I’m not a professional but had a question for professionals, dive shop owners, boat captains, etc. When I go out on a boat I usually see divers putting on sunscreen, containing oxybenzone. Given the established fact that this stuff is harmful to reefs I don’t understand why it is allowed. I would like to make the suggestion to the appropriate people that they out not allow it, or at least ought to make some effort to tell their customers about its effects. But I’m not sure on the best way to go about doing so or who I should even try to tell for any given operation- shop owner, dive masters on the boat, captain, etc. Would like to do so in a way that will allow the person to consider what I’m saying. There usually isn’t time for such conversations when we’re about to go out or right afterwards without annoying the busy person I’m trying to talk to. Does anyone have suggestions?
@jomcclain - thank you for wanting to help educate divers and the industry to pay attention to the ingredients we put on our bodies and into our waters. I have found that most want to do what's right, but many either haven't thought about it, or don't know the right product to choose. As an industry, we have to make it easy for them to make good decisions and counter the belief they have to choose between protecting their skin or protecting the reefs.
My company (full disclosure - I'm the founder and cosmetic chemist at
Stream2Sea) offers convenient, wallet sized
ingredients to avoid cards to be used as an easy reference tool. Our website links the hazardous ingredients to the studies showing they are hazards - studies done by the government and universities, not sponsored by corporate interests. We also have water proof boat signs that link to
NOAA's sunscreen bulletin details. These are offered free to any of our retail partners and can be used to easily show what products are safe and should be used on board.
We have a few dive centers that ban these ingredients from their operations, which of course I commend, but I believe its more beneficial to help educate the guests during briefings or trip confirmations, and let them make the right decisions.
It amazes me that some people still want to use oxybenzone and take the time to argue that its safe. Besides the environmental implications, its a proven endocrine disruptor and was listed as the allergen of the year by the American Contact Dermatitis Association. There's not a health food store in the country that would carry a product with this ingredient. It reminds me of all the companies saying that parabens were ok back in the early 90's.
@tbone1004 - quoting Dr. Cheryl Woodley of the NOAA Coral Health Program: "...the research documenting the toxicity of oxybenzone on corals is extensive.' See attached testimony. If you'd like copies of any of the studies, we link to most on our website at
www.stream2sea.com
Again, in full disclosure, we make sunscreens and bodycare products that have been tested safe on freshwater fish, saltwater fish and coral larvae. I agree with
@Wookie - there's enough science out there and safe alternatives. Why not choose a product that is better for you and better for the environment?