Coral in Crisis: How one Florida teenager became a rising voice for reefs in distress

The first time Andrei Steyn dove beneath the waves, he found silence, serenity and a landscape of coral, stripped of color and life. It was hauntingly beautiful and unsettling at the same time. When he surfaced, one thought stayed with him: “somebody has to do something.”

At 18, Steyn isn’t your typical high school senior. While most people his age are preoccupied with college essays and weekend plans, he’s been leading a youth nonprofit dedicated to coral reef conservation. From a classroom at Miami Country Day School, he founded Students for Coral Preservation, which now includes over a hundred members across South Florida.

“I didn’t really think about whether I could do it,” Steyn said sitting at his desk. “I just knew I had to try.”

The organization combines hands-on science with advocacy. Students grow coral fragments in a 200-gallon nursery tank and organize reef cleanups, visits and dives. This commitment comes at a crucial time, as the continental United States’ only barrier reef system continues to collapse, according to The Guardian.

“I needed to bring this experience I had to my peers,” he said. “I didn’t think enough people were talking about it. That’s kind of how it started.”

Andrei Steyn and the 200-gallon nursery tank (Photos courtesy of Andrei Steyn)

Not your typical senior year

Steyn’s experience comes not from decades in a lab, but from a passion that drives him into spaces usually reserved for adults. 

“How do we legitimize a bunch of high school students in this conversation where there are actual policy makers? It's really an adult world. How do we break it? And how do we say we’re a bunch of highschoolers but you should listen to us?”

As for funding, his team tries to spread the word by appearing in front of the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners, attending events, writing letters  and partnering with other organizations like Miami Waterkeeper and Padi Aware Foundation. 

“We made him put together a PowerPoint, we made him go out and pitch his club”, said his father, Lawrence Steyn. “But he's really taken on this by himself.”

That commitment has carried him far. He has traveled to Capitol Hill, the United Nations Oceans Conference in Nice, France and earlier this year, he was a finalist for the Eco Hero Awards. 

“I didn’t win, and I did not go to Australia to see the reef, which I was sad about, but I was happy to be recognized. It was very nice to be nominated for that award that I think very well affirms what I do,” said Steyn as he tried to keep his dog from climbing onto his lap.

A father watching from the sidelines

Lawrence Steyn, a partner at American Industrial Partners, a New York based private equity firm, still remembers watching his son discover the ocean. Sitting at his desk in Miami, the sunset pouring in  through the window, he smiled. 

“Every parent dreams their child will find something that lights a fire in them,” he said. “Andrei’s passion for coral and conservation is exactly that. It’s not just about science; it’s about a good heart and wanting to make a difference.”

The family moved from New York when Andrei was 14, and the ocean quickly became their second home. “He’s always loved the outdoors, forests, mountains, beaches,” the elder Steyn recalled. “So when we came down here and he discovered the ocean and scuba diving, it was a natural fit. The first time he dove, he came up from the water and said, ‘Dad, I love this. This is amazing.’”

Lawrence Steyn and his wife have been careful to help him without taking over. “We’ve tried to guide him with advice, introduce him to people, but mostly we let him take the reins,” he said. 

A mentor on the dive boat

Colin Foord, a marine biologist, is co-founder of Coral Morphologic and the director of science for the Reefline in Miami Beach. He first met Steyn on a dive boat off Key Biscayne. 

“He was out with his dad on a cleanup,” said Foord, himself a 2004 graduate of the University of Miami.

“We removed a lot of lobster trap ropes that are a real big problem here on the reefs in South Florida," he explained. “When there’s storms, the traps get smashed into the rocks and the rope, which is made out of nylon, never really breaks down. It can just get tangled into the reef and do a lot of damage for years and years.”

As his mentor, Foord later helped Steyn set up a 200-gallon coral tank at his school. “I think it’s really great. It’s a very powerful teaching tool. I’m so proud of the fact Andrei really kind of pushed to make that happen," Foords said. "He’s got a really big, big vision and is a doer and a go-getter, really motivated. He’s inspiring his peers really well.”

From coral club to policy table

Over time, Steyn’s work has grown beyond coral restoration to include advocacy and policy. 

“He started with his coral club, and now he’s engaging with policymakers, speaking at conferences, thinking about social media campaigns for environmental organizations,” the elder Steyn said. “It’s fascinating to watch him grow into a leader who’s thoughtful and deliberate. He’s choosing to combine science with action, and that’s inspiring.”

However, there’s a quiet pressure in being labeled the hopeful one.

“Our generation is at a crossroads,” Steyn said. “We’re inheriting a planet that’s already on the edge. So we’re really at a critical point and there is pressure to make sure that goes right. But there’s also this crazy excitement. Because we can still fix it.”

Starting next month, Steyn will be attending Harvard University, focusing on government and policy. “I love environmentalism but my main interest has been the advocacy and it has been the policy," Steyn said. “I want to be the person who helps make the big decisions, the ones that actually protect these waters.”

One reef, one cleanup, one weekend

The Coral Preservation organization continues to grow with upcoming projects including a new dive series, participation in the Reef Florida Symposium, and a potential trip to D.C. next spring. In the meantime, Steyn remains focused on his nonprofit and training the next generation of environmental advocates.

“I want people my age to know they matter,” he said. “I want students to walk away with the ability to say ‘I can make a difference, I can change the world because my voice matters.’” For a moment, his voice softened. “Even if it’s just one reef, one cleanup, one weekend, that’s how change starts.”

Foord, 43, says Steyn gives him hope for the future.

“We need a lot more Andreis in this world,” he said. “We really need to do everything we can to get [young people] engaged with nature, because I think that we’re living in a time when screens and technology, AI and VR, have a way of isolating us from nature. Encouraging them to get out underwater is more important than ever. Andrei is an inspiration to others.”

In a world where coral and conviction can feel fragile, Andrei Steyn is proof that both can come back to life. He is not just restoring reefs, he is restoring faith and hope in what young people can achieve when they discover their power to make an impact.

This story is the first in a series of three by journalist Leelou Lambolez. News organizations are welcome to re-publish this story or the entire series of three, as long as they credit Leelou Lambolez and CommunityWire.Miami