DIVERS! SNORKELERS! BOATERS!

Please keep hands, fins and anchors off coral reefs! Worldwide, coral reefs are suffering degradation from various factors -- pollution, over fishing, excess nutrients ... and tourist activity.

© R. Ellis - Flukes Designs

PLEASE TAKE CARE
NOT TO INFLICT FURTHER DAMAGE.
Here's How:

TOUCH NOTHING:
The slightest touch with hands, fins or equipment can irreparably damage coral polyps, the tiny animals that build the coral reefs. Remember, most corals only grow a half inch per year.

REMAIN HORIZONTAL:
Stay horizontal in the water and snorkel in water over your depth. Snorkeling on shallow reefs can easily inflict damage to the coral and cause personal injury. In a vertical position, your flapping fins are killers! They break coral and stir up sediment that can smother the coral polyps. For equipment adjustment, swim out and away from the coral into deep water.

UNSURE, UNEASY:
Wear a float vest and practice your skills off a sandy beach.

LOOK, ENJOY AND LEAVE:
Take nothing dead or alive from the reef.

DO NOT ANCHOR ON CORAL:
Use mooring buoys where available, or anchor on a sandy bottom. Anchors, chain and line should not touch coral (dinghy anchors included). If there is no sandy bottom, don't anchor, but leave an attendant in the dinghy while the rest of the party snorkels or dives.

FEEDING THE FISH:
Caution! You may be injured! Feeding can make fish aggressive and dangerous. It also upsets species distribution and may introduce disease.

PHOTOGRAPHERS:
Avoid cumbersome rigs. Don't brace yourself on the coral to take a photo. Damaging the reef even inadvertently for the sake of a photo is not worth it.

DIVERS:
Adjust buoyancy. Secure all dangling gauges, consoles and octopus regulators. Know where your fins are. Air bubbles trapped in caves will destroy marine growth. Bubbles rising on a vertical rock face can scour. Don't get too close.

Think, care and enjoy.
Help the reef give continuing enjoyment.