From Holiday Snapshots to Habitat Science
Coral reefs occupy less than 1% of the ocean, yet they shelter nearly a quarter of all marine species and support up to a billion people through food, livelihoods and coastal protection. These ecosystems are now under severe threat from warming seas, pollution and overuse. UN-backed assessments warn that if current trends continue, 70–90% of the world’s coral reefs could disappear by 2050, making accurate, scalable monitoring essential. Traditionally, documenting reef health meant bulky cameras, expert divers and expensive research expeditions. Today, an underwater camera phone equipped with Samsung Ocean Mode can play a very different role. By turning consumer devices into mobile conservation tools, scientists, local communities and even citizen divers can capture images that help track bleaching, growth and damage. The result is a growing, visual record of reef change that can be collected more often, across more sites, than conventional surveys alone.
How Samsung Ocean Mode Sees Underwater Like a Scientist
Underwater photography is far tougher than it looks. Water absorbs and scatters light, making scenes appear washed in blue and green while currents and diver movement blur details. Samsung Ocean Mode was engineered specifically to overcome these challenges and make coral reef photography scientifically useful. First introduced with the Galaxy S24 Ultra, the feature corrects the strong blue–green color cast, restoring more accurate tones so researchers can better judge coral health and diversity. The camera automatically adjusts shutter speed and uses multi-frame image processing to limit motion blur, keeping fine structures like branching coral and small invertebrates sharp. An interval shooting function lets the phone capture thousands of images in a single dive without constant manual input. These high-resolution, consistent frames can then be fed into photogrammetry software to build detailed 3D models of reef habitats, revealing changes in structure and condition over time.
From Galaxy Devices to Global Coral Reef Monitoring
Samsung’s Ocean Mode was first developed and validated in real reef environments in Indonesia and Fiji, where scientists and conservation teams needed reliable imaging without hauling heavy DSLR rigs. Deployed through the Expert RAW app on select Galaxy devices, the feature transforms supported phones into accessible mobile conservation tools. Since 2024, the Coral Reef Initiative using Ocean Mode has produced 17 detailed 3D reef models that help quantify the results of restoration activities. Partner organization Seatrees and local teams have planted more than 14,046 coral fragments, restoring 10,705 square meters of habitat. Critically, Ocean Mode is no longer limited to a handful of research partners: it is now rolling out beyond the Galaxy S24 Ultra to the Galaxy S26 series and additional models, so more divers, students and community groups can contribute scientifically valuable underwater imagery to long-term monitoring efforts.
Coral in Focus: Technology, Storytelling and Recognition
To show how smartphone imaging can support ocean conservation, Samsung Electronics collaborated with Seatrees and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography on a documentary titled “Coral in Focus.” Directed by Quentin van den Bossche, the film follows scientists, engineers and local conservationists as they confront the coral crisis and demonstrate how Ocean Mode performs in real-world dives. The documentary premiered during the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice on World Oceans Day, using side-by-side footage with and without Samsung Ocean Mode to reveal its visual impact. The project has since earned international recognition. The Coral in Focus initiative, powered by Samsung Ocean Mode on select Galaxy phones, won Gold for “Best Sustainability or Conservation Initiative” at the Engage for Good 2026 Halo Awards. The film also received the Coastal and Island Culture Award at the International Ocean Film Festival, while Samsung was named to Fast Company’s 2026 Most Innovative Companies list for advancing mobile innovation in environmental research.
What This Means for Citizen Divers and Everyday Users
The expansion of Samsung Ocean Mode beyond research partners opens the door for a new kind of citizen science. Recreational divers and snorkelers with compatible Galaxy devices can now capture clearer, color-corrected images that, when properly shared with conservation projects, may support reef assessments and restoration planning. In areas where traditional research equipment is scarce, an underwater camera phone becomes a practical survey tool, especially for community-led initiatives guided by experts. There are still practical limits: Galaxy phones are IP-rated for short, shallow submersion in fresh water only, and salt or chlorinated water can degrade seals without a dedicated water-resistant case. However, used responsibly with appropriate housings, a smartphone can complement professional gear rather than replace it. As more people gain access to Ocean Mode, the global picture of coral reef health can become richer, more frequently updated and more inclusive of the communities who depend on these ecosystems.