Ocean Geographic - OG 56 Update and Cover Voting
Message from Michael AW – Ocean Geographic
Help us choose the next cover for Ocean Geographic OG 56
As we are running late, this is just a short and sweet update. As we all emerge from the clutches of a horrid 2020, we would like to share with you the beauty of our coral reefs’ environment in our next edition. These pictures were captured between December 2020 and February 2021. The coral reefs of the Great Barrier Reef and the atolls of Maldives are alive and well. In many places, live coral coverage is nearly 90% - these are the few remaining healthiest reefs of our planet.
In reality, more than 60% of coral reefs have been destroyed or severely degraded in the last 25 years; degradation of coral reefs has been occurring for decades but is accelerating at an alarming rate, leading to a global loss of corals and healthy reef ecosystems. Accelerating human population growth and greenhouse gas emissions are now threatening the existence of many of the remaining healthy reef systems. Global action on climate change is clearly inadequate and needs urgent and effective global coordination to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transform economies through more sustainable energy production.
We know you will enjoy the Coral Reefs edition comprising of three extensive essays; ALIVE & KICKING – the Great Barrier Reef, Return to Rainbow Sea – Maldives and MORE SEX on the Reefs by Dr Peter Harrison of Southern Cross University. If we lose the reefs, we have now in the next 30 years or so, then the pictures in this edition will serve as a memior of what we once had.
We take this opportunity to invite you to a special expedition to the Maldives in 2022 to see some of the healthiest coral reefs on our planet – this is part of our Deep South Maldives Sharks & Rays expedition with focus to interact with the most diverse shark population in the world: tigers, silver tips, oceanic whitetips, threshers, hammerheads, whale sharks, silkies and of course the usual suspects – white-tip, grey reefs and nurse sharks. Find out more - https://bit.ly/3shcTYr
or online at www.ogsociety.org news and events/expeditions page
For now, take a sneak preview of the selection of covers – please help us pick the cover for the Coral Reefs edition: http://www.ogsociety.org/covers/og56vote.html
All the Very Best
Michael AW
Expeditions 2021
May- Socorro on the Vortex (giant mantas, hammerheads, dolphins) – 2 spots on SPECIAL
July – Arctic – (polar bears, walrus, arctic fox, glaciers, Ivory gull)
November – 10 pax, Tromso, Norway (orcas, humpbacks, Northern lights)
December – Tiger Beach, Bimini – Bahamas (Tiger sharks, Giant Hammerheads, dolphins) – 3 spots on special
Instagram: @AWTIMATE
