Our Conservation Work
We work with policymakers, businesses and local communities to transform the marine tourism industry to take action for practical coral reef protection.
Sustainable
Marine Tourism
Policy Work
Education
Industry Change
Science & Data
6,000 dive operators
20 million scuba divers
1 million new divers certified annually
Snorkelling participation reaches numbers too vast to measure
The scale of marine tourism is immense:
This tourism boom creates a double-edged sword for fragile marine environments. without proper management, diver and snorkeller contact, boat anchoring and chemical pollutants compound the damage to already vulnerable reefs.
In this challenge lies an extraordinary opportunity.
Creating a bridge between two worlds:
By connecting marine tourism with local reef-reliant communities, we build capacity for local communities to actively conserve and restore coral reefs, a resource that is often a source of food, traditional medicine, indigenous knowledge and the foundation of their cultural identity.
Our vision is to eliminate tourism's threats while maximising its positive potential, buying precious time for marine ecosystems facing unprecedented global challenges. Together with our partners, and led by science and data, we're transforming an industry from a potential threat to a powerful ally in the fight to safeguard the future of coral reefs.
When guided by environmental standards, marine tourism becomes a powerful force for good, connecting people meaningfully with ocean ecosystems without compromising their future.
The marine tourism industry can mobilise many reef users for conservation actions like:
Citizen science to monitor biodiversity, bleaching and disease events
Beach and underwater cleanups
Environmental education
Engagement with local communities
Sustainable financing for conservation
Our work supports:
Reef-World was started in 1999 through seed funding from a personal donation from Leonardo DiCaprio. Work since then has continued thanks to the support from our Institutional and Grant Partners. These funds have enabled our work to develop and grow, working closely with our Implementation Partners to drive sustainable marine tourism on the ground (and in the water!)
INSTITUTIONAL & GRANT PARTNERS
IMPLEMENTATION PARTNERS
