The Transect Line - September/October 2023

Online Auction Starts November 1!

https://www.32auctions.com/bidfortheoceans2023

Bid with purpose! Reef Check’s “Bid for the Oceans” online auction fundraiser begins November 1. Preview all the fabulous items donated by our generous partners— trips, tickets, dive gear, jewelry, artwork, gift certificates, and much more! Proceeds will provide critical funds for Reef Check’s conservation, restoration and monitoring programs and every purchase helps further our mission to save reefs worldwide.

Expedition Reveals Signs of Hope in the Maldives

Biosphere Expeditions, who have been running EcoExpeditions to the Maldives since 2011, recently concluded its latest trip, unexpectedly finding signs of hope at previously badly affected reef sites impacted by the 2016 mass bleaching event. Sites that are grazed by herbivorous fish and have not been colonized by corallimorphs have partially recovered; baby corals are taking a foothold, surviving on the skeletal corpses of once great boulder corals, finding a space for new life in between dead coral branches.

Dive into Science Wraps up 2023 Trainings on Catalina

This month, two cohorts of foster youth from Antelope Valley and Los Angeles participated in the Dive into Science Open Water Scuba certification course at Emerald Bay on Santa Catalina Island. The course provided students a glimpse into the underwater world, as well as a stepping stone to continue their progression towards scientific diving. Training new ocean stewards is essential for safeguarding the health of our oceans and ensuring a sustainable future for both the environment and human society.

Video Spotlight: How locals in this Malaysian island paradise saved its dying coral reefs

The Star newspaper in Malaysia recently published this video on the efforts of Reef Check Malaysia on Tioman Island, where Reef Check has been working with local communities for over 10 years to maintain and manage the coral reefs, successfully replanting corals in many areas.

Khor Fakkan Hosts Vital Reef Check Course – A Marine Conservation Milestone!

In a crucial step towards safeguarding our oceans, the vibrant city of Khor Fakkan in the United Arab Emirates hosted a Reef Check EcoDiver course on September 16, 2023. This landmark event, meticulously coordinated by Coral Life group, saw the enthusiastic participation of seven ocean advocates led with the expert guidance of Reef Check EcoDiver Trainer Dr. Ali Al-Ajmi of Reef Check Oman.

Reef Check Receives San Diego Foundation Grant for Baja Kelp Forests

In August, Reef Check Malaysia celebrated 16 years of protecting and saving coral reefs in Malaysia amidst a busy summer which saw a successful campaign against the construction of a new airport, training and empowering local youth and communities to participate in conservation efforts, and removing over 26,000 kg of trash from the coastlines of Malaysia.