Conservation begins with understanding the need to protect waters necessary for life. Each year Project AWARE introduces a new public awareness and education campaign to address environmental issues and involve individuals in solutions. Project AWARE also teaches enthusiasts how to sustainably interact with aquatic resources and apply these skills to conservation.

10 Things You Can Do

1. Avoid purchasing souvenirs made from coral or any threatened or endangered marine species.

2. Support the establishment of coral reef protected areas and encourage better protection and management for those that exist.

3. While traveling, choose resorts and tour operators that properly treat all sewage and wastewater.

4. While operating a boat, navigate carefully to avoid contact with coral reefs and other vulnerable ecosystems such as seagrass beds and maintain engine equipment to prevent oil and gas spills.

5. As a diver or snorkeler, choose tour operators that use mooring buoys or drift diving techniques whenever possible rather than anchors that can cause reef damage.

6. Make wise choices in selecting seafood by avoiding menu items that are caught or farmed using destructive or unsustainable practices including reef-killing poisons, explosives, and illegal equipment.

7. Avoid purchasing tropical wood furniture or products obtained from clear-cut tropical forests causing siltation damage to coral reefs.

8. As a diver, practice buoyancy control skills in a pool or sandy area before diving near a coral reef. Make sure your gauges and equipment are secured to avoid accidental contact with the reef, and never touch, stand on, or collect coral. Be an A.W.A.R.E. diver.

9. Report all damage of coral reefs to dive operators and scientific or conservation groups that monitor coral reef health.

10. Enroll in an AWARE-specialty course with a Havenn's Reef to increase your knowledge about coral reefs and other aquatic environments. (Project AWARE Specialty, Underwater Naturalist, AWARE-Fish Identification, Peak Performance Buoyancy, and AWARE-Coral Reef Conservation.)