Ocean Life
Photo by Ryan Pernofski
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Where to See the World’s Most Beautiful Coral Reefs
Most people have a reef on their travel bucket list. Maybe it’s Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Maybe it’s the crystal-clear waters of French Polynesia or the incredibly biodiverse reefs of the Philippines. Every year, millions of people travel the world hoping to experience one of nature’s greatest wonders. But here’s the fun part: no two…
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Invisible Threats to Coral Reefs
The most dangerous threats to coral reefs are the ones you can’t see. This World Oceans Month, we’re diving into these invisible threats and what we’re doing to address them. Every year in June, we rally together around the world to celebrate our oceans. We talk about the ways our oceans give us life, how…
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![Coral Diversity, Where Adaptation Begins [Photo Gallery]](https://static.coral.org/uploads/2026/04/Cover-by-Ocean-Image-Bank-Noemi-Merz-scaled.jpg)
Coral Diversity, Where Adaptation Begins [Photo Gallery]
Think of a coral reef as a bustling city, full of unique homes, buildings, and landscapes. And with that, unique residents who all serve different purposes. This diversity is key to any city. The same is true underwater. The diversity of corals—along with the fish, invertebrates, and algae that live among them—is what keeps reef…
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Biodiversity, the Secret Superpower of Coral Reefs
What is biodiversity? Imagine a city underwater—a riot of color, a maze of hidden corners, and a bustling community where everyone has a job to do. That’s a coral reef! Coral reefs are some of the most complex, fascinating, and life-supporting ecosystems on Earth. Scientists call this biodiversity. Biodiversity is the variety of life in…
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The Ocean Protects You Every Day—This World Oceans Month, It’s Your Turn
World Oceans Month is more than just a calendar event. It’s a chance to celebrate the beating heart of our blue planet—and to remember how closely our lives are connected to the ocean’s health, especially the ecosystems within it. Coral reefs might only cover a small fraction of the ocean floor, but their impact stretches…
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Ghost Gear is Killing Coral Reefs and No One is Talking About It
Imagine diving into clear blue water. Schools of fish dart past. Coral fans sway gently with the current. And then you see it—a net, tattered and tangled, drifting like a shadow. Silent. Suspended. Deadly. This is ghost gear. And it’s one of the most lethal forms of plastic pollution in the ocean. What is ghost…
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How Pollution Threatens Coral Reefs and What We Can Do About It
Coral reefs are powerful, resilient ecosystems supporting 25% of all marine list and over a billion people globally. But these ecosystems are fragile and pollution is one of the most immediate threats they face. While climate change grabs headlines (and is still very important), local pollution is doing some serious damage in weakening coral defenses…
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Medicinal Cures Within Coral Reefs
Coral reefs support about 25% of all marine life, and their significance stretches far beyond their beauty. Increasingly, these vibrant ecosystems are being recognized as a vital source of potential medical breakthroughs. Researchers have found that coral reefs are a treasure trove of complex substances that offer promise in fighting a range of ailments, from…
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Exploring Reef Resilience Through the Science of Coral Adaptation
Coral reefs are some of the most extraordinary ecosystems on the planet. They support a quarter of all marine life, provide food and income to over a billion people, and offer a natural barrier protecting coastlines from storms and erosion. But these vibrant underwater cities face increasing pressure from climate change, overfishing, pollution, and more.…