In August 2002, Reef Check - the largest international coral reef monitoring programme involving volunteer recreational divers and marine scientists - released its five-year report.

Based on data collected in over 80 countries, the report was the first scientific documentation of the dramatic worldwide decline in coral reef health over the previous five years. There is virtually no reef in the world that remains untouched by human impact.

In July, it was reported that corals in Malaysia's own marine parks at Pulau Payar, Pulau Tioman and Pulau Redang have suffered "bleaching", leading to the closure of some dive sites until the end of October.

Julian Hyde, the General Manager of Reef Check Malaysia, explains what corals and coral bleaching is exactly, and fills us in on the state our Malaysian corals, and what can be done to ensure its recovery.

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