Mooring Lines for Siargao’s Reefs

Samuel Arn is organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

Hi, I’m Sam, a conservation storyteller and diver based on Siargao Island in the Philippines. I’ve been working closely with Oceantribe Philippines, a local dive center, to protect the incredible coral reefs that surround this island — reefs that are not only ecologically vital but also central to the livelihood and food security of our local communities.

I’m part of a grassroots effort to protect these reefs from anchor damage by installing permanent mooring lines. These simple tools can make a world of difference.

You can access our latest presentation here: Adopt A Mooring Line

Or watch it here: Presentation Video

What’s the Problem?

The biggest threat isn’t something high-tech or sinister — it’s simply anchors. Boats need to stop, and without a mooring system, they drop metal straight onto living coral. This happens every day, even in protected areas.

One anchor can destroy years of coral growth in a single moment. Over time, the damage becomes permanent.

The Solution: Mooring Lines

The good news? There’s a simple, effective fix: moorings. By installing mooring lines at key reef sites, we can eliminate the need to drop anchors entirely.

We’ve already tested and installed some — and they work. We just need your help to expand it..

The Plan

Our plan is to install 10 mooring lines by the end of August. After that the swell season will start, and installing the lines will become increasingly difficult due to high waves.

The first locations are all surf and dive spots, and are located in the operating area of Oceantribe dive center. This means we will be able to monitor the lines closely, once installed, to document and learn before expanding the project to other areas in Siargao, and ultimately in the Philippines.

Why This Project Matters (To Me / To Us / To the Community)

I’ve made Siargao my home. I came here to create, to dive, and to live in harmony with nature — but it’s impossible to stay passive when you see the damage firsthand.

This isn’t just about coral. It’s about protecting what gives life to this island, both ecologically and economically. Additionally, we tend to take, but rarely give back to the ocean, even though all of us love to spend time in it.

The long term vision of this project is to give awareness to what is happening underwater, to make mooring lines the standard in the Philippines, and to provide additional opportunities to the community by protecting our reefs.

I’ve seen the power of community here. Locals and expats, surfers, divers and fishermen — we’re coming together for something bigger than ourselves.

What You Can Do

We are grateful for any donation - large or small. All donations will go directly towards installing Mooring Lines in Siargao.

With ₱50'000 (€750) we can install one mooring line, Oceantribe Dive Center is matching each donation for a full line with ₱12'500 (€190).

How the Funds Will Be Used

We’re raising a total of ₱500,000 to install 10 mooring lines across key reef sites around Siargao. Please refer to the image below for a full breakdown of how the funds will be used: