While everyone can easily enjoy snorkeling, there are a few tips that you can use to do so in an eco-friendly way. To preserve the enjoyment and excitement of seeing marine life, we can all take part in doing so responsibly. This way, we care for the amazing ocean diversity and we help keep it pristine for others to enjoy too!
While some of the tips below might be obvious for some, not everyone is aware of how to interact with the marine environment in a respectful way!
Enjoying the marine life in a responsible way
Here are our top tips for being an eco-friendly snorkeler:
Corals and plants need their space!
It is not always known that corals are actually animals, not plants! Plants and corals are a huge part of the reef's complex ecosystem: they provide shelter for some fishes, nutrients, solidity to the reef, and more. Be careful when entering the water or when swimming to not damage the corals by touching them or stepping on them. Some species can also be sharp or irritating, so better keep your hands and feet off anyway!
Do not harass marine life
When you snorkel, you enter the home of the fishes! Be respectful of it: you should avoid touching and chasing marine life. Also try to not disturb too much the environment you are in, by not splashing too much or creating too much turmoil for the inhabitants of the sea. By keeping a calm behavior at the surface, you will also get better interaction with the marine life!
Pick up trash that you come across
It might not be your trash, but it is everyone’s problem! If you come across some debris or trash when you are snorkeling, if it is safe to do so then you can pick them up. Dispose of the trash properly afterward, and if you are unsure how to do that you can always ask your snorkeling or diving operator. This is a small gesture for the marine environment that we can all apply!
Wear a rash guard and eco-friendly sunscreen
If you are snorkeling in a sunny area, you might worry about getting sunburnt. To avoid getting a lot of chemicals in the ocean but keep your skin safe, you can do two things: first, wear a shirt or rash guard instead of sunscreen. Second, you can choose a reef-safe sunscreen, usually made out of zinc and other minerals. They do not contain any chemicals that might be toxic to the reef.
No bread for the fish!
While it might seem like fun to drop some bits of bread or something else in the water to attract the fishes around you, it is not a great idea. Some of our “human” food might not be good or appropriate for the fish, changing the way they digest food. Moreover, by feeding marine life, we are disrupting their normal behavior. As a consequence, they might not hunt or feed on their own after a while, or not eat something that is important in their ecosystem. If some fish stop eating algae, for example, they might grow out of control.
Limit the amount of trash on the trip
If you are taking a snorkeling trip on a boat or by road to reach an interesting spot, you can also think about what you will need for the day and pack accordingly. You can use a refillable water bottle to avoid using some plastic ones. You can also pack snacks or a sandwich in a box instead of using food wrapped in plastic.
Do not pick up anything but trash
Marine life has surprising ways of reusing and recycling everything natural in the ocean. If you see a shell that looks empty or washed away, do not pick it up. It might end up being the new shelter of a hermit crab, or a part of the cave built by another fish. The only thing you should pick up in the water is what does not belong in the ocean, like plastic trash!
Try to stay off the bottom
Depending on the area you visit during your snorkeling trip, you might swim on top of reefs or sand, silty bottoms, or algae. As much as possible, try not to walk on the bottom or stir it. It might be hosting animals too small for you to notice at first, and moving the sediments or the plants might disturb them.
Select the souvenirs that you buy
While this can be tempting, buying souvenirs such as shell necklaces or ornament, dried fish products and such is contributing to the depletion of marine life. It might seem harmless, but the more demand there is for such products, the more products are used to manufacture them.
Choose your operator
If you are going snorkeling with an operator, it is perfectly fine to ask a few questions about how they operate. You can ask for example if they use mooring lines instead of anchoring on the reef, if they have small or big groups, if they participate in any conservation programs in the area, etc. These details will give you some indications of whether they are responsible and involved with the environment they work in!
A lot of these tips also apply to scuba diving! If you are thinking about learning how to scuba dive, check out this article for a beginner's guide!
By applying these suggestions, you can enjoy snorkeling in a responsible manner and contribute to ocean protection!
