Be a Snorkeler, not a Killer

It happens every day, right in front of my very eyes. They gear up with masks and snorkels, shoes and gloves. Yes, SHOES and GLOVES! Then the killing starts – step by step.

I guess every coral island has low tides where the water barely covers the reef, which makes it impossible to swim off the beach. But even on  small islands with little tourism I see dozens of snorkelers every day that go “well, that’s not my problem, I want to snorkel NOW”! So, off they walk right over the reef – some of them flippers-correctly-backwards – all the way to the drop-off, where they finally can start with some beloved nature-gazing. I guess they are not aware that they left a trail of death behind them to get there. Or are they?

To say it again: If you step on or even touch a coral it will take years to grow back – if it doesn’t die right away. So: No steps, no touches, only pictures, starry-eyes and bubbles, ok? Not hard to memorize. And if you really have to walk, maybe to reach a boat, do it like the locals: barefootn’!

I strongly believe it’s our responsibility as freedivers and dive pros to ask each of every one of these people if they are just unaware or purely ignorant. Please help raise awareness and.. uuhm, drown the others.

All the best
Oli