The Ambassadors of the Environment program at The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands is available to resort guests. Created to carry on his family’s tradition of ocean conservation and education, Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment inspires guests to connect with the world around them in hopes that they will work towards preserving it for future generations. The program highlights the Maldives' rich native culture and unique ecosystem through immersive experiences designed for children, adults and families.

1. CORAL REEFS
Cities Under the Sea
J e a n - M i c h e l C o u s t e a u ’ s
A m b a s s a d o r s o f t h e E n v i r o n m e n t

2. The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands is a perfect place to
connect people with the wonders of nature. Jean-Michel
Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment Program is dedicated
to immersing people in beautiful coral reefs, helping everyone
appreciate the value of nature and inspiring all of us to protect it.

3. Coral reefs are like cities
under the sea.

4. In a human city or a coral city, there
are many jobs. What jobs do you see?

5. All of these species do work that is necessary to
keep the coral city functioning.

6. Corals are made by small animals, called coral
polyps. Corals are the architects and
construction crews of the reefs. The reef
structure is made of coral skeletons.

7. Each little flower is an individual coral polyp. All of these individual
coral polyps create the coral colony. It is coral colonies that become
the buildings of this city under the sea. They are coral buildings.

8. This illustration shows how the living tissue of the coral
(green and red) lies on top of the skeleton below.

9. These corals are green and brown. The color is due to tiny algae living
inside the coral’s tissues. These algae, called zooxanthellae, perform
photosynthesis. They use sunlight to make food that helps corals build
the reef structure and food that also supports the reef food web.

10. There are many types of corals with a diversity of architectural styles. The
different colors are due to the different varieties of algae living inside. So the
coral buildings of this city under the sea have roof-top gardens or power plants
AND the waste of the animal serves as fertilizer to help the algae grow.

11. Sponges filter the water for food and provide
“water conditioning” that helps keep the
environment clean and healthy.

12. Almost every surface of the reef is collecting solar energy and making food.
Here brownish algae cover the hard bottom. Like the zooxanthellae living inside
the corals, these algae create food from raw materials and sunlight. Notice the
scrape marks from a grazer that feeds on this algae.

13. Parrotfish are the lawnmowers of the coral reef. They
graze on algae and keep it from overgrowing the reef.
As they graze, they scrape off part of the reef and
erode the limestone.

14. Parrotfish grind up the algae along
with bits of reef and then poop
sand. This parrotfish can make
100 kilos of sand each year

15. When your family takes a walk on a beautiful tropical
beach, you may want to remind them that some of the
sand they are walking on is parrotfish poop.

16. Green turtles and surgeonfish prevent overgrowth of
weeds (algae). Their function is to keep space clean
for new corals to settle and preventing algae from
competing with corals for sunlight.

17. Predators like eels and
groupers keep populations of
smaller fish under control.

18. Large predators, such as sharks, maintain
ecological balance on coral reefs. They are the
managers of the city under the sea.

19. Sea cucumbers are the sanitation engineers of the reef. They are the
clean-up crew as they crawl over the reef and feed. They ingest sand,
digest waste organic matter and release the sand cleaner than it was
before (see chains of poop right). They are good recyclers.

20. Worm snails are part of the clean-up crew as their mucous nets catch organic
matter. An empty tube is not wasted, it is a home and refuge for this blenny. In the
coral city there is no waste, everything gets recycled – even space!

21. Hermit crabs are also great recyclers. They use an empty snail shell as a
repurposed mobile home. This is why we don’t collect shells, even empty ones!

22. This blue and black cleaner wrasse is the doctor of the reef and
keeps its ”patients” healthy by removing their parasites.

23. Anemones provide a safe home for
clownfish who protect the anemones from
predators that eat their tentacles.

24. Many reef animals
advertise with
bright colors. Some
say “if you eat me,
you will get sick”
others say “let’s get
together and have a
family.”

25. E n e r g y f r o m t h e s u n p o w e r s t h e f o o d w e b b e g i n n i n g w i t h a l g a e
o n t o l a r g e p r e d a t o r s . T h e o r g a n i c m a t e r i a l s o n t h e r e e f g e t
r e c y c l e d , e n d i n g u p a s n u t r i e n t s t h a t h e l p a l g a e g r o w .

26. Can you remember which reef
residents do each of these jobs?

27. Excessive
nutrients
stimulate the
overgrowth of
algae that can
kill corals.
This problem
gets even
worse when
people harvest
too many
herbivores like
parrotfish,
surgeonfish
and even sea
urchins.
People can harm reefs

28. We are all connected to reefs through the energy we use. Carbon dioxide
from burning petroleum is causing global warming and ocean acidification.
When the water becomes too warm, corals lose the algae that provide them
with food. Corals turn white and may die. This is called “coral bleaching.”
Acidification makes it more difficult for corals to make their skeletons.

29. The diversity of species keeps this city under the sea
healthy. People are part of this ecosystem. We can do
it harm or protect it – it’s up to us.