Coral reefs are among the most spectacular ecosystems in the world, and snorkeling is a great way to explore them. As coral reefs face an increasingly uncertain future, snorkelers and other coral reef visitors can play a vital role in protecting these fragile ecosystems. Follow these simple tips and you'll become a “coral-friendly” snorkeler.
GENERAL RULES
1. Do not touch anything while in the water.
2. Never chase, ride or harass marine life.
3. Do not remove anything, alive or dead, from the water, unless it is garbage.
4. Do not handle or feed marine life unless instructed by experts and following established regulations.
5. Do not wear gloves in coral environments, this will make you be more careful with what you touch.
1. Do not touch anything while in the water.
2. Never chase, ride or harass marine life.
3. Do not remove anything, alive or dead, from the water, unless it is garbage.
4. Do not handle or feed marine life unless instructed by experts and following established regulations.
5. Do not wear gloves in coral environments, this will make you be more careful with what you touch.
BOATING BOATS
1. Choose dive operators whose boats make use of mooring buoys when available: anchors destroy fragile corals when dropped directly onto the reef.
2. Make sure trash is stored properly, especially lightweight plastic items such as cups and bags, which can easily blow overboard.
3. Make sure you take everything you brought on board with you for the trip and dispose of trash responsibly.
1. Choose dive operators whose boats make use of mooring buoys when available: anchors destroy fragile corals when dropped directly onto the reef.
2. Make sure trash is stored properly, especially lightweight plastic items such as cups and bags, which can easily blow overboard.
3. Make sure you take everything you brought on board with you for the trip and dispose of trash responsibly.
ON THE COAST
1. Support the management of Marine Coral Parks and other conservation projects.
2. Pay visitor fees in recognized protected areas and Reserves that are actively supporting conservation.
3. Encourage and support the use of mooring buoys for boats.
4. Participate in local initiatives to monitor the marine environment, for example by filling out observation forms.
5. Participate in cleaning meetings.
6. Volunteer to help in the protected areas of Marine Parks, for example, on reef tours and data collection, in education and awareness raising.
7. Consider donating used equipment such as cameras, diving gear, or coral identification guides.
8. Take your trash home with you, especially items like batteries that are toxic and difficult to dispose of safely in countries without special waste management systems.
9. Refuse to buy items made from coral, turtles or other marine life. This practice is often illegal, as many endangered species are protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, CITES, and by national laws.
10. Pass on and share these practices: Make sure your dive buddies understand these simple conservation practices.
1. Support the management of Marine Coral Parks and other conservation projects.
2. Pay visitor fees in recognized protected areas and Reserves that are actively supporting conservation.
3. Encourage and support the use of mooring buoys for boats.
4. Participate in local initiatives to monitor the marine environment, for example by filling out observation forms.
5. Participate in cleaning meetings.
6. Volunteer to help in the protected areas of Marine Parks, for example, on reef tours and data collection, in education and awareness raising.
7. Consider donating used equipment such as cameras, diving gear, or coral identification guides.
8. Take your trash home with you, especially items like batteries that are toxic and difficult to dispose of safely in countries without special waste management systems.
9. Refuse to buy items made from coral, turtles or other marine life. This practice is often illegal, as many endangered species are protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, CITES, and by national laws.
10. Pass on and share these practices: Make sure your dive buddies understand these simple conservation practices.
We need to work on conservation. We need to work together to protect and preserve coral reefs forever.
© CORAL. These tips may be freely reproduced and distributed, provided that the copyright of CORAL is included.
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