Imagine diving into the crystal-clear waters offshore of Miami, only to find yourself surrounded by a scene of devastation. A moonscape. The water, once teeming with life, is clouded with sediment, and vibrant coral reefs are now buried beneath a layer of sand. This is the grim reality made manifest by the PortMiami dredging project that occurred from 2013 to 2015. The project resulted in catastrophic damage to adjacent coral reefs, triggering legal action by Miami Waterkeeper and co-plaintiffs. Despite the dredging company’s initial attempts to downplay the environmental impact, subsequent scientific research uncovered extensive coral mortality, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has now released a report that supports our finding that millions of corals were likely killed and at least 278 acres of the Florida Reef Tract were severely impacted.
Writer & Narrator: Shawn Heinrichs
Filmed in partnership with Beta Diversidad
Producer: Katie Lin
Cinematography: Shawn Heinrichs
Director of Post-Production: Chad Richmond
Editors: Nikki Riddy, John Roney, Josh Blasman
Sound Designer: Stephanie Gonzalez
Additional Camera: Levi Chandler, Paul Nicklen
Digital Asset Manager: Julian Henao
Special thanks: ORGCAS, Mario Gomez, Beta Diversidad, Ramon Castellanos, Beta Diversidad, Jay Clue, Dive Ninjas, Nadia Ally, Scuba Diver Life , Evans Baudin, Baja Shark Experience, Gabo Velazquez, Baja Shark Experience, RED Digital Cinema

