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westmarine.com/helly-hansenC
oral is the foundation of living reefs, which
are among the most diverse and biologically
complex ecosystems on Earth. According to
the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force (coralreef.gov), these
ecosystems support 33 percent of known marine fi sh
species. Coral thrives near the equator and where the
water is clear, warm and shallow — the same places we
sailors like to drop the hook and jump in the water.
We all know we’re doing right by our skin when
we wear sunscreen. However, did you know we might
be doing wrong by coral? All sunscreens wash of our
bodies while we swim, and some of the most popu-
lar sunscreens contain chemical UV fi lters that have
been found to kill the symbiotic microalgae that coral
requires to live. According to two peer-reviewed sci-
entifi c studies, so sensitive are
these microalgae that extreme-
ly low concentrations of some
chemical UV fi lters (one study
cited one drop in a volume of
water equal to more than six
Olympic-size swimming pools)
can result in coral damage.
Coral ecosystems are stressed
by many environmental factors. But to eliminate your-
self as one additional stressor, avoid sunscreens that
contain any of the following harmful chemicals: butyl-
paraben (a preservative), oxybenzone (or benzophe-
none-3), benzophenone-2, octinoxate (or ethylhexyl
methoxycinnamate) and 4-methylbenzylidene cam-
phor (available only in Canada and Europe).
Easier still, stick with sunscreens that use only
physical UV blockers (often referred to on labels as
mineral blockers) rather than chemical UV absorbers.
The most popular physical blockers are titanium
dioxide and zinc oxide. — Michael Robertsonpeople, Coiba’s main attraction
is the large number of whale
sharks that linger there early in
the spring before descending
back into deeper of shore wa-
ters. While Matt and I were an-
chored at Isla Afuerita, I went
diving with a pair of expert div-
ers whose only reason for set-
ting foot in Panama was to get
a chance to swim with these
spectacular animals. As we test-
ed our regulators, they told me
they’d been waiting years to see
one. As far as I know, they’re
still waiting. We were unlucky
with conditions that day, and
their hour-and-15-minute boat
ride back to Santa Catalina
must have been jarring through
the area’s notorious swell.
As the days passed, I had
to accept that I might leave
without having swum with a
whale shark. What I found in-
stead were rays and timid reef
sharks, giant schools of silvery
jacks, a big bull mahimahi just
beyond reach, and the occa-sional sea turtle. I was espe-
cially impressed by the pass
between Isla Jicaron and Isla
Jicarita, where the abundance
of life and clarity of water
rivaled anything I’ve seen in
the South Pacifi c. In the eve-
nings we’d lazily plan the next
day’s anchorage, feeling like
the whole place was ours.
In the end, we weren’t able
to escape without a vivid
reminder of Coiba’s darker
side. We spent the fading
afternoon hours of our last day
there watching two 10-foot-
long crocodiles silently patrol
the waters of their beach.
They were not out of sight and
certainly not out of mind. But
they made Coiba even more of
a memorable place than it had
already become.
— Kate MacBainWe spent the fading
afternoon hours of
our last day there
watching two
crocodiles silently
patrol the waters.SUNSCREEN
THAT’S SAFE FOR
CORAL
Before slathering up, read sunscreen labels care-
fully and choose a product that won’t harm coral
while it’s protecting your skin.MICHAEL ROBERTSON