Reef Safe Sunscreen
Many popular sunscreen brands contain ingredients that have been found to harm coral and other wildlife. There are however plenty of reef safe brands available on the market that are safe to use.’Reef safe’ labels can sometimes be misleading, so it’s best to check that non-nano zinc oxide or non-nano titanium dioxide are the active ingredient. Brands like Stream2Sea are a great choice.
Rash Guard
Spending a few hours in the water every day means you’ll be getting plenty of sun. While sunscreen is always a good idea, covering up is also important. In warm tropical waters, a wetsuit can feel a bit much for some so a rash guard is a perfect, lightweight alternative. It keeps you cool, comfortable, and protected both in and out of the water.
Get geared up with a Snorkel Venture rash guard, the perfect versatile, 50+ UV protection outfit. You can find them for sale on our website, where every penny goes to our charity partners.
Refillable Water Bottle
Using a refillable water bottle is an easy way to reduce plastic waste whilst on tour and in your every day. Most resorts and livaboards will have water refill stations.
Biodegradable Products
Using shower products with natural or biodegradable ingredients can be much kinder on the environment. The Stream2Sea website has a great selection of environmentally friendly products.
In The Water
Keep a Good Distance From the Coral
When snorkeling in shallow waters, stay horizontal and be mindful of your fins. Never stand on the reef—if you need a break, float on your back or bring a float along. Avoid ever touching the coral, as it can harm these delicate creatures and sometimes give you a nasty sting!
Snorkeling With Megafauna (the BIG stuff)
A good rule when snorkeling with manta rays, whales, or whale sharks is to let them come to you. Stay calm and move slowly, this helps them feel comfortable, and they might even swim closer out of curiosity. If you find yourself face-to-face with a whale shark or manta ray, gently back away, keeping at least 9 feet distance. With whales, give them a little extra space—about 16 feet.
Snorkeling With Critters
Some of the most exciting things to see in the water are the weird and wonderful critters. These guys are often only a few inches long and can be hard to spot so staying calm and steady in the water really helps. A gentle duck dive and hovering just above is the best way to get a closer look.
Be mindful not to touch or disturb them—avoid kicking up sand or debris around their homes. For photos, natural light is best, and at night, try shining your light beside them rather than directly into their eyes.
Citizen Science
Citizen science is a great way to help conserve the places you visit. There are many simple surveys any snorkeler can take part in to support valuable research.
Coral surveys: Check out the Coral Watch website and learn to conduct coral health surveys.
Nudibranch surveys: Upload your nudibranch images to iNaturalist.
Megafauna sightings: Upload photos of manta rays, whale sharks, and whales to their corresponding databases and help scientists track their movements.
Ocean Eye: A great app where you can log sightings and support conservation directly.
Look up local citizen science projects in the areas you visit or ask us for more information.
Our Commitment to Sustainability
We Choose Sustainable Operators
We prioritize partnering with companies that share our commitment to sustainability. The resorts and liveaboards we visit strive to minimize their environmental impact and often run their own conservation initiatives. Take Misool Resort, for example which is built entirely from repurposed materials and operating off-grid with green energy wherever possible.
Charity Partners
Through our Snorkel for Good program we fundraise and donate funds to selected charity organizations. We champion organizations dedicated to protecting threatened species and fragile ecosystems, while partnering with local communities to foster conservation education and sustainable livelihoods. To find out more and get involved visit our Snorkel for Good webpage!
Our No Touch Policy
Before jumping in we brief all of our guests on how to act responsibly in the water. Snorkeling is a wonderful opportunity to witness animals in the wild, exhibiting natural behaviors and going about their daily lives. Whilst we often are lucky enough to come in very close proximity to these animals we go by a no touch, no harassment policy. The means we never touch anything in the water, no matter how big or small. We also do not harass wildlife by never chasing after animals that swim by.
Small Groups
We keep our tour groups small by committing to just 750 snorkelers a year. This creates a friendly, personal experience and reduces our environmental impact.