In the heart of Midtown Brandywine lives a man whose passion for the ocean has led to a global initiative. Michael “Mike” Anderson, a longtime resident of Midtown Brandywine and retired educator, has made it his life’s work to preserve and restore one of the planet’s most vital ecosystems: coral reefs. As the founder of the Aquarium Divers For Coral Society (ADFC), Mike’s journey from a local educator to a global conservationist is a tale of passion, perseverance, and the power of community.

Mike Anderson: A Midtown Brandywine Resident with a Global Vision

“I’ve been here about seven and a half years,” Mike reflects on his time in Midtown Brandywine. Previously residing in Forty Acres, Wilmington, and New Jersey, Mike’s local roots run deep. But his love for the ocean and scuba diving, fostered through regular diving at the Adventure Aquarium, soon steered him towards a larger purpose.

Birth of the ADFC

ADFC’s inception was a response to a pressing need Mike observed during his diving expeditions. “It was in Bonaire in 2013… I saw the first nursery for coral restoration, and it was like a hook,” Mike recalls. His experiences in the Florida Keys, witnessing bleached and dying corals, further fueled his determination. “In 2016, we saw bleached out coral… the temperature of the water was like 89 degrees.”

Frustrated by the barriers for volunteer divers in coral restoration and the dire need for help, Mike set forth to create ADFC in 2020, amidst the global pandemic. The organization, now a 501(c)3 non-profit, unites aquarium divers in a concerted effort to restore coral reefs.

Why Coral Matters: The Heart of Marine Ecosystems

“Coral reefs are essential to the ocean,” Mike explains. “25% of all marine life lives in coral reefs.” Like trees anchoring a mountain, corals are living animals that form the backbone of marine biodiversity. Their decline, Mike warns, not only affects marine life but also poses significant threats to human economies and coastal protections.

The Coral Crisis: A Call to Arms

“The biggest issue is the CO2 in the atmosphere,” Mike highlights the primary driver of the Coral Crisis. The ocean’s absorption of human-made CO2 has led to its acidification and heating, causing widespread coral bleaching and diseases like stony coral tissue loss disease. “It’s a pretty grim situation… the real solution is to reduce pollution. But coral restoration is what keeps the ocean alive.”

ADFC’s Impactful Projects

ADFC’s approach involves working with established coral foundations and conducting underwater coral restoration. “This summer we did 192 hours underwater doing nothing but coral restoration,” Mike shares about one of their significant projects. These efforts range from maintaining coral nurseries to monitoring the condition of various reefs off Key Largo and Islamorada, FL.  A major effort was maintaining corals already outplanted to the reef. The ocean at 95 degrees was too hot for outplanting since the bleached coral were already stressed and most were dying.  The ADFC focus is to save what they can.

Joining Hands with Midtown Brandywine

Mike emphasizes the role of community involvement in ADFC’s mission. “You can donate on our website… it’s about coming together for a greater cause,” he urges. ADFC has partnered with FranksWine for a fundraiser on January 15th, 2023, at 1206 N Union St, Wilmington, DE. The event will feature discounted wines and raffle prizes from various organizations, aiming to raise funds and awareness for coral restoration.

We need an army

Mike Anderson’s work with ADFC is a testament to the power of individual initiative blossoming into a global movement. “We need an army, and the only army that’s there is going to be volunteers,” he states. The Midtown Brandywine community has a unique opportunity to contribute to this critical cause, supporting ADFC’s mission to preserve the coral reefs, the underwater rainforests of our planet.

“Join us at the fundraiser, make a donation, spread the word. Every effort counts in our battle to save the corals,” Mike concludes, extending a heartfelt invitation to his neighbors in Midtown Brandywine.  If you know divers who may be interested, ADFC is free to join and now divers do not have to be Aquarium divers to help save the reef with us.

Neighbors and others can visit the ADFC Society online at https://www.aquariumdiversforcoral.org. Frank’s Wine is also online, at https://frankswine.com, and the physical store is open until 9pm every day except Sunday, when it closes at 5pm.

This article originally appeared in Midtown Brandywine News, December 2023 edition.