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Value of restoring Cayman's reef fish inheritance has skyrocketed | Courtney Platt | TEDxUCCI

1,008 views · Published 14 July 2015 · 18:20 · Indexed 20 September 2026

Channel: TEDx Talks · 2015 · Nonprofits & Activism

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A professional photographer and lifelong scuba diver, Courtney Platt talks about what it means to utilize Cayman's reef's resources sustainably.
Compelling images epitomize the value of friendly, endangered reef fish as a key element in growing the current $140 million/year diving tourism attraction.

Having minored in marine biology in California, Courtney Platt then taught scuba at Bob Soto’s Diving, during which time he made over
2,400 scuba dives and witnessed the last of out largest, friendly reef fish on the west side of Grand Cayman disappear. He is still an avid scuba
diver with more than 5,000 scuba dives in total. This experience has given him an intimacy with Cayman’s reefs. Being a photographer, he has been especially sensitive to the rapid decline in the size and quantity of reef fish and offers a unique understanding to what that means to our dive industry’s bottom line. He believes that prompt action could potentially restore Cayman’s reefs to a status of world renowned greatness while enhancing our fishing experience at the same time. His coffee table
book “Paradise Interrupted” is a visual portrayal of Hurricane Ivan’s impact on Grand Cayman.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx

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