Divers often ask, "What can do to take care of the ocean?" The problems of overfishing, pollution and shore-line damage seem so large, its easy to feel discouraged and think there isn't much one person can do to help. But there is!

A great place to start is by protecting what remains of the wild ocean through marine reserves and parks. World-wide, about 1,200 areas in the sea enjoy some form of including such widely admired recreational dive destinations as Australia's Great Barrier Reef, the Bonaire Marine Park and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

Based on the celebrated model of our national parks, America's 12 national marine sanctuaries embrace about 18,000 square miles of ocean lying just offshore from the continental U.S., Hawaii and American Samoa. Administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administartion, these special places represent hope for troubled waters and the species that live in them.

Through the simple act of exploring these treasured sites, divers can see what most people dream about-the ocean from the inside out. Divers see first-hand that the seais alive with small, medium and sometimes very large creatures that are as curious about us as we are them. We view whales as whales see one another-eye to eye-and get to know individual fish swimming in a blue ocean, not just swimming in lemon slices and butter. Any one of us, equipped with a face mask, open eyes and anopen mind, can be a powerful

sites, divers see what most people only dream about-the ocean from the inside out. Divers see first-hand that the sea is alive with small, medium and sometimes very large crea- tures that are as curious about us as we are about them. We view whales as whales see one another-eye to eye- and get to know individual fish swimming in a blue ocean, not just swimming in lemon slices and butter. Any one of us, equipped with a face mask, open eyes and an open protection, ... mind, can be a powerful force for ocean pro- tection by combatting the ignorance that leads recreational dive destinations as Australia's and destructive decisions. Great Barrier Reef, the Bonaire Marine Park to catastrophic and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanc- - What can divers do? Share what you tuary. . know! Encourage others to follow you into the Based on the celebrated model of our 1 sea. Take a child to the beach and show him or national parks, America's 1 2 national .f 7 her how life in the sea is connected to our own,

and how important it is for us to take care of the marine sanctuaries embrace about 18 ,000 . square miles of ocean lying lust offshore wild ocean for fishes sake-and for ours from the continental U.S., Hawaii and Get to know your marine sanctuaries. American Samoa. Administered y the Envoy them an support them y volunteering National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, these for reef sweeps, beach cleanups, fish counts and educa- special places represent hope for troubled waters and for tionol outreach programs. Urge those in office-local, state the species that live in them. and national-to protect and strengthen them. Through the simple act of exploring these treasured Sign up, jump in-I'll see you there.

Marine biologist and deep ocean explorer Dr. Sylvia Earle has spent her life studying and protecting the oceans, including her tenure as NOAA's chief sci¬entist. As explorer in residence at the National Geographic Society, she is spearheading the five year Sustainable Seas Expedition to explore the continental shelf of North America, with special emphasis on the marine sanctuaries. The $6 million public private partnership is co sponsored by National Geograph¬ic, NOM and the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund. For more information on the expedition, go to www.nationalgeographic.com/seas/about.html.