Our work
Protect what is there. Understand what is changing. Help more people take care of it.
Save Nemo e.V. is a non-profit working for living reefs and cleaner oceans. We bring together practical protection, environmental monitoring, education and research to help people care for the underwater world they depend on.
Small actions. Lasting damage.
For many divers and snorkellers, a visit to a coral reef begins with a boat trip. But when a boat drops its anchor onto living coral, the anchor and its chain can break and scrape the reef below.
A single incident may affect only a small area. Repeated day after day, across many boats, that damage adds up. Moving excursions to another reef does not solve the problem; it simply puts another habitat at risk.
We want to break that cycle by working with the people who use these waters. Local boat operators, diving schools and coastal communities are essential partners in protecting reefs and the livelihoods connected to them.
Protect: a safer place to moor
Mooring buoys give boats a fixed place to tie up without dropping an anchor onto living coral. They offer a practical way to reduce avoidable damage while keeping reef sites accessible.
Working with local diving schools and boat operators, we install moorings near vulnerable reef sites in Asia. Our approach is collaborative, not about blame: operators need to earn a living, and a useful alternative makes it easier to protect the places their businesses depend on.
We install these moorings free of charge for local users. Donations help cover materials and boat hire so that we can reach installation sites. Removing repeated anchor damage gives reefs a better chance to recover, although recovery also depends on water quality, temperature and other pressures.
Observe: making moorings smart with Nemo Pi
Protecting a reef also means understanding what is happening beneath the surface. Nemo Pi is our environmental monitoring buoy: a smart addition to a mooring that collects and transmits water-quality data.
Depending on the installation, Nemo Pi can use solar power and a mobile-network connection, or connect through local Wi-Fi. Sensors can monitor conditions such as dissolved oxygen, conductivity and suspended particles, helping users follow changes at their site.
Long-term testing in marine environments informs how we develop the system, with an emphasis on reliable measurements and manageable maintenance. The aim is to make local water conditions easier to observe and understand.
Educate: understand the ocean, then act
Lasting protection begins with understanding. Through seminars, beach clean-ups, educational snorkelling trips and children’s books, we help people of all ages discover marine life and learn how to care for it.
Whether you are visiting a reef or working beside one, small changes in behaviour can make a difference:
- Leave living coral untouched. Do not stand on, touch or hold onto it. Even accidental contact can damage delicate coral structures.
- Keep anchors off reefs. Use an appropriate mooring where one is available, and ask your operator how they avoid damaging coral.
- Take your rubbish with you. Keep litter off beaches and out of the water. Plastic waste can break down into smaller particles and spread through the marine environment.
- Choose souvenirs that leave wildlife in the sea. Avoid coral souvenirs, and do not collect living organisms from the reef.
- Dive and snorkel with care. Keep your fins and equipment clear of the reef, control your buoyancy and give marine life space.
- Get involved. Join a clean-up, share what you have learned or support local conservation work.
Learn about our education work
Research: practical solutions for coasts and oceans
Healthy marine environments matter to coastal communities, tourism, research and business. We work with organisations to develop site-specific solutions that bring reef protection and environmental monitoring together.
Our team works with partners to understand local needs and identify practical measures. We welcome conversations with:
- Hotels and travel providers
- Diving schools and boat operators
- Public authorities, marine park managers and universities
- Community groups and associations
- Companies and foundations
- Event organisers
Take part in the work
You do not have to be a scientist to help protect a reef. Visitors, divers, local organisations and businesses can all contribute through their time, knowledge, networks or donations.
Find a way to get involved, report reef damage or support the work with a donation. To learn how we work and use support, read our transparency information.