Capture, explore, protect the reefs
with Samsung Galaxy
Although coral reefs cover less than 1% of the world’s oceans, they provide a home to nearly 25% of all marine species,
making them one of the most diverse ecosystems on Earth.
Yet coral reefs are highly vulnerable to climate change.
If current trends continue, an estimated 70 to 90 percent could vanish by 2050*.
That's why global action is urgently needed to protect coral reefs.
* Source: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2020
Monitoring and researching coral reefs requires careful observation and documentation.
This involves creating 3D models that capture the shape and condition of underwater reefs.
The models are created by stitching together thousands of underwater photos and processing them using specialized software.
However, capturing these images underwater is far more challenging than it appears.
Water movement can blur images, while light refraction and absorption make it difficult to capture vivid detail.
It’s much like trying to photograph moving objects on a foggy night from a moving car.
Samsung Electronics is partnering with Seatrees, a non-profit committed to restoring marine ecosystems,
and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego to explore better ways to restore coral reefs.
Taking photos underwater is essential for coral reef regeneration, but it’s far from easy.
To address this, Samsung Electronics developed Ocean Mode* for the Galaxy S24 Ultra, a feature specifically designed for underwater photography.
The images captured are used to build 3D models that help oceanographers constantly monitor and analyze coral reefs.
Based on these findings, local partner organizations carry out on-site restoration efforts to bring the reefs back to life.
* Ocean Mode is exclusively supported for this project and is not available in products for general consumers.
With Ocean Mode, Galaxy smartphones now serve as accessible tools for underwater research.
No longer limited to experts, anyone can easily capture images and contribute valuable data using their devices.
Through automatic color correction, Ocean Mode can bring out the natural reds, yellows, and greens of the coral reefs, even in the ocean where everything appears blue
Ocean Mode minimizes motion blur by optimizing settings such as fixed shutter speed in underwater environments with frequent water movement
The interval shooting feature supports continuous shots at two, five, or ten-second intervals
* Ocean Mode is exclusively supported for this project and is not available in products for general consumers.
If We Can See It We Can Save It
Between 2024 and 2025, 21 coral reef 3D models were created in Bali, Indonesia, Florida, United States, Fiji, and Costa Rica.
In addition, over 17,046 coral fragments were planted, resulting in successful restoration of 10,705 ㎡ of coral reef habitat,
which is an area 25 times larger than a basketball court*.
* Standard basketball court size: 28 m x 15 m
“I grew up around the ocean, and salt water's in my blood.
Through the years, I've seen places fundamentally change.
Forests are gone. Beaches are gone. Coral reefs are bleached out
That should be a gigantic wake-up call.
We need to start doing things faster, better, in a more collective way.
If people can't see it, then how can you ask them to save it? ”
Michael Stewart / Cofounder and Director, Seatrees
“Mobile devices provide us with that democratized access to imaging.
By just making the tools of image capture and image sharing more available,
we go from maybe tens or hundreds of observers to millions.
And now, that is a game changer."
Stuart Sandin / Professor, Marine Ecology Scripps Institution of Oceanography UC San Diego
Since announcing our environmental vision, Galaxy for the Planet, in 2021, Samsung Electronics MX Business has been working to reduce our
environmental impact across all stages, from manufacturing to disposal.
Since 2022, we have repurposed over 150 tonnes of discarded fishing nets for Galaxy products.
Beyond that, we're utilizing our mobile technology to help preserve marine ecosystems.
Through Galaxy technology, we'll continue our coral reef restoration efforts
and inspire more people to take an interest and get involved.
