Colombia has some of the strictest illegal fishing laws in the world, but people still need to stand up and enforce them. Erika Lopez has taken on the role of guardian of Malpelo, an island 314 miles (506 kilometers) west of Colombia.
Kelp forests are incredibly important for healthy ecosystems’, and they are getting rebuilt in California. Read more about kelp forests.
Garbage, especially plastics, can be found all over the world in all kinds of bodies of water. Read more about what is being done and what divers can do help clean it all up.
Sometimes the tiniest critters can pack the greatest punch. Phytoplankton, which are unicellular microalgae, can cause mass mortalities of animals such as dolphins and manatees and be the source of serious human illness.
The pillar coral is as unique in its taxonomy as it is in its growth form. It is also poorly studied — and it is in decline. Efforts have ramped up to study and conserve this species.
Monk seals are a critically endangered species in Hawaii, however, some island natives are protesting the seal being on the list. Read more.
The Coral Triangle, a particular section of the Western Pacific, is on the path of comprehensive conservation. Read more.
Maintaining a respectful distance from potentially harmful species underwater is a tenet of good recreational diving and a frequent topic of charter boat predive briefs. But those venomous fish you have learned to avoid might save your life someday.
Corals bleach, or turn white, when their symbiotic algae are expelled from the corals’ tissues due to stressors such as excessively warm water. Bleached corals can and do recover when favorable conditions resume.
Offshore platforms actually house a lot of marine life and are popular dive sites because of it. Several oil platforms, however, are scheduled to be removed from the Gulf of Mexico. Read more about the platforms’ importance.
