Hawaii: Wrecking Coral will Cost You

And why wouldn't it? As the article mentions, it's Hawaii's environment that draws such massive tourism.

A Maui tour company is paying the state nearly $400,000 for damaging more than 1,200 coral colonies when one of its boats sank at Molokini, a pristine reef and popular diving spot. Another tour operator faces penalties for wrecking coral when it illegally dropped an anchor on a Maui reef.

The state plans to sue the U.S. Navy to seek compensation for coral ruined when a guided missile cruiser the length of two football fields ran aground near Pearl Harbor in February.

The fines began issuing fines two years ago as part of its efforts to punish those who damage a resource critical to Hawaii's fragile environment and tourism, the state's No. 1 industry.

"People are going to have to be more careful out here, because it if keeps getting damaged, we're going to lose it," said Laura Thielen, chairwoman of the state Board of Land and Natural Resources, which decides how much to fine. "We have to take some very strong action or else it's going to be too late."

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Scuba Diver in Hot Water After Failing to Mark Position

Not doing so almost initiated a search-and-rescue operation.

Rescuers from RNLI Fraserburgh were called out by a member of the public after the empty 16ft fibreglass vessel was spotted between Inverallochy and St Combs.

Fearing someone had fallen overboard, the crew was considering calling out colleagues from neighbouring stations and an RAF helicopter to mount a search.

About four minutes after the lifeboat arrived at the scene, however, the boater rose to the surface of the water alive and well – he had been diving.

He had not been displaying an alpha flag, the international shipping signal to indicate a diver is present.

A spokesman for the RNLI hit out last night, saying the absence of the flag could have sparked a major incident.

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Attention to detail, folks. Attention to detail.