reef now hosts just two percent of the populations of the once-dominant staghorn and elkhorn coral that it had in the 1970s.
These became some of the first corals to be included on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species, and are both now listed as “Critically Endangered” – one step away from a listing of “Extinct in the Wild”.


OUR RESPONSE
We have developed a method for “farming” and “outplanting” colonies of staghorn and elkhorn.
By hanging finger-sized fragments of these corals to grow on Coral Trees™, we can produce colonies that are large enough to be outplanted in just six to nine months.
To date, we have now restored more than 17,500 square meters of Florida's Coral Reef.
We are a small, dynamic team with a fierce passion for marine conservation.
Our specialized backgrounds and diverse experiences all contribute to a professional environment of cooperation, determination, and innovation.
R. Scott Winters, CEO
Coral Restoration Foundation™
David A. Splitt, Chairman
Retired Sr. Vice President and Sr. Corp Counsel for Xerox Corp
Patti Kirk Gross, Vice Chairman
PADI Dive Instructor
David Wing, Treasurer
Retired Chief Accounting Officer United Airlines
James Boilini, Director
Owner of Boilini Eye Care and Doc’s Diner
Stephen Frink, Director
Stephen Frink Photographic; Publisher of Alert Diver
Charles Lynch Jr., Director
Principal & Advisor, Bernstein Private Wealth Management
Sascha Simon, Director
Founder, President, and Chief Science Officer of Sfara
Corydon Gilchrist, Director
Owner/President KCG Holdings I LLC
Patti Gross, CHAIRMAN
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Scientific Diver
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Master Scuba Instructor: PADI/SSI
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IDC Staff Instructor/DAN First Aid/CPR/Oxygen Provider Instructor
Jonathan Bergeron, DSO
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Scientific Diver
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Master Scuba Diver Trainer Instructor/DAN Instructor
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SCUBA Equipment Technician
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USCG Boat Captain
Joseph Dituri, Ph.D.
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Navy Saturation Diver/Scientific Diver/Technical Diving Instructor
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Vice-President and Instructor of IANTD
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Hyperbaric Clinical Researcher
Jessica Levy
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Divemaster
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Scientific Diver
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CRF Reef Restoration Program Manager
Shawn Martin, M.Sc
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Adjunct Professor and Dive Safety Officer College of the Florida Keys
Amelia Moura
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Divemaster
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Scientific Diver
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CRF Science Program Manager
David Splitt
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Divemaster
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Retired Senior Legal Counsel/Risk Manager Xerox Corporation
Paul Washington
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Scientific Diver
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Master Scuba Instructor
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President, National Association of Black SCUBA Divers (NABS) Regional DSO for NABS
Billy Wise
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General Manager Rainbow Reef Dive Center
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PADI Course Director
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DAN Instructor Trainer

THE CORAL CHRONICLES
Follow our mission as it evolves, with news that comes straight from the heart of the
Coral Restoration Foundation™!
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The blog from the largest reef restoration initiative in the world.