Conservation and Education
It begins with you!
Below you will find resources for some of the most well-known and proactive agencies and organizations that strive to conserve and protect our waters. The links below provide information on their mission and conservation programs, as well as provide resources for education and how you can help conserve our precious ocean resources.
Conservation News
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Coral News
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Conservation News ~~ Coral News ~~
People around the world rely on coral reefs for critical ecosystem services including nutrition, economic security, and protection from natural disasters. Click here to learn about the importance of America’s coral reefs and where they are located, the issues they face, and the EPA is doing to address these issues.
The Surfrider Foundation is dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s ocean, waves, and beaches, for all people, through a powerful activist network. Campaigns are a key strategy Surfrider uses to protect our ocean, waves and beaches.
From testing our coastal waters to ensuring that runoff stays in your garden to reducing plastic pollution, Surfrider's programs help ensure that our marine ecosystems are protected.
NOAA’s National Ocean Service: Working for you!
Click here to get the facts about our oceans and coasts. Click here to discover NOAA’s resources and programs for educators, students, and anyone who wants to learn more about our ocean and coasts!
Click here to learn more about NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program.
Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) is an international marine conservation organization that implements hands-on programs to involve local communities in conservation-focused activities. Its mission is to protect biodiversity and ocean life by actively engaging and inspiring the public through citizen science, education, and partnerships with the scientific community.
Learning Resources – Fishinars and Fishy-hours and Quizzes of common fish and invertebrates to review the most common fish of an area.
Our mission is to save the world’s coral reefs. We work at local, regional, and global levels to keep coral reefs healthy, so they can adapt to climate change and survive for generations to come. As one of the largest global NGOs focused exclusively on protecting coral reefs, the Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) has used cutting-edge science and community engagement for nearly 30 years to reduce direct threats to reefs and to promote scalable and effective solutions for their protection.
Click here to read about Coral Reef Alliance’s scientific research for actionable insight. Click here for “Coral Reefs 101” course.
Dive Operations Working to Help Conserve and Educate
PADI and SSI
The SSI Blue Oceans movement supports the conservation and sustainable use of aquatic environments, including oceans, seas, coasts, and waterways, and their magnificent diversity of plant and animal species.
SSI and Blue Oceans are joining forces with everwave, a pioneering impact company dedicated to protecting our planet’s waterways. This partnership marks a bold step toward tackling plastic pollution before it reaches our oceans—ensuring a healthier, cleaner future for marine life and divers worldwide.
The ocean is not only a place of immense natural beauty, but it also plays a crucial role in maintaining life on Earth. As scuba divers, we experience firsthand the wonders and fragility of marine environments, making us uniquely positioned to act as advocates for the ocean. Through simple actions both underwater and in everyday life, divers can help protect the ocean and inspire others to do the same. Here are 11 ways to make a difference.
Backed by the power of the PADI® brand and supported by the world’s largest global network of dive centers and resorts and dive instructors worldwide, PADI AWARE Foundation can fully leverage the collective influence of divers and the dive industry to address key threats facing the marine environment.
A Dive Against Debris Diver takes direct 'fins on' action for the ocean, collecting critical survey data from any or every dive that can be used by marine researchers and policymakers for conservation efforts. No one is better suited to tackle marine debris than PADI Divers.
PADI's community of Ocean Torchbearers is one of the most effective groups for ocean change on the planet. They are in a unique position to report on the key threats facing the marine environment and help make a difference to restore balance between humanity and nature.
You can also check out PADI’s Conservation Courses here.