by Anumi Sassaroli Oriana
For this edition of the Diving With a Purpose (DWP) blog, I had the privilege of interviewing Kramer Wimberley, the founder and lead instructor of the CARES program. The CARES program is a groundbreaking initiative focused on educating and empowering youth through hands-on experiences in reef ecosystems and ocean conservation.
This past July, the CARES program embarked on a significant collaboration with Green Island Challenge, an organization based in Guanaja, Honduras, dedicated to working with local communities to conserve the island’s precious ecosystem. Together, they facilitated a unique cross-cultural exchange, bringing together youth from Guanaja and the USA to deepen their understanding of reef ecosystems and foster a shared commitment to ocean Conservation.
During this collaboration, CARES instructors also provided Advanced Open Water training to participants, ensuring that all students, regardless of background, reached the same certification level. This preparation was crucial for the next phase of their journey: a trip to Roatán, where they engaged in coral restoration efforts.
Kramer Wimbery and Courtlandt Butts teach CARES participants how to use a compass for underwater navigation in Guanaja, Honduras. Photos by: Yarminiah Rosa
In this interview, I aim to explore the mission and impact of the CARES program, highlighting its importance in fostering environmental awareness and community involvement. By sharing Kramer Wimberley’s insights, we hope to inspire our readers to support this vital work and contribute to the future of ocean conservation.
1. What inspired you to start the CARES program, and what are its core objectives?
Kramer explained that the inspiration for the CARES program came from his desire to restore the ocean, which has been his source of joy throughout his 40 years of diving. He saw the ocean’s decline firsthand and felt it was irresponsible for divers to enjoy the sea without actively contributing to its restoration.
While working as the lead instructor for the Youth Diving With a Purpose (YDWP) program, which focuses on documenting shipwrecks, Kramer realized they were only addressing part of DWP’s mission: “preserving our heritage.” The “restoring our oceans” aspect was missing. Though YDWP did work with the Coral Restoration Foundation (CRF), this was limited and costly, as volunteers had to pay to participate. This sparked the idea for CARES, where he envisioned a more hands-on and sustainable approach to ocean restoration.
Kramer’s experience with the Reef Check program also played a key role. Although Reef Check monitors the overall health of reefs, Kramer noticed that it didn’t focus on hard coral structures, which are essential for sheltering marine life and protecting coastlines. He felt that this oversight was critical, as hard corals are foundational to reef ecosystems. Thus, CARES filled this gap by incorporating hard coral surveys alongside debris removal and coral replanting efforts.
The core objectives of CARES are threefold: educating participants—especially youth—about the importance of coral reefs, training them to monitor reef health, and
engaging in direct restoration efforts. This initiative brings the DWP mission full circle, balancing heritage preservation with active ocean restoration.
2. How does the CARES program approach youth education in reef ecosystems, and why is it important?
Education is central to the CARES mission. According to Kramer, most people, whether connected to the ocean or not, are unaware of the vital role coral reefs and the ocean play in sustaining life on Earth. “The ocean is responsible for cooling the planet and absorbing carbon dioxide, but people often don’t know this,” he explained.
By educating both youth and adults, CARES aims to inspire behavioral changes and encourage people to learn more. The focus on youth is critical, as they are the ones who will develop solutions to the environmental challenges facing the reefs. “I see youth as sponges, eager to absorb information and come up with fresh ideas,” Kramer said.
While the approach to teaching youth differs from that of adults, Kramer emphasized that both groups benefit from an engaging, participatory learning experience. “I enjoy watching young minds work on problem-solving. They often come up with ideas I would never have thought of.”
3. Can you share some highlights from your collaboration with the Green Island Challenge in Guanaja?
This year marked a milestone in CARES’ partnership with the Green Island Challenge. “Working with Anuar and Crystal has been amazing,” Kramer said, praising their knowledge of the ecosystem, especially in turtle conservation.
He was particularly impressed by how the Green Island Challenge adapted his virtual learning materials, translating them into Spanish and creating innovative educational activities for local youth. “They created games and challenges that made learning exciting. I was blown away by their creativity,” he said, adding that he took some of their ideas back to the U.S. for future programs.
4. How do you measure success within the CARES program?
“Success has many forms,” Kramer reflected. For him, it’s not about creating perfect marine scientists overnight. “If someone walks away from a session having learned one new thing, that’s success,” he said. Whether it’s understanding the impact of plastic waste or recognizing a coral species, every step towards greater awareness counts.
He recalled a moment when a student in Guanaja debated with him over the identification of a coral species. “It was clear that he had been studying, and that kind of challenge is what I consider a success,” Kramer said. Planting corals and seeing the immediate impact on the reef is another tangible sign of success for the program.
5. What impact does the CARES program have on the communities it engages?
Kramer hopes to replicate the strong community involvement seen in Guanaja across other locations. In Guanaja, parents, businesses, and youth are deeply invested in the program.
“Even when we’re not there, they’re working to protect their ecosystem,” he said. The long-term goal is to build a network of youth capable of monitoring reef health and collecting data, benefiting both local conservation efforts and global research. However, Kramer acknowledged that expanding the program’s reach to younger demographics has been challenging in recent years.
6. How can people support the CARES program, and what impact can their contributions make?
Kramer highlighted the diverse ways people can contribute to CARES. Educational institutions can partner with the program to engage youth in data collection for research,
while businesses in tourism-dependent regions can support reef restoration efforts to benefit both the environment and their bottom line. “It’s a win-win,” Kramer said, noting that healthy reefs attract tourists, which in turn supports local economies.
Donations don’t have to be monetary; equipment, airline miles, and even volunteer time are all valuable. “If you want to participate, just reach out to us through the Diving With a
Purpose website or social media,” Kramer encouraged.
