What tropical vacation would be complete without a little snorkeling or diving? Sadly, these underwater experiences might never be the same. The future of our planet’s coral reefs is at stake – largely due to climate change. As water temperatures increase, more corals are bleaching and losing their vibrant colors. In addition to losing natural beauty, these corals become more susceptible to disease and can even die.
Globally, severe coral bleaching is now happening five times more frequently than in previous decades. The Great Barrier Reef is the poster child for climate change. Over the last few years, climate change has completely transformed the reef. Since 2016, the Great Barrier Reef has experienced two massive bleaching events which killed about half of the shallow corals on the reef.
The loss of coral reefs has a ripple effect across entire marine ecosystems. Though they cover less than 1% of the ocean floor, reefs are a valuable habitat for more than a quarter of the world’s marine species. Without coral reefs, fish and other marine animals will struggle to survive and there won’t be much left for divers or snorkelers to see.