Asian Diver and Scuba Diver No. 3/2017 Volume 147 | Page 10

WHAT BUBBLED
8
FIRST PICTURES OF AMAZON REEF Massive , unique , and only discovered in 2016 , the Amazon Reef is already under threat as the Brazilian government has opened the area to oil exploration .
The reef is located at the mouth of the Amazon River basin – an unlikely place for a reef given the sediment filled , low visibility water . Yet , it stretches for 9,500 square kilometres from French Guiana to Maranhão State in northern Brazil and is thriving in conditions found nowhere else on the planet .
Sediment and nutrients flowing from the Amazon mean that the water is turbid , and yet somehow this diverse ecosystem of corals , sponges and rhodoliths is flourishing .
Greenpeace has launched a campaign to protect the unique
Amazon Reef , and took a team out to document it . Photos of the Amazon Reef were taken by the crew of a submarine launched from the Greenpeace ship MY Esperanza . It is hoped that the expedition will generate more support for the protection of the Amazon Reef . Sign the petition now to help prevent drilling at this precious site .
Visit www . amazonreefs . org