Careless anchoring adds to stress on otherwise healthy coral reef. Not only the anchor but the chain as well destroys live corals.

Note broken coral where anchor chain had overlain coral reef.

Diseased and dying coral .

Diseased and dying coral .

Two lone sergeant major fish wander through the skeleton of a once vibrant reef.

Various fish wander through the skeletal remains of a once-vibrant reef.

Looking like the remains of long-extinct dinosaurs, the skeletal remains of a once-vibrant reef community look like prehistoric bones.

A dead coral reef.

A dead coral reef.

A few fish wander through the remains of a dead reef.

A few fish wander through the remains of a dead reef.

Sediment outwash killing a reef.

Sediment burying a once-vibrant reef.

Dead and dying coral covered by algae.

A decimated coral reef area.

A decimated coral reef area.

Thick green algae covering most of the seafloor in a formerly vibrant coral reef community.

Thick green algae making inroads into a living coral area.

Thick green algae overgrowing coral.

Coral and algae. The algae have been found to feed bacteria that accelerate the destruction of the corals.

Diseased and weakened coral.

Algae enhance the growth of bacteria that chokes corals by removing oxygen. As the coral die, more room becomes available for algae growth.

Scientist studying diseased and dying corals.

Algae enhance the growth of bacteria that chokes corals by removing oxygen. As the coral die, more room becomes available for algae growth.

Algae enhance the growth of bacteria that chokes corals by removing oxygen. As the coral die, more room becomes available for algae growth.

Algae enhance the growth of bacteria that chokes corals by removing oxygen. As the coral die, more room becomes available for algae growth.

Algae enhance the growth of bacteria that chokes corals by removing oxygen. As the coral die, more room becomes available for algae growth.

Dead coral on top, algae band in middle, and darker diseased zone between algae and relatively healthy coral.

Diseased and dead areas within coral.

Pink-banded diseased areas on live coral.

An area of dead coral on an escarpment.

A desolated area of reef.

A desolated area of reef.

Mindless destruction of the reef. Such actions kills many of the delicate coral polyps and add to stress on the reef.

Algae-covered dead reef.

Algae-covered dead reef.

Algae-covered dead reef.

Algae encroaching upon diseased and dying coral.

A dying reef area.

A dying reef area.

Algae encroaching upon diseased and dying coral.

Red algae encroaching upon diseased and dying coral.

Pink diseased areas upon a dying coral structure.

Areas of dead coral on diseased coral structure.

Diseased coral.

Diseased coral.

Diseased coral.

Measuring coral by University of Washington scientist during coral regrowth studies.

Using a skiff to transport corals to transplant site off a wreck at the entrance to the harbor at American Samoa.

During Liftbag Training a diver lifts a mooring block.