How One Dive Center Had a Big Impact on Lionfish and Community

Dive Center Aquanauts Grenada

How much difference can one dive center really make? At Aquanauts Grenada, the answer turned out to be - a lot.

When we took over the business in 2021 during the uncertainty of the pandemic, we saw an opportunity to do things differently. With Lionfish spreading rapidly on our local reefs and fewer divers in the water, we needed a creative solution that would bring people together and restore balance to the ocean.

That is how Lionfish Bites & Beats was born - a community-powered event combining conservation, cuisine, and music. What started as a local idea soon became a powerful model for engaging divers, locals, and visitors in hands-on reef protection - and it worked.

From Reef Threat to Community Opportunity

When we first arrived, Lionfish were everywhere. With fewer divers hunting them due to global travel restrictions, these invasive predators had spread rapidly across our reefs, putting native fish populations at serious risk.

We knew this was not a problem we could solve alone. But what if we could turn it into something the whole community would want to be part of?

Creating the Lionfish Bites & Beats Event 

We wanted to make Lionfish management an accessible and fun experience for everyone. That is when we came up with our Lionfish Bites & Beats event — a celebration of music, food, and education, all focused on raising awareness of the invasive Lionfish species. 

We collaborated with West Indies Brewery to host the event, with local chefs preparing delicious dishes like Lionfish Tacos and Lionfish ‘n Chips, using the fillets we collected during our hunts. To add to the excitement, local musicians, including some of our crew, played live music throughout the evening, and at set break, one of our crew did a live demonstration on how to fillet Lionfish. 

This combination of music, food, and education turned out to be the perfect recipe for community engagement. It was a unique event where locals, scuba divers, students, and visitors could come together, enjoy a fun evening, and learn about the importance of invasive species management. More importantly, it allowed us to show people that conservation can be an enjoyable and rewarding part of life, not just a serious task. 

Dive Center Aquanauts Grenada

Inspired to take action? Read next: 10 Top Tips for Sustainable Diving 

The Impact: From Frequent Events to a Job Well Done 

The success of the Lionfish Bites & Beats events exceeded our expectations. It quickly became a favorite community event, drawing people from all walks of life. But the best part? It worked. 

Over time, we noticed a remarkable shift. The number of Lionfish in our local reefs began to decrease, and the number of local restaurants offering Lionfish on their menus began to increase. The efforts of our crew, local divers, and the engagement of the local community were starting to pay off. As the Lionfish population diminished, it became harder and harder to find enough Lionfish for our events (a great problem!). 

Today, we host Lionfish Bites & Beats twice a year, or a maximum of four times per year. Gathering enough fillets for the event means we have to head out on a trip to the offshore islands of Isle de Ronde, an all-day dive trip to a lesser-explored area where Lionfish are still more abundant. 

Although Lionfish are not completely gone from our local reefs, they are becoming harder to find — and that is something we are incredibly proud of. 

Our event has become such a hit that students, divers, and guests regularly ask when the next one will be! It has become a much-anticipated event that brings the community together, celebrates conservation, and lets everyone taste the fruits of their labor. 

Expanding Engagement: Jam & Jewelry Nights

In addition to our Lionfish Bites & Beats events, we have introduced Jam & Jewelry Nights as a regular initiative. These evenings are another opportunity for our crew to play live music and interact with guests, but this time, we add a creative spin: we facilitate jewelry-making with Lionfish spines. 

Guests get hands-on by crafting their own Lionfish jewelry, turning something that was once a threat to our reefs into a unique keepsake. This initiative, as well as the Lionfish meals from the events, raises funds for our Aqua Rangers Youth Development Scholarship Program, which empowers local CARICOM students to gain experience in the Blue Economy. 

Ready to engage your community? Read: Top 7 Ways to Bring Marine Education to Your Community 

How to Replicate This at Your Dive Center 

If you want to replicate our approach, here are some key steps to follow: 

1. Start with a Clear Mission

Define your goals for invasive species management and community engagement. Whether you are focusing on Lionfish or another invasive species, make sure your mission is clear and communicated to your community. 

2. Collaborate with Local Partners

Team up with local businesses, like breweries or restaurants, to create a collaborative event. They can help with providing food, drink, and additional entertainment, and you will bring more awareness to their passion for conservation in the process. 

3. Make It Fun and Educational

Guests learn best when they are having fun. Incorporate music, food, and hands-on activities to keep the atmosphere relaxed and engaging. Consider hosting dive trips, jewelry making, or educational talks alongside your events to give a well-rounded experience. 

4. Turn Conservation into Action

While raising awareness is important, make sure your events encourage action. Invite people to get involved with your SSI Invasive Species Management course and/or contribute to your local environmental initiatives. 

5. Celebrate Progress

Invasive species management is a long-term effort, and every step forward is a success. Celebrate the small victories and continue engaging your community to keep the momentum going. 

Invasive species management does not have to be a daunting task. By integrating community engagement with fun, educational events, you can raise awareness, reduce invasive species populations, and make a real difference. 

At Aquanauts Grenada, we have seen firsthand how impactful it can be when everyone - from divers to local businesses to students - comes together for a common cause. We hope our story inspires you to take action and find creative ways to engage your community in protecting the ocean we all love.

Follow @AquanautsGrenada for a splash of inspiration, community-powered conservation, and a front-row seat to our ocean-loving events — the perfect spark for your next initiative. 

Dive Center Aquanauts Grenada