The underwater world needs caring divers and non-divers to conserve the fragile aquatic ecosystems.
Join the actions of concerned individuals, by discovering some of the most pressing problems facing these vulnerable environments and help to protect and conserve them.
The Project AWARE course is informative, interesting and most importantly, you can make a difference.
Help to make a positive impact against global Earth climate change, ocean acidification, coral bleaching and other world threats to our oceans and the preservation of our coral reefs.
Collectively, these simple steps can make a difference. Your daily actions are effective.
1) Educating the public of the seriousness is imperative. People need to learn, read about, and take action against marine pollution. The more information you learn, the better the actions, with more success directly impacting conservation. Saving the Earth is everyone’s responsibility.
2) Not everyone lives near coral reef formations. However, if you plan a vacation accordingly, it is a great opportunity to visit a local marine park. Volunteer organisations would benefit from your inclusion of their surveys and clean-ups.
3) Take steps to lower your carbon footprint. Planting trees helps to reduce run-off and reverse global warming. Walking or using public transport helps to reduce pollution. Driving cars and industry emit fossil fuels, which increases coral bleaching.
4) Coral reefs are precious. Although they portray a rocky appearance, corals are delicate animals. If you go diving or snorkeling, do it responsibly, using appropriate anchoring techniques and do not touch the reef.
5) Plan to eat sustainable seafood. Seafood Watch produces a pocket guide that highlights seriously overfished species such as Bluefin Tuna, Blue Marlin, Atlantic Cod, Salmon, Sea bass and others.
6) Fertiliser products eventually run into the seas, polluting the water, and harming coral reefs and marine animals. Try to use organic fertilisers that are eco-friendly, to reduce the impact on our water systems.
7) Using water conservatively creates less waste-water. Dispose trash and litter properly. Garbage that ends up in the sea is extremely harmful for marine life animals.
8) You can contact your local governmental representatives and petition them to increase their activities against marine pollution. Peaceful demonstrations are increasingly changing the way that governments act.
9) It makes sense to support ‘eco and reef-friendly’ businesses and organisations. So-called 'Green' companies actively engage in conservation activities and sustainable practices. You can learn more about these establishments from the National Green Pages.
10) Scuba divers and water enthusiasts are ambassadors for the underwater world. Spread the message that coral reef formations need our help.
All corals are – or were – living organisms. They are not simply mineral rock! A coral reef is a collection of both live and dead corals.
So, is coral a rock, plant or animal? In fact, corals are animal organisms, with each type having a symbiotic life-supporting relationship with a primitive plant organism.
They have an exceptionally sluggish growth rate, often less than one centimetre per year for some coral porites.
But, the tall giants of seven or eight metres high rank among the oldest and most established of all earth life forms.
Understanding how tiny polyp structures produce fabulous coral reef gardens is often misunderstood and underestimated.
Follow this complex information by questioning how they are made and whether in fact corals are actual plants or living animals and we have the recipe for an intense debate.
They are becoming popular in many diving destinations around the world and the reason for creating an artificial reef varies in different oceans.
Simply put, coral Bleaching is a process that causes coral to lose its normal pale brown or dark grey colour.
Even though the inexperienced diver may admire the apparent snow-like environment, it is a sign that the coral is distressed.
You do not need to be a diver to recognize and accept that healthy coral is less common nowadays. Find out how the different types of coral diseases are caused by a variety of pathogens, fungi and bacteria.
Several global factors (e.g. climate change) threaten the survival of most corals found in shallow tropical reefs and lagoons because it interrupts the symbiotic relationship they have with algae.
This section contains detailed facts and information about staghorn coral and the significance of healthy 'bush-like' coral species for fish families and other reef organisms.