5 Real Life Lessons Coral Reefs Taught Me

It may seem that the reef is far away, and not all of us are lucky enough to have it as a part of our daily lives (don’t we all wish!). As a Master Reef Guide, I am lucky to experience the beauty of the reef close up. Here are a few valuable life lessons the reef has taught me.

Lesson 1 – There’s so Much More to Life than Meets the Eye!

Whether you find yourself admiring the beauty of the reef in pictures, from the surface or the air, or even snorkelling or diving underwater, you’ll discover there is so much more than initially meets the eye. There are myriad of intricacies and detailed beauty you can only see by slowing down and taking a closer look.

Lesson 2 – Adaptation is the Key to Survival

As in our lives, survival on the reef is all about how able we are to adapt to a changing environment and circumstances. Change is inevitable, and it’s not the smartest or strongest that will survive, but the most adaptable to change.

Lesson 3 – Be Resilient

Climate Change, cyclones, poor water quality, overfishing and illegal fishing. The reef is faced with one challenge after another, and yet it has shown incredible resilience and an ability to bounce back after challenges. Plate corals can be flipped on their heads or sides, and by the next season there are new coral recruits settled and growing on the structure. They fall down, yet they just keep going and growing!

Lesson 4 – Respect Your Elders

Reefs are faced with numerous threats and challenges, yet have managed to survive 5 mass extinctions, repeated ice ages, the complete rearrangement of the tectonic plates, massive volcanic eruptions, AND the arrival of humans… so far! The oldest coral fossils date back to 535 million years ago. Corals have been around for much longer than we have, and we can learn a lot from them if only we take a moment to stop and listen to the stories they are telling us.

Lesson 5 – Plant Power is the Best Power!

Reefs are like underwater solar-powered megacities. By far the most underestimated building blocks of our ocean planet, and especially of our reefs, is plant life. The majority of life on earth (including in the oceans) is driven by sunlight taken up by plants through photosynthesis. The reef is no exception! Phytoplankton drift along in ocean currents, forming the basis of the marine food chain and producing the oxygen that supports life on earth. Teensy tiny algae called zooxanthellae live inside coral tissues, providing them with most of their energy, allowing them to build reef structures and support an abundance of creatures. What would life be without plant power?!

Natalie Lobartolo

Natalie Lobartolo is a Master Reef Guide, Dive Instructor, Marine Biologist and founder of Reef Connect. She is passionate about helping you discover the reef and spreading the word about marine conservation.