Reframing stories about coral reefs

In 2017, National Geographic Explorer Shireen Rahimi was submerged in the clear waters of Cuba clutching a camera she was still teaching herself how to use. At the time, she was a doctoral student in environmental science and policy at the University of Miami, trained to view the ocean through data points and spreadsheets.

In 2017, National Geographic Explorer Shireen Rahimi was submerged in the clear waters of Cuba clutching a camera she was still teaching herself how to use. At the time, she was a doctoral student in environmental science and policy at the University of Miami, trained to view the ocean through data points and spreadsheets. She had just received her first National Geographic Society grant, which documented how increased tourism in Cuba affected the health of coral reefs, which helped her purchase her first professional underwater camera.

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Featured photograph by Shireen Rahimi

Now, with years of experience as a filmmaker, and marine scientist, Rahimi remembers this time of her life with a humble laugh, admitting that her early images were often bad by professional standards. She was a scientist — the camera was merely a tool for documentation.

But then, a single moment shifted her perspective. While diving near a large Elkhorn coral, its antler-like branches sprawling several feet wide, she captured a photo of a young man — the son of a local conservationist — swimming through the water to study a coral reef.

The image wasn’t just a record of coral health or a data point for her dissertation. It captured a profound human connection to the sea. This is what Rahimi calls her first “decent” photo. And it was the moment she realized she wanted to go beyond the spreadsheets and start telling stories. With no formal training, Rahimi used trial and error, persistence (and a lot of online tutorials) to become an award-winning underwater cinematographer. Drawing on her own Iranian-American heritage, she understands that the deepest connections are often held by those whose livelihoods depend on it.

“A scientist might visit [a research site] for four weeks out of the year, but a spearfisher from the community has been in those waters every single day for 50 years,” Rahimi says. “They’ve figured out how to live off the ocean sustainably.”

Born from that knowledge, her storytelling narratives are rooted in real lived experiences. Rahimi has spent the last decade bridging the gap between evidence and empathy. With support from Builders Vision, her work focuses on coral reefs, what she refers to as the “canaries in the coal mine” of our planet. Coral reefs support 25% of all marine biodiversity and provide essential contributions like storm protection and medicinal breakthroughs – yet they are the first casualties of a warming climate. While many storytellers draw attention to how warming waters are affecting megafauna, Rahimi illuminates the importance of sustaining coral reef systems.

Biologist Angela Ziltener observes a group of dolphins in the Egyptian Red Sea. These dolphins demonstrate a unique behavior: ritualistically rubbing their bodies on various species of coral. Ziltener and her colleagues believe they are using the corals' antimicrobial mucus as a form of skin care.

Photograph by Shireen Rahimi

“Whales and dolphins and turtles are so charismatic … But when you see a healthy coral reef in the sunlight, there’s nothing more beautiful in the world,” Rahimi says. “It’s like a technicolor rainbow of beauty. I remember the first time I saw a coral reef when I was 13 and thinking, ‘Why isn’t everyone in the world talking about this all the time?’”

But lately, most stories about coral reefs are centered on their fragility. Rising global temperatures have sparked massive coral bleaching events. The current global coral bleaching event, which began in 2023, is the most severe in recorded history, impacting over 84% of the world’s reef areas across 82 countries.

Rahimi is predisposed to optimism and is laser-focused on the beauty that remains. Her current grant with the Society focuses on the coral survivors. Collaborating with scientists across the globe, Rahimi is creating a documentary series about coral reefs and the National Geographic Explorers who are working to restore them. She will travel to the Red Sea in search of “super corals” — certain species of coral that are naturally more resilient to stressors like high ocean temperatures. She will then take audiences to Australia, where researchers are using “super corals” to restore the struggling Great Barrier Reef.

By focusing on these resilient “super corals,” she hopes to move the needle toward actionable hope and climate stories that follow suit. If we only tell eulogies of the ocean she says, “people will simply give up.” She hopes her stories of natural resilience can inspire people to take action.

“I want to tell stories that get people to care,” she says. “When things get challenging, you have to remember why you’re doing it. And I’m doing this because I believe every living being — from corals to humans to the ocean itself — deserves the chance to thrive.”

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ABOUT THE WRITER

Kennedy Lamb is a Communications Specialist for the National Geographic Society. She harnesses her passion for science to translate complex topics into captivating stories that inspire a deeper connection to the wonders of our world.

The National Geographic Society is a global nonprofit organization that uses the power of science, exploration, education and storytelling to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world. Since 1888, National Geographic has pushed the boundaries of exploration, investing in bold people and transformative ideas, providing more than 15,000 grants for work across all seven continents, reaching 3 million students each year through education offerings, and engaging audiences around the globe through signature experiences, stories and content.

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