Worlds Coral Reefs
As scuba divers, we are often only concerned with things strictly pertaining to scuba diving. We don’t worry about the environment and we certainly don’t worry about the organisms underwater. And why should we? After all, they’re not a significant issue…..or are they? While it is true that we don’t have to worry about many things because they’re not much of an issue, it is also true that we should be worrying about the worlds coral reefs. Coral reefs are an often neglected, yet essential part of the underwater environment. In this article, we will be learning a lot about the worlds coral reefs and what they mean to scuba divers.
What are Coral Reefs?
When some people hear about coral reefs, they aren’t really sure what exactly they are. So let’s set the record straight right here. Coral reefs are aragonite structures produced by living organisms. What are aragonite structures? They are structures composed of carbonate minerals.
Coral reefs are found in shallow marine waters. These areas are typically without nutrients. This is good, as coral reefs can be damaged by water that is full of nutrients. This may seem a bit odd to you, as we are used to organisms requiring nutrients in order to survive, but this is not the case with coral reefs. You can think of it this way: too much of something can be a bad thing. In the case of the coral reef, even just a little bit of exposure to nutrients can kill them.
Why are Coral Reefs Important?
Beyond being a beautiful sight to behold, coral reefs are also important to the environment for the following reasons:
Coral reefs protect shores from the impact of storms. A storm that hits around an area with coral reefs will not do as much damage to the shore. Medicinal Benefits. Coral reefs have been used for many years in a variety of medical ways. They are very beneficial, health-wise, to humans and animals alike. Food. Coral reefs are also used often as food for animals. Economic Benefits. People will pay to see coral reefs because of their sheer beauty. This can provide an economic boost to cities, which is yet another reason why coral reefs are important.
The Worlds Coral Reefs: Dying?
It is a sad fact that coral reefs are dying, and it is at an alarming rate. It is estimated that 20% of the worlds coral reefs are have been effectively destroyed with no chance of recovery, while 24% of the worlds coral reefs are under the risk of being destroyed. So what is causing this destruction? Well, there are a variety of causes, but the two biggest are overfishing and pollution. With all the advances in fishing techniques, more fish are being caught now than ever before. As a result, coral reefs are dying. Pollution in the water has greatly increased and is also responsible for the worlds coral reefs dying. That is because the chemicals in pollution are harmful to the reefs.
Why Should I Care?
As a scuba diver, you should want the underwater environment in which you dive to be completely safe. The worlds coral reefs play a role in making the water a safe place for you, not to mention, they are a definitely very enjoyable to look at and explore. Therefore, they are something you should care a lot about.
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