The Carolina Reef Foundation (CRF) was born out of a heartfelt moment of realization during a family trip to Florida. John Harden Sr., who had once dreamed of following in Jacques Cousteau’s footsteps and working with Philippe Cousteau, had even attended the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) with plans to earn a Marine Biology degree. Though life ultimately took him down a different path, his passion for the ocean never waivered.
On this trip, Sr. and his son, John Harden II, revisited dive sites where Sr. had explored vibrant reefs two decades earlier. Instead of the thriving ecosystems he remembered, they were met with the devastating loss of reef life. This sobering sight led them to connect with the Coral Reef Foundation, where they had the incredible opportunity to dive alongside their team, observe their restoration efforts, and meet with their leadership.
Inspired but constrained by the geographical distance to Florida, the father and son reflected on how they could contribute more meaningfully to reef restoration. During a car ride later that week, J2. proposed a simple yet powerful idea: "Why don't we just do it at home in the Carolinas?" From that conversation, a dream was born.
Today, that dream is a thriving reality. The Carolina Reef Foundation now includes three generations of the Harden family actively working to protect and restore coral reefs. With a granddaughter and grandson J3 already open-water certified and another J4 eager to join when he is old enough, the family’s passion for the ocean is contagious.
CRF has also grown into a movement that inspires others to join the cause. Volunteers now participate in coral rescue dives and reef garden-building efforts, with some traveling as far as Ontario, Canada—an incredible 16-hour journey each way—to be part of the mission. Together, we are making a difference for the Carolinas’ reefs and beyond.
The Carolina Reef Foundation's coral rescue efforts focus on safeguarding and revitalizing coral ecosystems in the Carolinas. Through organized dives and volunteer engagement, we identify, collect, and rescue broken coral fragments caused by storms, human activity, or natural degradation. These rescued corals are carefully nurtured in nurseries or directly replanted to strengthen reef structures and support marine biodiversity. Our mission is to empower passionate individuals to protect these vital ecosystems, ensuring their survival for future generations.
Our temporary coral nursery serves as a critical waypoint for rescued coral fragments. The nursery provides optimal conditions for coral recovery and growth, ensuring that each fragment has the best chance to thrive. Once healthy and robust, the corals are carefully transplanted to designated reef restoration sites, where they contribute to rebuilding vibrant and resilient marine ecosystems.
Starting in June of 2023, we began mapping reef sites with side-scan depth finders and dive trips to identify and locate native corals. We believe that community involvement is essential to the success of our mission and are seeking volunteers who are passionate about preserving our reef systems.
Once we have mapped a number of artificial and natural reefs, we will begin transplanting rescued coral to enhance these valuable habitats.
Coral require a clean environment to thrive. We conduct clean-up dives to remove trash from the reefs we are nurturing. We might even clean out a Lion Fish or two.
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.