Fri Sep 08 2023, 2 mins

Ocean Etiquette

With global warming and climate change destroying our planet slowly, we, The Zubeida, have decided to share with you some tips on how we can help protect our oceans by learning some basic etiquette.

1. Do Some Research

On the areas that you plan on visiting to see whether the habitats are protected, understand the creatures that live there, and learn about their behaviour. This will help you keep a good distance as you observe: keeping you and the animals safe. Please refrain from feeding the animals, shining lights and making noise. Stay calm, quiet and always go with a local guide.

2. Don't Touch

Corals and sea creatures shouldn't be touched, picked up, removed from where you found them or fed human food. Sometimes bread is thrown into the water to encourage the fishes to come closer to snorkelers or divers.

This food not only lacks nutrition for marine creatures, but also triggers a feeding frenzy that draws them away from the safety of their natural habitats (coral), causing them to neglect their precious eggs.

Have a conversation with your guides to encourage them to follow relevant ethical procedures.

3. Take Out What You Bring In

Litter is a high cause of pollution for beaches, with items washing up on beaches further away from where they were thrown/lost. Take a reuseable, designated litter bag and throw everything you use into that. You can even do a little beach cleanup on your sunrise and sunset walks and give it to the hotel staff to dispose of it properly.

4. Contribute to Marine Protection

There are so many incredible organisations that are dedicated to the protection of marine life. Take some time to research the ones doing work in the areas you are travelling in and contribute to their mission. This could be through booking excursions, donations, or looking through their exhibitions and interacting with their people.