The tropical turquoise waters near the coast of Jamaica are beautiful and inviting, but they disguise the devastation that lurks beneath. After flipping backwards off a small wooden boat and diving toward the ocean floor, the damage comes into full view. The landscape looks like an underwater desert, with nothing but sand and rocks visible — no fish in sight. But swim a little farther and pieces of regenerating staghorn coral appear, strung out on a line, waiting to be tied onto rocks in an effort to repair the damage done to reefs by man and nature. Diver Everton Simpson kicks up some sand as he moves closer to the coral nursery and harvests some of the precious crop to be transplanted in a protected area. As he clears an area for the new coral and ties it to its new home, the current propels him back and forth, making the delicate process seem akin to trying to thread a needle on a roller coaster. The years of care that Simpson has devoted to trying to bring back Jamaica's coral reefs are shown by the cuts on his hands as he painstakingly works to transplant the new coral. One day, he and the other Jamaicans doing this work hope, the coral and fish will fully return and match the beauty of the water above.

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Divers, from left, Ray Taylor, Everton Simpson and Andrew Todd gather coral from a coral nursery to be planted inside the White River Fish Sanctuary Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. The tropical turquoise waters near the coast of Jamaica are beautiful and inviting, but they disguise the devastation that lurks beneath. But swim a little farther and pieces of regenerating staghorn coral appear, strung out on a line, waiting to be tied onto rocks in an effort to repair the damage done to reefs by man and nature. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

The tropical turquoise waters near the coast of Jamaica are beautiful and inviting, but they disguise the devastation that lurks beneath. After flipping backwards off a small wooden boat and diving toward the ocean floor, the damage comes into full view. The landscape looks like an underwater desert, with nothing but sand and rocks visible — no fish in sight. But swim a little farther and pieces of regenerating staghorn coral appear, strung out on a line, waiting to be tied onto rocks in an effort to repair the damage done to reefs by man and nature. Diver Everton Simpson kicks up some sand as he moves closer to the coral nursery and harvests some of the precious crop to be transplanted in a protected area. As he clears an area for the new coral and ties it to its new home, the current propels him back and forth, making the delicate process seem akin to trying to thread a needle on a roller coaster. The years of care that Simpson has devoted to trying to bring back Jamaica's coral reefs are shown by the cuts on his hands as he painstakingly works to transplant the new coral. One day, he and the other Jamaicans doing this work hope, the coral and fish will fully return and match the beauty of the water above.

Diver Everton Simpson reaches to tie lines of staghorn coral growing at a coral nursery inside the White River Fish Sanctuary Monday, Feb. 11, 2019, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Simpson kicks up some sand as he harvests some of the precious crop to be transplanted in a protected area. The current propels him back and forth, making the delicate process seem akin to trying to thread a needle on a roller coaster. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

Diver Everton Simpson reaches to tie lines of staghorn coral growing at a coral nursery inside the White River Fish Sanctuary Monday, Feb. 11, 2019, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Simpson kicks up some sand as he harvests some of the precious crop to be transplanted in a protected area. The current propels him back and forth, making the delicate process seem akin to trying to thread a needle on a roller coaster. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

Divers Everton Simpson, right, and Andrew Todd bring staghorn coral from a coral nursery to be planted inside the White River Fish Sanctuary Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. When each stub grows to about the size of a human hand, Simpson collects them in a crate to individually "transplant" onto a reef, a process akin to planting each blade of grass in a lawn separately. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

Divers Everton Simpson, right, and Andrew Todd bring staghorn coral from a coral nursery to be planted inside the White River Fish Sanctuary Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. When each stub grows to about the size of a human hand, Simpson collects them in a crate to individually "transplant" onto a reef, a process akin to planting each blade of grass in a lawn separately. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

Diver Everton Simpson carries pieces of staghorn coral from a nursery to be planted inside the White River Fish Sanctuary Monday, Feb. 11, 2019, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. One day, Simpson and the other Jamaicans doing this work hope, the coral and fish will fully return and match the beauty of the water above. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

Diver Everton Simpson carries pieces of staghorn coral from a nursery to be planted inside the White River Fish Sanctuary Monday, Feb. 11, 2019, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. One day, Simpson and the other Jamaicans doing this work hope, the coral and fish will fully return and match the beauty of the water above. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

Diver Everton Simpson plants staghorn harvested from a coral nursery inside the the White River Fish Sanctuary Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Simpson uses bits of fishing line to tie clusters of staghorn coral onto rocky outcroppings, a temporary binding until the coral's limestone skeleton grows and fixes itself onto the rock. The goal is to jumpstart the natural growth of a coral reef. And so far, it's working. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

Diver Everton Simpson plants staghorn harvested from a coral nursery inside the the White River Fish Sanctuary Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Simpson uses bits of fishing line to tie clusters of staghorn coral onto rocky outcroppings, a temporary binding until the coral's limestone skeleton grows and fixes itself onto the rock. The goal is to jumpstart the natural growth of a coral reef. And so far, it's working. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

Diver Everton Simpson removes snails from staghorn coral planted inside the White River Fish Sanctuary Monday, Feb. 11, 2019, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. The years of care that Simpson has devoted to trying to bring back Jamaica's coral reefs are shown by the cuts on his hands as he painstakingly works to transplant the new coral. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

Diver Everton Simpson removes snails from staghorn coral planted inside the White River Fish Sanctuary Monday, Feb. 11, 2019, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. The years of care that Simpson has devoted to trying to bring back Jamaica's coral reefs are shown by the cuts on his hands as he painstakingly works to transplant the new coral. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

Staghorn coral grows on lines at a coral nursery inside the White River Fish Sanctuary Monday, Feb. 11, 2019, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Just 2 percent of the ocean floor is filled with coral, but the branching structures, shaped like everything from reindeer antlers to human brains, sustain a quarter of all marine species. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

Staghorn coral grows on lines at a coral nursery inside the White River Fish Sanctuary Monday, Feb. 11, 2019, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Just 2 percent of the ocean floor is filled with coral, but the branching structures, shaped like everything from reindeer antlers to human brains, sustain a quarter of all marine species. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

Diver Lenford DaCosta cleans up lines of staghorn coral at a nursery inside the Oracabessa Fish Sanctuary Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, in Oracabessa, Jamaica. After a series of natural and man-made disasters in the 1980s and 1990s, Jamaica lost 85 percent of its once-bountiful coral reefs. But today, the corals and tropical fish are slowly reappearing, thanks in part to a series of careful interventions. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

Diver Lenford DaCosta cleans up lines of staghorn coral at a nursery inside the Oracabessa Fish Sanctuary Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, in Oracabessa, Jamaica. After a series of natural and man-made disasters in the 1980s and 1990s, Jamaica lost 85 percent of its once-bountiful coral reefs. But today, the corals and tropical fish are slowly reappearing, thanks in part to a series of careful interventions. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

Diver Everton Simpson plants staghorn coral harvested from a coral nursery inside the the White River Fish Sanctuary Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. The energetic 68-year-old has reinvented himself several times, but always made a living from the ocean. Once a spear fisherman and later a scuba-diving instructor, Simpson started working as a "coral gardener" two years ago, part of grassroots efforts to bring Jamaica's coral reefs back from the brink. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

Diver Everton Simpson plants staghorn coral harvested from a coral nursery inside the the White River Fish Sanctuary Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. The energetic 68-year-old has reinvented himself several times, but always made a living from the ocean. Once a spear fisherman and later a scuba-diving instructor, Simpson started working as a "coral gardener" two years ago, part of grassroots efforts to bring Jamaica's coral reefs back from the brink. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

Fish swim past planted staghorn coral inside the the White River Fish Sanctuary Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. At White River Fish Sanctuary, which is only about 2 years old, the clearest proof of early success is the return of tropical fish that inhabit the reefs, as well as hungry pelicans, skimming the surface of the water to feed on them. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

Fish swim past planted staghorn coral inside the the White River Fish Sanctuary Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. At White River Fish Sanctuary, which is only about 2 years old, the clearest proof of early success is the return of tropical fish that inhabit the reefs, as well as hungry pelicans, skimming the surface of the water to feed on them. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

Everton Simpson, right, sits on a boat in-between dives on the White River Fish Sanctuary with Mark Lobban, left, Monday, Feb. 11, 2019, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. More than a dozen grassroots-run fish sanctuaries and coral nurseries have sprung up on the island in the past decade.  (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

Everton Simpson, right, sits on a boat in-between dives on the White River Fish Sanctuary with Mark Lobban, left, Monday, Feb. 11, 2019, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. More than a dozen grassroots-run fish sanctuaries and coral nurseries have sprung up on the island in the past decade. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

Divers, from left, Ray Taylor, Everton Simpson and Andrew Todd gather coral from a coral nursery to be planted inside the White River Fish Sanctuary Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. The tropical turquoise waters near the coast of Jamaica are beautiful and inviting, but they disguise the devastation that lurks beneath. But swim a little farther and pieces of regenerating staghorn coral appear, strung out on a line, waiting to be tied onto rocks in an effort to repair the damage done to reefs by man and nature. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

Divers, from left, Ray Taylor, Everton Simpson and Andrew Todd gather coral from a coral nursery to be planted inside the White River Fish Sanctuary Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. The tropical turquoise waters near the coast of Jamaica are beautiful and inviting, but they disguise the devastation that lurks beneath. But swim a little farther and pieces of regenerating staghorn coral appear, strung out on a line, waiting to be tied onto rocks in an effort to repair the damage done to reefs by man and nature. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

Diver Everton Simpson reaches to tie lines of staghorn coral growing at a coral nursery inside the White River Fish Sanctuary Monday, Feb. 11, 2019, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Simpson kicks up some sand as he harvests some of the precious crop to be transplanted in a protected area. The current propels him back and forth, making the delicate process seem akin to trying to thread a needle on a roller coaster. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

Diver Everton Simpson reaches to tie lines of staghorn coral growing at a coral nursery inside the White River Fish Sanctuary Monday, Feb. 11, 2019, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Simpson kicks up some sand as he harvests some of the precious crop to be transplanted in a protected area. The current propels him back and forth, making the delicate process seem akin to trying to thread a needle on a roller coaster. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

Divers Everton Simpson, right, and Andrew Todd bring staghorn coral from a coral nursery to be planted inside the White River Fish Sanctuary Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. When each stub grows to about the size of a human hand, Simpson collects them in a crate to individually "transplant" onto a reef, a process akin to planting each blade of grass in a lawn separately. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

Divers Everton Simpson, right, and Andrew Todd bring staghorn coral from a coral nursery to be planted inside the White River Fish Sanctuary Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. When each stub grows to about the size of a human hand, Simpson collects them in a crate to individually "transplant" onto a reef, a process akin to planting each blade of grass in a lawn separately. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

Diver Everton Simpson carries pieces of staghorn coral from a nursery to be planted inside the White River Fish Sanctuary Monday, Feb. 11, 2019, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. One day, Simpson and the other Jamaicans doing this work hope, the coral and fish will fully return and match the beauty of the water above. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

Diver Everton Simpson carries pieces of staghorn coral from a nursery to be planted inside the White River Fish Sanctuary Monday, Feb. 11, 2019, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. One day, Simpson and the other Jamaicans doing this work hope, the coral and fish will fully return and match the beauty of the water above. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

Diver Everton Simpson plants staghorn harvested from a coral nursery inside the the White River Fish Sanctuary Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Simpson uses bits of fishing line to tie clusters of staghorn coral onto rocky outcroppings, a temporary binding until the coral's limestone skeleton grows and fixes itself onto the rock. The goal is to jumpstart the natural growth of a coral reef. And so far, it's working. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

Diver Everton Simpson plants staghorn harvested from a coral nursery inside the the White River Fish Sanctuary Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Simpson uses bits of fishing line to tie clusters of staghorn coral onto rocky outcroppings, a temporary binding until the coral's limestone skeleton grows and fixes itself onto the rock. The goal is to jumpstart the natural growth of a coral reef. And so far, it's working. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

Diver Everton Simpson removes snails from staghorn coral planted inside the White River Fish Sanctuary Monday, Feb. 11, 2019, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. The years of care that Simpson has devoted to trying to bring back Jamaica's coral reefs are shown by the cuts on his hands as he painstakingly works to transplant the new coral. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

Diver Everton Simpson removes snails from staghorn coral planted inside the White River Fish Sanctuary Monday, Feb. 11, 2019, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. The years of care that Simpson has devoted to trying to bring back Jamaica's coral reefs are shown by the cuts on his hands as he painstakingly works to transplant the new coral. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

Staghorn coral grows on lines at a coral nursery inside the White River Fish Sanctuary Monday, Feb. 11, 2019, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Just 2 percent of the ocean floor is filled with coral, but the branching structures, shaped like everything from reindeer antlers to human brains, sustain a quarter of all marine species. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

Staghorn coral grows on lines at a coral nursery inside the White River Fish Sanctuary Monday, Feb. 11, 2019, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Just 2 percent of the ocean floor is filled with coral, but the branching structures, shaped like everything from reindeer antlers to human brains, sustain a quarter of all marine species. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

Diver Lenford DaCosta cleans up lines of staghorn coral at a nursery inside the Oracabessa Fish Sanctuary Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, in Oracabessa, Jamaica. After a series of natural and man-made disasters in the 1980s and 1990s, Jamaica lost 85 percent of its once-bountiful coral reefs. But today, the corals and tropical fish are slowly reappearing, thanks in part to a series of careful interventions. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

Diver Lenford DaCosta cleans up lines of staghorn coral at a nursery inside the Oracabessa Fish Sanctuary Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, in Oracabessa, Jamaica. After a series of natural and man-made disasters in the 1980s and 1990s, Jamaica lost 85 percent of its once-bountiful coral reefs. But today, the corals and tropical fish are slowly reappearing, thanks in part to a series of careful interventions. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

Diver Everton Simpson plants staghorn coral harvested from a coral nursery inside the the White River Fish Sanctuary Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. The energetic 68-year-old has reinvented himself several times, but always made a living from the ocean. Once a spear fisherman and later a scuba-diving instructor, Simpson started working as a "coral gardener" two years ago, part of grassroots efforts to bring Jamaica's coral reefs back from the brink. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

Diver Everton Simpson plants staghorn coral harvested from a coral nursery inside the the White River Fish Sanctuary Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. The energetic 68-year-old has reinvented himself several times, but always made a living from the ocean. Once a spear fisherman and later a scuba-diving instructor, Simpson started working as a "coral gardener" two years ago, part of grassroots efforts to bring Jamaica's coral reefs back from the brink. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

Fish swim past planted staghorn coral inside the the White River Fish Sanctuary Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. At White River Fish Sanctuary, which is only about 2 years old, the clearest proof of early success is the return of tropical fish that inhabit the reefs, as well as hungry pelicans, skimming the surface of the water to feed on them. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

Fish swim past planted staghorn coral inside the the White River Fish Sanctuary Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. At White River Fish Sanctuary, which is only about 2 years old, the clearest proof of early success is the return of tropical fish that inhabit the reefs, as well as hungry pelicans, skimming the surface of the water to feed on them. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

Everton Simpson, right, sits on a boat in-between dives on the White River Fish Sanctuary with Mark Lobban, left, Monday, Feb. 11, 2019, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. More than a dozen grassroots-run fish sanctuaries and coral nurseries have sprung up on the island in the past decade.  (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)

Everton Simpson, right, sits on a boat in-between dives on the White River Fish Sanctuary with Mark Lobban, left, Monday, Feb. 11, 2019, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. More than a dozen grassroots-run fish sanctuaries and coral nurseries have sprung up on the island in the past decade. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)