The ocean is home to a countless number of plants, fishes, and other animals and some scientists believe that 91% of life under the surface hasn’t even been discovered yet. It’s a little mind boggling to realize that we know less than 10% of what’s going on underneath our keels. Some of the greatest areas of biodiversity in the oceans are living in or off of coral reefs. Snorkeling on a thriving reef is one the beautiful things I enjoy as a cruiser. It’s mesmerizing to watch the fan coral sway with the current and see the most colorful fish gliding in and around the coral heads. Finding a good reef is a high but coming across a bleached one is certainly a low. Sadly, this decimation of coral reefs is happening more and more. Let’s leave the study and problem solving of reef bleaching to the big brains but there is one thing that we can all do to halt this destruction - Reef Safe Sunscreens.

HEL List

While there are a host of issues that have been contributing to the bleaching of coral reefs, chemicals found in a lot of sunscreens are one such cause. These chemicals bind to the coral and can disrupt reproduction. They also destroy algae living symbiotically with the coral which opens the coral up to viral infections when that relationship is no longer intact. The smallest amount of sunscreen ingredients will start the bleaching process and it’s estimated that 14,000 tons of sunscreen is deposited into the ocean annually. Even if you are not swimming in the ocean, rain water runoff and treated water is pumped back into the sea and can carry these chemicals with it. The Haereticus Environmental Laboratory, is a non-profit dedicated to the study and conservation of threatened ecosystems. They publish the HEL list – a list of chemicals which can be found in some sunscreens and other beauty products that are known pollutants to many different environments and species. Check your sunscreen label and if it contains any of the following chemicals, it’s not considered reef safe.

· Oxybenzone

· Octinoxate

· Octocrylene

· 4-methylbenzylidene camphor

· Para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA)

· Triclosan

· Methyl Paraben

· Ethyl Paraben

· Propyl Paraben

· Butyl Paraben

· Benzyl Paraben

· Any form of microplastic sphere or beads – sometimes found in exfoliating body/face washes

· Any nanoparticles of zinc oxide or titanium dioxide –we’ll dive more into what nanoparticle means below

If you’ve looked or know anything about ingredients in your sunscreen you’re probably thinking - well what the heck can I use for sunscreen now? It’s true; a lot of inexpensive sunscreens on the market contain one or more of the ingredients above. Always look at the active ingredients (top of the label) as well as the inactive ingredients (bottom of the label). In the spirit of full disclosure, I currently have some of these products on my boat as we speak. Like you, I’m a work in progress too. Changes will be made on the good ship Lumos!

Stick to Minerals

So what can you use to protect yourself from the harmful rays of the sun? There are actually quite a few good brands out there but you do need to pay attention to what you’re buying. There are no regulations on saying a sunscreen is reef safe so you want to watch out for companies who are trying to greenwash you into thinking you’re purchasing something that’s safe when actually you’re not.

Zinc Oxide or Titanium Dioxide based sunscreens are going to be your best option but beware of the particle size of those minerals. Stay away from what’s called nanoparticles and look for micro-particles or non-nanoparticles and avoid sprays. Chances are if it’s easy to rub in then it’s probably nano-sized and not good for the ocean.

Here is a list of several products you can purchase that are reef safe

· Thinksport Sunscreen SPF 50 or Thinkbaby SPF 50+ - I’ve been using Thinkbaby on my little one as well as myself and I’m really happy with the protection.

· Manda Organic Sunpaste SPF 50

· Badger Clear Zinc Sunscreen Cream SPF 40 or any other sunscreen by Badger

· Raw Love SPF 35 Mineral Sunscreen

· Raw Elements Face + Body SPF 30

· All Good Sport Face and Body Sunscreen SPF 30

· California Baby Sunscreen SPF 30+

· Stream2Sea Reef Safe Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30

· Suntegrity Natural Mineral Sunscreen 30 SPF

This is not an all-inclusive list since there are lots of products out there. I tried to stay away from products that were very expensive because wow, could they get pricey!…and I know most of us are sailing on a budget. I also realize that $20 for one bottle of sunscreen can seem a bit steep compared to what you can get at Walmart but keep in mind why you are doing this in the first place. And maybe spending a little more on product will force some changes in habit that are more beneficial anyway: quality over quantity, better skin protectant clothing, wearing a hat, avoiding the sun at the hottest parts of the day, etc.

The Laws are Changing

Ideally, in a post-Covid world, you will get back to traveling very soon (if you haven’t already) and you should be aware that some destinations have passed laws banning certain sunscreens. In 2018, Hawaii passed a state-wide ban on all sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate. Other places have started to follow suit including the U.S. Virgin Islands, Aruba, Bonaire, certain parts of Mexico and Palau. Check before you go to determine what each locations particular restrictions are.

Good Habits Multiply

If sailing and cruising in any capacity is what brought you here, I think it’s pretty safe to assume that you love the water. With that aquaphilia comes a responsibility to help protect this precious resource and all who call the oceans and waterways home. The mantra of “leave no trace”, while ubiquitous with adventures on land, also applies to the ocean too. It’s easy to spot the big things that are detrimental to sea life but stepping up to do our small part is key. If we all do a little bit the combined effort will have big changes. The ocean is not ours to keep. We are her stewards while we are here and will pass her off for safekeeping to our children someday. Wouldn’t it be great if we could give them something we can be proud of?

To learn more about coral reefs and what we can do to help them thrive check out the Coral Reef Alliance or NOAA for more information.

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Reef Safe Sunscreens

Seasickness…Barf!