Modern coral science is racing forward, providing many novel insights into how reefs function and may withstand stresses caused by warming and acidifying oceans. These insights are vital to coral conservation, but the work is often done in labs that are located far from reefs in countries that are not on the frontlines of climate change. Here we present some new tools for diagnosing coral health in the field and discuss why it is critical to make them available to reef managers to empower coral conservation at the local level.