Coral Reefs: Everywhere and Everyone's Problem

July 10, 2025

Coral reefs don't just exist off the coasts of Australia and Florida. Let's take a dive into the Pacific Ocean and look at Hawaii's coral reefs:

“Jarrod Taylor has been diving in the waters off the coast of Honolulu for 20 years, and he has witnessed a seismic shift happening not just in Hawaii but across the world's oceans.” Have you ever been to Hawaii and had the privilege of diving or snorkeling any of its different islands’ pristine and diverse reefs? One of the coolest things I’ve seen is magnificent fish of all colors silhouetted against black lava rock beneath the surface. BREATHTAKING. We have discussed coral reefs in several of our articles. They are ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL “for maintaining marine life and biodiversity, as well as helping protect coastal communities from storms.” But it’s the same old story. The warmer waters fueled by climate change are making the coral reefs lose their color and eventually become bleached white. And then you will not see many fish or marine life hanging around bleached reefs.

“According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 84% of coral reefs are now under heat stress that can cause bleaching. When the ocean warms, the algae that give corals their vibrant hues are pushed out, leaving them as white skeletons.” Consequences of sick, dead, or dying coral reefs? “Without healthy and thriving reefs, aquatic creatures lose their habitats and coastlines lose a natural seawall that can protect communities from storms — preventing billions of dollars in flood damage, according to the NOAA.”

Water temperatures are increasing. Although 2024 was the hottest year on record for our beautiful planet, 2025 looks like it may be even hotter. “The rising heat is speeding up coral deaths. It used to take years to kill a reef. Now, it can take weeks —sometimes days.” And as if these reports from Hawaii aren’t bad enough, marine scientist Greg Asner says “the decline of coral reefs is worse in the Great Barrier Reef and the Galapagos Islands,” and “[the] problem is most severe in the Caribbean and the state of Florida.”

Would you like to help? When you are in or near the water try using sunscreen without chemicals harmful to coral (they sell these kinds of sunscreen now). If you really want to get into helping save our reefs, check out underwater coral nurseries nearby where snorkelers and divers are volunteering to help replant and regrow new, healthier coral reefs.