Photo credit: Oceans Without Borders. Retrieved from bbc.com
Looking out now over the Indian Ocean from Mnemba Island, it is hard to believe that just three years ago the stunning coral reef surrounding this part of Tanzania’s Zanzibar archipelago was dying.
Under threat from climate change, overfishing and other human activity, the islanders faced losing their livelihoods and the prospect of moving away altogether.
Anxious to save the colourful, oval-shaped reef that is fairly close to the shore and around 7km (4.3 miles) in length, communities on the small island have embraced a conservation project which has managed to restore some of what has been lost.
The initiative also aims in other ways to protect the reef, which is known around the world for its beauty.
The water is so clear that the reef, which lies 10m (32ft) below the surface, seems almost within touching distance.
But a few years ago locals began to notice how stressed the coral was looking – part of this was due to the changing climate, which has brought warmer sea temperatures.