Coral reefs are nurseries of the ocean. Healthy reefs are vital for human health.
Divers can be the difference between a healthy reef and a tragedy.
Fact Sheets Cyanide Fishing Trade in Coral Reef Species Coral reefs are home to over 25 percent of all marine life and are among the world's most fragile and endangered ecosystems. In the last few decades, mankind has destroyed over 35 million acres of coral reefs. Reefs off of 93 countries have been damaged by human activity. This dirt, silt, or sand can make the water cloudy or muddy, smothering the coral which can't get enough light to survive. Mangrove trees and seagrasses which normally act as filters for sediment are also being rapidly destroyed.