A team of scientists and trained volunteers, equipped with scuba gear, is working underwater off the coast of Florida to plant young coral onto a reef and assess the health of existing corals in warming waters. This initiative is part of the University of Miami's ongoing "Rescue a Reef" program, which focuses on coral conservation and public education. The program investigates which coral species are more likely to survive the rising ocean temperatures caused by human-induced climate change. Program manager Devon Ledbetter noted that some coral species may be more resilient and better able to recover from heat stress events. Coral reefs are crucial for marine life, supporting diverse ecosystems and acting as natural barriers that protect coastal areas from erosion and flooding. However, the situation is becoming increasingly alarming. A marine heatwave that began in 2023 has led to the functional extinction of two vital coral species—elkhorn and staghorn—in Florida's Coral Reef. This underscores the severe threats that climate change poses to ocean ecosystems. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the fourth global coral bleaching event likely ended in mid-2025. However, the emergence of a strong El Niño weather pattern could trigger another widespread bleaching event, potentially affecting Florida's waters again. During the current expedition, participants are planting fast-growing coral species onto structures that resemble old television antennas, suspended in the water column with floats to keep them upright. Others are placed on table frames fixed to the ocean floor, and some are mounted onto plugs screwed into a three-hole "cookie" and planted directly onto the reef. These corals are protected by predation umbrellas to shield them from fish. Researchers also use color reference charts around newly planted corals to track pigmentation, helping them monitor the corals' health and detect early signs of heat stress. Coral reefs are composed of tiny animals called polyps, which live in a symbiotic relationship with microscopic algae. When the algae are stressed by heat or pollution, they leave the coral, causing it to "bleach"—turning white and becoming more susceptible to disease and death. Ledbetter mentioned that mountainous star coral appears to be the most resilient to bleaching and thermal stress. This summer, the program has planted 615 corals, with 228 of them specifically part of the thermal bleaching study. The findings from this research are shared with state environmental and wildlife authorities to inform conservation strategies. The "Rescue a Reef" program began in 2015 and aims to serve both scientific research and public education, while also working to rebuild the ecosystem "one coral at a time." The risks to coral reefs have never been higher. Even though the fourth global coral bleaching event may be over, recent NOAA research published in the journal Coral Reefs shows that current sea surface temperatures are still significantly higher than they were 25–30 years ago, when the first global bleaching event occurred.