You’reonaboatoffthecoastofCancún,Mexico.You’regettingreadyforareefdive.Youcheckyourgear.Thenyoudiveintothecool water.
Youswimdown.Youseesomethingneartheseabed.Youswimcloserandsee... aface!Itispartofastatue.Whatisitdoinghere?It’spartofanunderwatermuseum.It’salsopartofanartificialreef.Itwasmadetohelpprotectnaturalreefs.Manyhavebeendamagedby divers.
Bigeyesliketheselivenearcoral reefs.
Thisnaturalreefisfullof life.
ReefsinTrouble
Thisreefwasdamagedbypeopleblastfishingwith dynamite.
CoralreefsarethelargestlivingstructuresonEarth.Reefsplayabigroleinkeepingouroceanshealthy.Theygivefood,shelter,andprotection.Yet,reefsarein trouble!
Humanactivitycanbehardonouroceansandreefs.Carelesstouristsandpollutioncanhurtreefs.Climatechangeaffectsthem, too.
Forexample,thousandsofdiversvisitthenaturalreefsinCancúneveryyear.Manyarebeginners.Someaccidentallycausedamageduringtheir dives.
MUSAisanunderwaterartmuseum.Itwascreatedtodrawpeopleawayfromnaturalreefsandtowardartificialones.Manypeoplenowvisit MUSA.
Adiverswimsaboveanunderwater statue.