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Our Story

Our names are Julian and Luca and we are Italian-American & Chinese Singaporeans living in South East Asia. Our passion since young is our collective love for the beauty of marine life especially corals. Corals are the lifeline of the marine underwater world.  Most people think corals are plants when they are actually animals related to the jellyfish and anemones. Although corals only represent 1% of the world’s oceans, they support 25% of all marine species.

Six not so well known facts of Corals:

  • Beaches are made of coral particles
  • Corals like to consume plastics due to chemical stimulants found in them
  • Their long anchored lifespans mean corals are key in research and new discoveries in medicine for humans
  • Corals are the best team players, forming barriers (think Great Barrier Reefs and many others) that form safety barriers to protect lands and humans from strong tidal waves and landslides
  • Corals have lived over 500 million years and are older than dinosaurs (!)
  • White or bleached corals are stressed corals that are under nourished; they live on microorganisms without which they lose their vibrant colors, turn white and die

To see and understand these facts for ourselves, we spent time almost every school holiday, getting PADI diving certified and traveling underwater to visit the corals in the South China Sea, Pacific and Indian Oceans. The devastation was heart-wrenching as many of the beautiful corals are dying…

We also participated in mangrove clean ups at our home country and neighboring countries. We wanted to observe, learn and help save the environment. We wanted our peers and adults to really love our oceans through our actions. Besides the usual subjects like Math and Science, we both took Environment Science and Studies as a subject during IB and we both won school top academic prizes in the subject. We also advocated for the subject to be available at Higher Level IB and are so happy this is now available to students taking their IB today.

To train ourselves and to understand specific details of marine life ranging from the fish to the corals, we have been building home marine tanks over the years and have become proficient in taking care of many kinds of marine life including the nutrients and medicine that they need when they get sick. Today I have a 6 by 4 feet reef tank filled with live corals, marine fish that have now learned to co-exist peacefully. We have a calcium reactor to feed elements into the tank, a 20-micron fleece filter to remove suspended particulates and a protein skimmer to oxygenate the water and remove dissolved organics such as nitrates and phosphates. Originally, we started with a small saltwater tank which we filled with all kinds of small marine creatures and corals that we would take care of daily to slowly build our confidence in understanding corals.

Our passion with marine life have only grown over the years. Our parents and us have travelled all around the world to visit the oceans. We have even stayed on a boat for several days as teenagers in the outer Great Barrier Reef to visit the corals and do some fishing as well ! The oceans were very rough at times especially during very stormy days and nights. We faced sea sickness and constant inner fear but the trip – with my parents and my 75 year old grandmother – remains THE BEST TRIP ever.

Our purpose and hope through social media and conversation is to spread the word with as many people as possible, please spare a thought for the environment. Humans’ unsustainable combustion of fossil fuels has resulted in major changes to the global climate and thus deterioration of coral reefs worldwide. The next generation will not get to see the beauty of these reefs if our current trajectory continues. Please donate generously to save the reefs to the 3 environmental foundations on our website.

Through caring for marine organisms, we have developed an increased sense of responsibility, when monitoring the various parameters needed to support life. Through taking daily care of our home marine tank and displaying the wonders of the underwater sea, it has also allowed us to show others what is disappearing in the real world and the great importance of conservation; our marine tank serves as an icon to remind all of us on the importance of keeping the coral reefs alive worldwide. It is our hope that through our personal journey and what we showcased on my website, that we can help our readers see the importance of our world’s reefs and inspire others to take action along with us through socially responsible actions in our daily lives; to stop polluting the seas, to consciously stop bad human behavior and do whatever we can to nurture the marine life.

Please donate generously to save…..in our website. We have selected several NGOs that we want to help. Your financial contribution will make a big difference to save the reefs.

Thank You
Julian and Luca G.

21 Comments

  • Posted July 11, 2020 at 10:47 am
    by Henny Scott

    Well done, Luca! It’s amazing that you care so much about making a systemic change for better environment. The world need more young people like you!

  • Post Author
    Posted July 30, 2020 at 2:45 pm

    Great! Keep up the good work.

  • Posted August 11, 2020 at 1:05 pm
    by Caroline Lim-Brown

    It’s very heartening to know there are young people like yourself, Luca, interested in taking up the helm in marine conservation and protection. Our marine world is rapidly being destroyed as a result of over-fishing, pollutants and climate change. Unless more people like yourself do more to bring the encroaching disaster to a greater awareness, I fear our beautiful underwater world will soon be bereft of all lifeforms.

    Through my work, I am in touch with some marine research organizations in the Asia Pacific and Oceanic region. If you’re ever interested in an internship with any of the ones I have worked with, whether it’s turtle rescue and research, coral research or shark & ray research, your mom has my contact info. Let me know and I’ll be glad to obtain some contact information for you and info on internship programs they may have.

  • Posted August 11, 2020 at 2:44 pm
    by Craig Giummarra

    Thank you Luca for creating this reef-saver website. The information on your site is very powerful and eye opening. There is no grey area. Our reefs are dying and it is having a devastating impact on our world. The educational information and awareness your website provides is so important in helping to get the word out. Donations are incredibly important to the foundations that are trying to help. The funding they receive is critical. Please keep up the great work and continue to be a leader for your generation. We can all make a difference!

  • Posted August 13, 2020 at 2:14 am
    by Lisa Botos

    Luca, amazing to see how you have taken your passion and evolved into action. Good leadership like yours will truly impact our world for the better. Thank you for not only caring, but teaching and inspiring.

  • Posted August 13, 2020 at 8:48 pm
    by Linda Giummarra

    Luca – Excellent presentation! You have become a strong advocate of ocean conservation and have spent valuable time scuba diving and visiting our world oceans while personally recognizing the beauty, fragility and even the degradation of our planets blue heart. Your website and photos compel us to be more protective of our reefs and oceans!! Luca, you are a fine example of how our youth can make a positive difference for generations to come!
    One proud Grandma!!

  • Posted August 14, 2020 at 2:48 am
    by Angelo Giummarra

    Luca – Outstanding website!! The clarity and depth of the content materials in addition to the stunning graphics are weaved together to provide a compelling must read for everyone who believes our planet is truly a special place. The inclusion of before and after photos of reefs adversely affected by climate change and pollution is extremely thought provoking. Your dedication to and enthusiasm for improving conditions for reefs and ocean waters is impressive. Luca, you are a perfect example of how young people can create a better world in the years ahead!!
    Proud Grandpa!!

  • Posted August 14, 2020 at 3:44 am
    by James Wilkins

    Very exciting work !! Congratulations! Perhaps when I am able to finish my upcoming reef front project in Bali you can visit and analyse and make recommendations on how we can be very careful to honor the reef. I went snorkeling for the first time last month ! Wow! Keep up the good work.

  • Posted August 18, 2020 at 2:34 am
    by Unc

    Very impressive website for an excellent cause! Keep up the great work and save the coral reefs!

  • Posted August 18, 2020 at 2:27 pm
    by Mary Jane Clapp

    Beautiful website, Luca. Especially enjoyed reading “My Story”. So very proud of you. Keep up the passion.

  • Posted September 21, 2020 at 9:22 am
    by Meiyin Lai

    Luca, this must have such a joyful and simple journey for you, loving marine life and trying to help save the reefs. So proud of your effort since young !

  • Posted September 21, 2020 at 9:24 am
    by Julian G

    Thank you for helping to save the oceans and the reefs. I love the marine life and we need more help.

  • Posted October 15, 2020 at 9:41 am
    by Pramila

    Luca, you have some an amazing job on your website!
    Loved reading ‘your story’ you have such a passion for marine life and saving the reefs.
    Well done!👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼So proud of you

  • Posted October 18, 2020 at 10:55 am
    by Charlene Nodalo

    Hi Luca, I know you since you were a little and I know how much you love the ocean and the marine life. This website speak of you! This reminds me that we can all help save the reefs and it start in our own home by practicing the 3R’s; Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. We can all be part of the solution and thank you for reminding us about it, Luca! Great work!

  • Posted October 18, 2020 at 11:29 am
    by Arlyn

    I know how passionate you are about marine life.I am so proud that you created this website to raise awareness on how we can conserve the reefs.I am always left astounded at the level of dedicatoin and hard work you put in about saving our marine life…Great work luca!!!

  • Posted October 20, 2020 at 6:46 pm
    by A Stangroome

    A well organised website and an excellent cause. Keep pushing this initiative to recover the natural environment. As usual humanity is destroying what it doesn’t understand and won’t realise its loss until it has gone.

  • Posted October 21, 2020 at 5:08 pm
    by Marla

    Your passion to protect the ocean and coral reefs is very inspiring and eye opening Luca! Education and awareness are key to stop the threats and preserve the reefs worldwide, and this an amazing resource to help make that possible!

  • Posted October 21, 2020 at 5:25 pm
    by Chace Giummarra

    Hi Luca,
    It’s your cousin Chace . I love what you have done here. I have always loved the ocean and you are doing a lot to help. Thank you for your help cleaning the ocean which is changing the world slowly but surely. I love this website and how you organized this amazing website and I hope you are noticed for your great work. I hope you achieve your goals on saving the ocean. Coral reefs are really in need of people who care and think about the environment. People just want to enjoy seeing coral reefs but they don’t think about the environment. Keep up the good work and I hope to see you soon!

    Chace

  • Posted October 26, 2020 at 5:14 pm
    by Richard

    Great work and great cause. Love the website information and ease of links to donate to support the reefs. It would be a shame if future generations do not get to enjoy the beauty of the reefs the way we do today – which makes this work all the more compelling. Moreover, the importance of the marine reef system to sustaining ocean life is something we should help to maintain and clean up. Thanks to people like you Luca the importance of protecting and restoring the reefs if reaching a wider audience. well done!

  • Posted October 28, 2020 at 5:42 pm
    by John DePoto

    Luca, excellent and very informative piece of work! You brought to my attention a topic on marine life that I did not understand and was not aware of the risk of extinction of coral reefs. Your activism will bring about change in this world and make it a better place for all of us.
    Luca, there is a quote, “One person can make a difference”, you are that person.

  • Posted November 16, 2020 at 8:43 pm
    by Edd

    What I like about this site is its clarity and simplicity. It informs us of the problem of the dying coral reefs, provides visual evidence, and offers one the opportunity to do something about the problem. People do not make decisions in a vacuum. They always look to compare one thing to another. They might hear of dying reefs but think “so what.” Here they do not have that excuse- they can see for themselves the contrast of healthy versus dying reefs via the pictures. Great shots by the way!
    What makes this site even more impressive is that it was put together by someone under 20. Keep in mind that the father of marine conservation, Jacques Costeau, did not get engaged in marine challenges until his mid-20s. Luca has been addressing these marine problems for years and he is barely 18! Unlike many people concerned, yet inactive, about the world’s problems, Luca started addressing them at scale concomitant with his age and current station in life. Keep your eye on this guy. He is going places and will accomplish things.

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