GOLD WINNER Nonfiction Book Awards 2023-Nonfiction Authors Assoc BEST BOOK WINNER Pencraft Awards for Literary Excellence 2023 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Readers' Favorite Awards (Five Stars) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Literary Titan Book Award (Five Stars) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Online Book Club (Five Stars) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Foreward Reviews (Five Stars) FINALIST , International Book Awards Since 1970, the Caribbean has lost half of its coral reefs, an ominous and accelerating phenomenon that extends around the world. Beyond the unfathomable heartbreak of the loss of such exquisite beauty from the earth, coral's loss represents the annual loss of billions of dollars from the global economy and the end of a way of life for billions that depend on these ecosystems. Marine scientist and conservation leader Dr. David E. Guggenheim has had a front-row seat to this disaster. But when he began a new chapter of his career in Cuba, he found something completely unexpected: hope. After years and years of watching reefs deteriorate, Guggenheim was astonished to come face-to-face with Cuba's remarkably healthy coral reefs overflowing with fish and other marine life. The Remarkable Reefs of Cuba reveals the hidden potential that Cuba's reefs may contain for the reefs of the world. While the past 60 years have seen the worst decline in ocean health in human history, Cuba's oceans and coral reefs remain remarkably healthy, a living laboratory never-before-seen by this generation of scientists. Which begs the question: why are Cuba's ocean waters so healthy? The answer is deeply intertwined with the country's extraordinary and singularly unique history, from its dramatic political past to its world-class environmental protections influenced by an unlikely partner, Captain Jacques-Yves Cousteau. This buoyant book tells the story of the demise of the world's ocean ecosystems, the hard work of those desperately trying to save it, and an unexpected beacon of hope from an island full of mystery and surprises. " Guggenheim's deeply personal journey into Cuba's past and present leads him to see the inextricable links between humans and nature, and reasons for hope in an enduring future for both ." - Dr. Sylvia A. Earle , founder of Mission Blue and author of Ocean: A Global Odyssey " Cuba's political difficulties created a silver lining of virtually untouched reefs. They are a reminder of what God intended coral reefs to be and of how badly coral reefs have been massacred by human pollution, overfishing, and climate change. These Cuban reefs offer a beacon of hope as well as a warning of danger, and The Remarkable Reefs of Cuba gives them voice ." - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse , U.S. senator; founder and cochair of the Senate Oceans Caucus " In telling this important story, Guggenheim shares the little-known account of how my grandfather helped shape Cuba's environmental future and its strong laws protecting the coastal waters. I am grateful that his legacy continues and endures in Cuba and that his message of love and hope for our oceans continues to resonate. " - Céline Cousteau , environmental activist, filmmaker, and author " While filming Chasing Coral, we witnessed climate change's devastating impact on the beloved Great Barrier Reef. Guggenheim's 20-year account brings hope as he shares the lessons of Cuba's remarkable coral reefs and how their secrets can help us rescue the planet's remaining reefs before it's too late ." - Jeff Orlowski , director and producer of the Emmy award-winning documentaries Chasing Ice and Chasing Coral " As an oceanographer, Guggenheim writes engrossingly on the imminent collapse of the world's reefs. But he holds a special hope that Cuba will be different, and explains what lessons of global application can be learned there. His story is one of good-humored perseverance in an inestimably good cause. It's our good luck that he has shared that story ." - Robert L Muse, Esq. , attorney and leading authority on U.S. laws and sanctions relating to Cuba " The title of the book is a bit misleading...a book that is everything from an autobiography of a life spent in service to the world's oceans...to a very accessible explanation of the delicate balance required to maintain undersea ecosystems, to a history of post-Castro Cuba's politic...to an at times hilarious explication of the Kafka-like bureaucracies one encounters as a U.S. citizen trying to work in Cuba ." - Michael Hill , Johns Hopkins Arts & Sciences Magazine , 2023 David E. Guggenheim, PhD is a marine scientist, conservation policy specialist, ocean explorer, submarine pilot and educator. He is the founder and president of the Washington, DC-based nonprofit organization Ocean Doctor , dedicated to advancing the conservation of the world’s oceans through research, education and community engagement. Guggenheim is also an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University where he teaches Ocean Sustainability. He was inducted into the Explorers Club as a