The Third Reef Ranger: Puck Boertje
Overview
Puck is our third reef ranger, having spent a month with our program in Indonesia. She approached us after discovering Reef Support on Instagram through the story of Amba, our first Reef Ranger.
Her enthusiasm for diving and marine conservation convinced us that she is the best person to be the next Reef Ranger! With the assistance of local collaborators, She laid coral fragments and artificial reefs over a previously devastated reef, creating fresh habitats for marine animals.
Self-biography
Hi! I am Puck Boertje, a Biomedical Engineering master’s student from the Netherlands. I have always loved the ocean and the life inside of it. Since I can remember, I have been snorkeling, and when I was 12, I completed the PADI Open Water Course, and I immediately fell in love and wanted to become a divemaster. Unfortunately, this dream has not come true yet, but I have been able to dive around the world.
Since I have such a passion for the underwater world, I also feel strongly about preserving it. When I saw Amba’s Instagram stories about Indonesia Biru Foundation (IBF) and Reef Support, I knew what I wanted to do this summer.
I took a long plane ride to Lombok and spent all of August there to help IBF with their reef restoration project and coral lab and help educate the local communities on these topics.
Latest posts
30 July
Right at the beginning of my stay in Lombok, I met Andre, who set up IBF, and Kris. We went diving at Kecinan Bay. Kris is a dive instructor. She did my refresher dive with me. after we joined Nyoman and Andre for my first coral planting dive! Such an amazing experience, and it’s cool to plant coral in the bay. This was my first of 13 dives in Kecinan Bay, where the IBF lab and the “Coral Garden” are located. Nyoman was the lab technician, so we spent a lot of time together at the lab. We did the water quality tests together in the lab, and I learned a lot about the corals from him!
It was very nice to dive at one site a couple of times. You start to recognize the fish and coral that are living there. As a Reef Ranger in Kecinan Bay, you not only do coral restoration but also Reef Checks. It was very interesting to have underwater experiences like these.
After the first dive, André and Kris showed me around Senggigi and took me to eat at a lovely local warung! It started to feel more and more like home.
11 August
In the Reef Ranger program, there are four fun dives at the Gili Islands! On the 10th of August, I went with Parke and Hardy. And on the 11th of August, a friend of mine from Holland came and joined us. On this day, Parke took us on some amazing dives around Gili Air and Gili Meno! after we were dropped off at Gili Air. Because it was all arranged by IBF, we had a private dive tour!
17 August
Indonesian Independence Day Desty took me to the ceremony that was held at Soraya’s hotel! They are both parts of the IBF community. It was so wonderful to be a part of this celebration. It was very nice to be invited, and I got to learn more about Indonesia! Once the ceremony was finished, the kids of the local village came to play games, like kroepoek biting and sack races! I loved being part of such a local community and national celebration!
27 August
During my last days in Indonesia, I had some free time and visited Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan. On Nusa Penida, I met with Haekal, who is working at a dive school in Penida. Haikal is also part of the IBF Community. I went on the Manta and Mola Mola dives with them. It was Mola Mola season, and I was lucky enough to see lots of Mantas and some Mola Molas! It was the cherry on the cake of my stay in Indonesia. After the dives, I stayed to chill with the people from the dive school and met such nice people!
2 September
I wanted to spend my last two days in Kuta Lombok because I enjoyed it so much when I went surfing there during one of my weekends off. I bought all my gifts for my friends and family back in Holland at Plastic Kembali! This is a business that makes bags, art, and small accessories from recycled plastic found in Indonesia. The last day in Lombok was very sad, I said goodbye to Desty and Renny and we went for the last dinner. Going back home was very bitter. I loved Lombok and IBF. I am glad I was able to be a part of the IBF and have these great memories that I will cherish forever.
Overall
As a Reef Ranger, you will learn the skills and help to maintain our underwater habitats. We recommend dedicating a few weeks at a destination to get the most out of the experience but we also have shorter programs that you can book today.
Interested in learning more about Reef Ranger?
