Saving The World...

…one Step at a Time. Are You Passionate About Making a Change but Not Sure How to Contribute or Where to Start? Let These Four Women Inspire You With Their Journeys While You Take Heed From Them on the Little Things You Can Do to Be on Your Way to Greatness!
 

Ping Teo, 34

Full-time engineer and parttime volunteer at Reef Check Malaysia

“I got my Ecodiver certification in May 2013 and did my first volunteer survey at Redang Island in September that same year. At that time, I had already been scuba diving for about five years, but as a recreational diver, I only saw the ‘cool’ things underwater and not the full picture until after I started volunteering.

For example, a reef overrun with sea urchins could be an indication of too much organic matter in the water (usually pollution caused by humans), while a reef that has turned white could mean coral bleaching as a result of water temperatures being too warm.

Reef Check volunteers like myself usually help to conduct coral reef surveys to monitor the health of coral reefs worldwide. We do this for the same mapped out sections of the reefs every year. The data is then compared against those from previous years to get a better idea of whether the reefs are declining or improving, and if any needs help for a specific problem (for example, fish bombing or an infestation of crown-of-thorns starfish). Besides that, Reef Check also takes a more holistic approach to conservation, such as carrying out awareness programs.

I’ve definitely seen some improvements as results of our efforts, particularly from the recycling programme over at Pulau Tioman.