WHAT’S ALL THE FUSS ABOUT REEF SAFE SUNSCREEN

One of the best parts of visiting the Bahamas is spending time in or on the beautiful waters. Along with this comes time spent in the sun, which in this part of the world can be very strong and will burn your skin quickly. It is important to protect yourself from the suns damaging UV rays and to wear protective clothing, including a hat and using sunscreen.

Until recently, many people did not know that while they were protecting themselves with the use of sunscreen, they were unknowingly damaging the very environment they were enjoying--all due to their choice of sunscreen. There are chemical components in many sunscreens that while blocking UV rays from your skin actually kill the corals. Thankfully, once this problem became known, many sunscreen manufacturers stepped in to create a smarter, safer option. So now it is possible to protect yourself and our amazing underwater world at the same time.

The best way to do this is to check the label. Use sunscreen labeled “Reef Safe”. There are many brands currently out on the market. Generally, it means that the sunscreen only contains mineral UV-blocking ingredients like Oxide and Titanium Dioxide. Unfortunately, the term “Reef Safe” is not yet regulated, so it is best to check for yourself by reading the active ingredients label and make sure the sunscreen does not contain the following:  

Oxybenzone

Octocrylene

Octinoxate

PABA

Parabens

Homosalate

Triclosan

4-methylbenzylidene camphor

Anything labeled “exfoliating beads” or similar form of microplastic.

Any zinc or titanium labeled as “nano-sized”—you want it labeled “non-nano” or “micro-sized.”

It is also important to stick with the use of lotions. You want to avoid spray sunscreens all together. Many people do not know that spray and misting sunscreens, especially those that contain Titanium Dioxide, (which is helpful for your skin), can be harmful to your health if inhaled. Sprays can also cause damage to your polarized sunglasses if the mist gets on the lenses.

Some people complain that the reef friendly sunscreens are thick and do not apply too easily. This is a small price to pay to protect the reefs and their occupants while providing your skin with protection. Just be sure to find one that has an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) that uses physical UVA and UVB filters such as Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide. These two chemicals actually block the rays and shield the skin from absorbing the sun’s rays. Avoid chemical filters, like those listed above, that merely absorb UV and cause damage to the reefs.

There are certain places around the globe, like Hawai’I, Aruba, Bonaire, Palau to name just a few (this list is growing so check before you visit) where all sunscreens offered for sale by law must be Reef Safe. It isn’t like there are sunscreen police running around peeking in your beach bag, but you won’t find any for sale that don’t fit the bill. If you currently have sunscreen that isn’t reef friendly, that’s fine but please save it for a day hiking or outdoors where you are not in the water. The fish will thank you for that!

There are many things each of us can do to keep our waters, reefs, and beaches safe for all to enjoy today and for generations to come. The simple step of using a Reef Friendly sunscreen seems like one of the easiest with the best possible outcome for all.