Nicole Helgason
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Nicole Helgason is a professional scuba diver and can often be found photographing corals and sharing her passion about coral reefs around the world. Nicole is Reef Builders Event Manager and is responsible for running ReefStock shows in Denver and Sydney. Nicole is also a manager for Reef Builders social media accounts and a weekly contributor to the Reef Builders site. Nicole has a Bachelors degree in Coastal Geography from the University of Victoria, and is originally from Vancouver Canada.

The Case Of The Missing Ctenophores

In 2015 a team from the California Academy of Science set out on a expedition to the Philippines to explore the Coral Triangle’s biological treasures. The trip was aimed at exploring the Verde Island Passage, a stretch of water between the…

Jellyfish Prove You Don’t Need A Brain To Sleep

Researchers at the California Institute of Technology have recently discovered genes that induce and regulate sleep may be much older than previously described. The team studied the upside-down jellyfish Cassiopea to determine if these animals, which lack a centralized nervous system, still require…

Adorable Video Perfectly Illustrates The Life Of A Coral

We came across this adorable video from Honolulu Civil Beat Inc which perfectly illustrated the life of a coral. While it may be second nature to aquarist why corals are important, and how they reproduce, there are still people who see corals…

Reef Builders Travelogue, Lembeh Strait, Sulawesi Indonesia

Reef Builders Destination Lembeh Lembeh Strait is our final stop in this eleven-day trip around Northern Sulawesi. A holy grail amongst scuba divers who flock to Lembeh for its biodiversity of marine life with a backdrop of black volcanic sands.…

Unusual Corals In Lembeh Strait

Lembeh Strait The Lembeh Strait is a holy grail amongst scuba divers. This relatively small channel of water is home to the highest concentration of crazy critters known anywhere under the sea. Scuba divers from around the world flock to…

Reef Builders Travelogue, Bangka Island, Sulawesi Indonesia
Reef Builders Destination Bangka Island Here at Reef Builders, we are fortunate to dive some of the worlds most lush and vibrant coral reefs, so last year we decided it was time to invite our readers along for the journey.…
WATCH: Mandarin Dragonets Spawning In The Wild

The Mandarin dragonet (Synchiropus splendidus) is one of my favorite fish, and I know I’m not alone. Mandarins are a fan favorite when it comes to saltwater aquariums for their vibrant psychedelic patterns and friendly personalities. So when the team…

Reef Builders Travelogue, Bunaken National Park, Sulawesi Indonesia

Reef Builders Destination Sulawesi Indonesia Here at Reef Builders we are fortunate to dive some of the worlds most lush and vibrant coral reefs, so last year we decided it was time to invite our readers along for the journey.…

Could Genetically Modified Algae Save Coral Reefs?

Coral Reefs Photosynthetic marine algae are crucial to the survival of the coral reefs. These tiny algae live symbiotically inside coral tissue and are responsible for converting sunlight into usable energy for the coral’s survival. Yet as we know all…

Automatic Neck Cleaner For Reef Octopus Protein Skimmers

Simplify your aquarium maintenance routine and keep your protein skimmer running at peak performance with an automatic neck cleaner! Protein Skimmers are an essential piece of equipment for running a saltwater aquarium. Skimmers remove organic compounds from your tank. As the skimmer works these…