Coral reefs in danger: facts and solutions
Understand the threats facing coral reefs and what every diver can do to help protect them.
Coral reefs are suffering and every diver who sees them has a responsibility to convey their truth to the world.
Main threats to reefs
Rising temperatures
Marine heat waves cause coral bleaching, as the coral expels the vital colored algae that feed it. If the bleaching continues for weeks, the coral dies.
Ocean Acidification
Excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is dissolved in the sea and acidifies the water, weakening the limestone coral skeletons.
Destructive fishing
Trawl nets that destroy everything in their path and dynamite fishing that completely destroys corals.
What a diver can do
Never Touch
Even light touching weakens the coral and allows bacteria to damage it. Years of growth destroyed by touch.
Report damage
If you see illegal fishing or pollution, report it to the competent authorities immediately and record what you see if possible.
Spreading awareness
Share your experience and photos with people and tell them what you see underwater so they realize what we are losing.
Coral reefs are not a tourist attraction, but rather a life system that feeds hundreds of millions of people.