I don't love scuba diving. But snorkling is like cracking open doors to another world. And Raja Ampat, or "Four Kings," Indonesia, opens the doors wide. So many species – sharks, turtles, fish, octopi – all intersecting in the same place. This area is the most biodiverse in the world, because the Indonesian Throughflow exchanges more water mass than anywhere else on Earth and keeps the water temperatures just right for reefs to thrive.
It’s easy to forget about our human afflictions and assume the species here are coexisting in perfect harmony. Truth is, it needs either complete abandonment from humans or constant care from them. Just look at the neighboring reefs. Many destroyed. Cyanide fishing, coral bleaching.
Why is it so beautiful here? One, the area is so remote you can go days without seeing humans. Two, it’s being patrolled by local communities. Most importantly, the Indonesian government has helped to prosecute any offenders that use destructive fishing methods. It’s working.
On the island of Misool, teachers place the future of the reef in the hands of today's youth, in a new school dedicated to kindergartners who establish early connections with their marine resources. We meet a boy Memet. Can we tell the story through his eyes, as he discovers the hidden treasures of Raja Ampat?
Watch the full video below.
"Everyone loves a good comeback story."