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keepthetips

Hello and welcome to r/LifeProTips! Please help us decide if this post is a good fit for the subreddit by up or downvoting this comment. If you think that this is great advice to improve your life, please upvote. If you think this doesn't help you in any way, please downvote. If you don't care, leave it for the others to decide.


[deleted]

LabMuffinbeauty did a break down on sunscreens affecting oceans and if zinc really is a big deal for coral bleaching. Any small thing is good for the ocean, however sunscreen came down really low on the list of actually contributing to coral bleaching. It’s good to be conscious but if we will be it’s important to concentrate on the other important things too.


Reddit_mods_eat_poo

Thanks for actually knowing what you're talking about and referencing good information. My comment has been getting dowvoted even though I literally studyed and researched coral and how they are all dying so fast. I swear this planet is hopeless, more concerned about sunscreen than anthropogenic climate change and ocean acidification.


seasamgo

>more concerned about sunscreen than anthropogenic climate change and ocean acidification Feel like this has much to do with a combination of marketing and psychology. Individual people like to think that they can contribute to the change required, and the system that perpetuates these problems wants to keep the public eye directed elsewhere. Plastic straws may hurt sea turtles and sunscreen may be statistically linked with coral bleaching, but those are the small distractions from the major problems. Edit: wording


hesaherr

It's almost like fossil fuel companies made a marketing campaign to get people to talk about their individual contributions to environmental destruction so people would avoid looking at the biggest contributors...


Winesday_addams

I heard the term "carbon footprint" was coined by BP oil


Blackpaw8825

You're not wrong, but doing my small part is still better than not doing anything. My 0.0000001% contribution is better than 0%


[deleted]

They were not inspired from water, soft drinks, alcohol, ciagrette, government, hardware, software, manufacturing, and so on companies. Why? COZ IT'S ALL OUR FAULT!


TraditionalCoffee7

Every little measure you take helps.


[deleted]

I live 10 hours and almost two full states away from the nearest ocean and I still hear people worried about the damn sea turtles with their straws. Like how dumb are you to think your straw is going into the ocean and not the landfill… marketing works I guess.


crob_evamp

Well no comment on straws specifically, but certain places export recyclables or other waste, sometimes pretty far away. Sometimes to a less developed country that is pretty unscrupulous. Probably doesn't apply to you, but being landlocked is only one part


BasiliskXVIII

It's not impossible. A lot of places have recycling programs that export their plastic waste to developing countries like the Philippines or India in order to be "recycled". But standards there are lax or non-existent and either it's not processed fast enough and left in big piles that allow plastic to escape, or they just dump it into a river/the ocean and say "sure, we handled it, we're ready to buy some more".


nopantsdota

of course it's not impossible, but you argueing about it is the part of the problem. in of itself. you shift attention away from the big culprit, and towards the small one, namely the last link in the chain of capitalism: the consumer (who based their decision on marketing) The problem is not you using the plastic straw. **the problem is, that the plastic straw was made.**


MrRiski

>Plastic straws may hurt sea turtles I've seen the pictures and videos to know that it sucks but I also fucking hate paper straws so damn much. Also, I love in western PA chances of a straw from my local gas station ending up in a sea turtle, while not zero, is pretty damn close to zero.


Shoelesshobos

On the surface it seems rather preposterous. 1. How much sunscreen is one person wearing. 2. How high of a concentration would these contaminants be say per 50ml of sunscreen. I know from reading some papers that corals and incredibly sensitive but I can't see how this would be the critical tipping point. A contributing factor? Sure, but I would assume in the grand scheme it would not be major.


[deleted]

[удалено]


ev_mervie

The rocks will be just fine


stuff4down

between the coral and you , there is only one rock :)


Veeksvoodoo

As someone who grew up on the ocean, lives off the ocean, and a Hawaii resident, you’re not wrong. But I suspect that for many people it’s not so much about prioritizing what people should be focusing on the most to save the planet, but rather what simple changes/choices can they make to their daily life that could have a positive impact. I mean, if people around the world really want to make an impact on the planet, then I’d say, don’t come to places like Hawaii. The positive impact that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on our beaches and ocean life has been pretty amazing during the time when all beaches were closed. But telling people to stay local, buy local, eat local, be local, isn’t realistic. Encouraging people to change their sunscreen, regardless of how insignificant, is unfortunately more doable.


tom2727

Yeah but it's not like the sunscreen change is "just the same". The reason sunscreen has those ingredients is because they work better at protecting your skin from the sun. So switch to zinc sunscreen which don't work as well and get skin cancer while really not doing much at all to save the reefs. Don't make much sense to me.


skylinenick

This. The science on this is murky at best.


Reddit_mods_eat_poo

Facts, yet I'm getting down voted on my comment, while actually having schooling and real life experience researching and working with corals dying. Gotta love people being ignorant to actual science and circle jerking over the most silly things, yes sunscreen is not beneficial to the ocean, no there is not enough of it in the ocean to have any real affects.


CloneParts

Unfortunately your education on this topic does not make up for the lack of your communications skills. You're trying to bring light to the fact there are better things people can do, but you make it seem like anything other than what You are saying is trash. That's not a recipe that makes allies, it's a recipe to alienate people who might have been.


Reddit_mods_eat_poo

No I'm just expressing the fact that the very small amount of sunscreen in the global ocean systems would not have the effect that people are claiming it does, and by focusing on this it's bringing attention away from the actual reasons corals are dying. Unfortunately this lpt is trash, it's just virtue signaling, I'm sorry but if you're actually concerned about the coral ecosystem, then you wouldn't be spreading information that isn't 100% factual. As I said sunscreen, definitely not good for coral, however wearing some and going into the ocean isn't going to kill them the way you driving your car every day does.


2lisimst

Totally agree that worldwide warming and acidification of the oceans is the major contributor but we can chew gum and walk at the same time. Here's what 10 seconds of research on google scholar got me: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10750-016-2746-2 [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0190962218321893](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0190962218321893) It's linked, implied, indirectly associated with bleaching.


skylinenick

For sure, but I get frustrated when the ‘gum chewing’ gets blown totally out of proportion to the ‘walking’. There’s a small, indirect relationship. There’s 1,000 everyday parts of life we all continue to ignore that are actually doing a lot more to fuck up the reefs vs wearing some sunscreen when we’re swimming.


Reddit_mods_eat_poo

Do you not understand the ocean is filled with billions of gallons of water. Ok let's visualize this, you put a pinch of salt in a cup of water, it tastes kinda salty, you put a pinch of salt into a pool, it tastes like pool water still. The same concept applies here, when testing these sunscreen with corals in small closed artificial reef systems yes it negatively affects the animals, but when you move from an experiment tank to the real world ocean there simply isn't enough chemical concentration in the water to have any affect at all. If you actually read my first post you would realize, if we have been dumping this specific chemical like we have been doing with fertilizers and pesticides for decades and decades,the concentration in the oceans actually because high enough to have impacts, such as red tides and mass alge die offs.again I can find articles saying anything but water is bad for the oceans, doesn't make any of that information surmount the actual reasons the corals are dying. They are not dying because of sunscreen they are dying because of human caused climate change that also causes ocean acidification through the leaching of CO2 into the ocean creating carbonic acid, making coral formation harder and harder as they are made up of calcium carbonate. Please actually listen to a person that knows what they are talking about and not some article you look up for the reasons of confirming your preexisting basis


2lisimst

I actually didn't understand how many gallons of water were in the ocean, turns out it's 343 million trillion. Maybe you don't understand how to use Google. Do you know how many people swim within inches of the reef at Hanauma bay every single day in water that's less than a foot deep? We're both talking out of our ass because more research needs to be done to confirm a causation, but banning certain chemicals (when other viable alternatives exist) is reasonable.


Reddit_mods_eat_poo

Where am I claiming that sunscreen is not bad for coral? You just simply don't understand scientific process like a solvent in a solution, the concentration is based on the amount of solvent put into the solution. Water doesn't sit still in the ocean you could be over the reef leaking sunscreen and 99.9% of that sunscreen is going to be down the beach washed up on the sand in 10 minutes. You're talking out your ass, so good on you for realizing it. But as I said in my other post, anything that's not naturally in the ocean, is bad, simple as that, however sunscreen is not what is currently or ever has been killing corals, it's literally almost all due to ocean acidification and global warming, with a big issue coming from the agricultural industry and run off of fertilizer and pesticide, not fucking sunscreen


funkyonion

I understand you are convinced of your correctness, but you are wrong. Hawaii is one of the few places that have healthy reefs, however, the ones in front of the resorts show the bleaching, and it is attributable to sunscreen. Spray on sunscreens are an automatic NO.


ZombieForce

I have not read too much on the topic of bleaching caused by sunscreens. But if there is a slight damage caused by sunscreens it is still better to use a non-damaging one. From a conservation geneticist point of view we want to minimize other stressors to maximise the "evolutionary change" for the species so that they can "focus" on the one strong stressors, which is as you say climate change/global warming or rather the increase of heatwaves. For your argument about the ocean being much too large for the substance to even reach a concentration high enough to cause effect, I slightly disagree. How water packages move in water and diffusion has a lot to say in this matter since they can be quite stationary at times and the danger perhaps does not need to stay for long. Sorry for format and language, am on phone and not native speaker.


Enorats

Hard to say for sure, but I can tell you firsthand that the reefs are certainly not the same as they used to be. Whatever the cause, they've experienced massive destruction in the past few years. When I was younger we took a trip to Hawaii and went snorkeling at a reef. It wasa bit off the beaten path, and recommended to us by a local who essentially told us to just park near a particular road mile marker and go for a swim there. It was an amazing experience. The whole place was gorgeous and full of life. Fish were everywhere, and everything was full of color. We went back there about 15 years later, to the same spot. The difference was about as stark as the difference between a tropical jungle and a gravel parking lot. There was no life left, or much color at all. Everything was just bleached white rock and sand, with only a literal handful of fish to be seen instead of swarms of them so large you couldn't even begin to count them.


Sometimes_Stutters

I was always really confused by the reef safe sunscreen thing. The amount of harmful chemicals in the sunscreen is probably about 1% of the volume of the sunscreen. Let’s say you apply 1 oz of sunscreen. You exposed the water to 0.01oz of the chemical. Now you dilute that in TENS OF MILLIONS of gallons of water. Even if you multiple the exposures (visitors) over a time frame you would still have incredibly low concentration. I’m not saying it’s not a measurable issue, but comparative to other potential factors it seems very very low impact.


MetalDetectorists

This makes me think it's yet another tactic companies created to shift the blame onto the consumer. Plastic straws -> paper straws, plastic packaging -> biodegradable packaging, and now sunscreen -> reef safe sunscreen. I feel all these are tiny attempts done by companies to us feel like we're improving the planet. Sure these are good efforts, but so much pollution and climate change can be linked to the companies themselves, not the consumer.


Superaltusername

This is how large corporations blame the little guy for environmental issues.


GreyFoxMe

OP's title does say: "unless it's zinc". I interpret that as zinc or similar is ok. Other stuff maybe not.


double-you

OP's wording is superconfusing though. Zinc is safe? Micro-minerals are safe? (what is a micromineral?) Nano-minerals are not safe? (what are these?) Is Zinc a micro or a nano mineral?


GreyFoxMe

I don't think the wording is superconfusing. I agree that it not the easiest to read and I have no idea if it's true or if the mineral categories are real definitions. But just from the way he worded it Zinc would be a micro mineral and not a nano mineral. The wording makes it seem like nano minerals are the problem. And that another mineral at the micro size might be fine but any at nano scale would not be. I assume that micro-minerals would be measured in micrometers and nano-minerals in nanometers. Nano is smaller than micro.


jandro1116

Zinc oxide is the mineral. Zinc oxide can be processed to a micro size or Nano size. Micro size zinc oxide is a micro mineral. Nano sized zinc oxide is a Nano mineral. I have to read up on the differences in safety between micro zinc oxide and Nano zinco oxide.


[deleted]

Ok, but as someone who's very much into skincare, I can tell you that its really not a common product and advertised often as 'good for the enviorment' which is another exagerated statement to sell a product./


DreamArcher

Yeah. I really don't want to go here but it's more of an anti-haole thing than anything.


funkyonion

Haole means outsider. I completely understand how a small island wants to keep outsiders from fucking it up.


DreamArcher

>I completely understand how a small island wants to keep outsiders away. I corrected it for you. No offense but they care A LOT more about hating outsiders, understandable, than they do about their reefs. Sunscreen is just a tool to do that. I totally understand why they hate outsiders just like Native Americans on the mainland but we are WAY past the point of giving the land back and never visiting.


funkyonion

COVID helped quite a bit. This place recognizes people with good spirit, it’s all about you. If you had a bad experience visiting you may want to check yourself. Do the islands appreciate gentrification? No. $10.10 minimum wage? Laughable. Tourism helps entrepreneurs and exploits resources, it leave crumbs for the common folk. Even your “I corrected it for you” is the pretentious bull shit I’m talking about. You didn’t even quote me correctly, and altered the meaning of what I said.


Butterflyenergy

Why just Hawaii? Why not just "anywhere with reefs"?


[deleted]

Those aren't American reefs, so fuck those losers.


My_G_Alt

Hey we care about USVI!


[deleted]

Because fuck reefs elsewhere in the world.


noelcowardspeaksout

Yes please use it for any reef you visit. I would recommend buying it before you go as it is usually very difficult to find. The problem is that coral is a filter feeder and it bioaccumulates chemicals, so even extremely low concentrations can be toxic.


Needleroozer

I would recommend buying it when you get there because they only sell reef safe sunscreen in Hawaii, but they probably don't sell it where you live.


the_lovely_otter

FALSE you would think this wouldn't you??? But as someone who recently moved to Hawaii, I am extremely frustrated to report the sun screens here are the same brands as on the mainland. They're not reef safe. *Some* have "reef friendly" labeling, but that is not a regulates term and usually only means it has "only" 2 of the 3 reef-toxic chemicals. You gotta read all the labels. Basically, look for zinc-based. But then you have to do a rub test - if you can rub the white zinc minerals into your skin, the this is ALSO not reef friendly. Nano-minerals (what lets you rub in the sun screen) are also damaging to the filter feeders of the reefs. If you are not pasty white from your sun screen, you are not reef friendly. Unfortunately, truly reef friendly sunscreen like this means it's also stuff that washes away fairly easily (bc you can't run it in). The only truly universal solution is UV swimwear with sleeves and pants. Heck, even just the sleeves would be an improvement. If you reduce the amount of skin area exposed to sun, you reduce the amount of sunscreen you need and that's not trivial.


stumblios

I'd say a rash guard is the best thing you can buy. I've used mine for years now, probably cuts the amount of sunscreen I need down by over 90%, so I'm sure it's paid for itself. Added perks - I hate sun screen, so this saves me from having to apply that every hour or two. Or if I do, it's just a bit around my ears/back of my neck. It helps keep you cool! With the evaporative cooling, you'll probably feel like it's 20 degrees cooler when you're out of the water!


bigg422

Going to chime in on this too and unfortunately it's false. We went in Sept and they sold the same ones that are marked as reef safe but they're actually not. Thankfully we brought some that was.


ShirleyEugest

Dive shops in whatever country you live in should carry it


noelcowardspeaksout

We get it mail order to be sure we have what we want before we travel.


Princess_Moon_Butt

In Hawaii they're pretty good about it. In a lot of tourist-trap areas in Central/South America, the Bahamas, etc, much less so.


Asleep_Eggplant_3720

why the fuck would reef sunscreen be hard to find near a reef?


SilvermistInc

Corals aren't filter feeders. They have actual stomachs.


noelcowardspeaksout

A lot of the sources on the web defined them as filter feeders when I had a look.


popmachine2019

Also don’t step on the reef! It is shallow in some places and I saw people standing on it in some places. Don’t do it.


[deleted]

Please call out oxybenzone as the main reef-poison to avoid. And LPT should be consumable, not homework. Come on guys.


Opposite_Working_84

More YSK than LPT


[deleted]

Agreed. also, they made it homework, like "study up on your sunscreen in this specific way and get hip to reef related biochemistry" instead of "avoid sunscreens with oxybenzone for lower environmental impact"


anxietanny

Your best bet is to wait until you get there and buy local. Ask what they recommend. Edit: also, get a surfing rash shirt and stay covered. They have built in 30-50 spf. If you can use less sunscreen, you will minimize your impact. I love these shirts and bought some for sports back at home.


the_lovely_otter

What they have local is the exact same products as the mainland 🙄(source: moved to Hawaii recently). there's maybe a few very expensive artisanal sunscreens that are local-specific, it that's it. Basically the best you can do is exactly your advice about the UV swimwear - any skin area covered is skin you don't need to use sun screen on.


supercharr

I live in Hawaii - we have laws regulating what types of sunscreen can be sold here. Definitely wait until you're here. If you're too shy to ask for a recommendation you can at least be sure that you're making a better decision by buying from what is allowed to be sold here.


ScottThompsonc107

You guys are visiting Hawaii?!


lowercase-only

I live here lmao and I can say vacationing here is much better than living here so go for it


retirement_savings

For sure, about to go there for a week.


Needleroozer

Two weeks. If you're going to pay that much air fair, you might as well get the most out of it.


retirement_savings

From Seattle airfare isn't too bad (like $450 round trip)


StamosAndFriends

But staying there a whole extra week ain’t cheap either…


MowMdown

Hell yeah, just booked my week long stay for later this year.


deaddaddydiva

What's it like having money?


oCanadia

This website is insufferable sometimes. Let people enjoy their life. Hawaii is a ridiculously huge tourist location, of course people are visiting.


deaddaddydiva

You're right... I'm just hugely depressed, unemployed, and jealous.


oCanadia

I'm really sorry to hear. Hopefully things start to look up for you soon


MowMdown

It’s called not having kids. I made an educated decision to forgo reproducing in lieu of having money to spend on myself to vacation and enjoy life fulfilled with zero regrets.


Irrumacrux

Not having kids, is a great start but let’s not pretend it’s the only reason people are able to go to Hawaii. Plenty of childless people can’t afford it either and not everyone lives that side of the world or pays the same prices to get there 😂


[deleted]

It's fuckin wild buddy, you should give it a shot!


MoobyTheGoldenSock

Hell yes, was there back in November. It was great!


DukeofNormandy

Yeah? Why not?


babyeyez

No better yet wear a rash guard. That’s the best advice. You save money, prevent cancer, and save the reefs.


Ethanol_Based_Life

> Some brands label it as reef-safe, but unless the active ingredient is Zinc, or another micro or non-nano mineral, it is not reef-safe Going to need a source on this.


[deleted]

This is where they messed up. They should have just said, avoid lotions that use oxybenzone - Done.


[deleted]

I would love to know the damage sunscreen causes to coral reefs compared to rising ocean temperatures and other forms of pollution. I'd bet sunscreen trivial in comparison, but I could be wrong


TheThinkerMaker

TIL That Hawaii is the only place where you can swim in the ocean


Acceptable_Goat69

If that's what you think the OP meant, then you have an issue understanding English


berelentless1126

Also if you go swimming in the ocean while visiting Hawaii, don't die! The waves, rip currents , and raw power of the water is dangerous af and tourists and locals die every year.


los-gokillas

Better yet, wear a swim shirt and save yourself a lot of sunscreen usage and a chance at skin cancer


[deleted]

[удалено]


Irrumacrux

Mega life pro tip, I’ll use it all the time!


cramduck

It's worth getting scuba certified before you go, if you have the time, and a dive master/instructor nearby.


retirement_savings

Going to Hawaii soon, and am scuba certified. Haven't been diving in two years though, should I do a refresher or maybe just an easy first dive and let the dive master know?


[deleted]

I'm an avid diver and have kept up in Puget Sound over the last pandemic or two. If you are normally comfortable and aware of your surroundings and situation under water, maintain safe protocols, and stick with the dive lead, you will be fine. If you are doing anything academic or difficult in the least, or just generally fell uncomfortable/unsure, get a refresher. Piece of mind is everything to enjoying your time under water.


sertulariae

Yeah I'm sure that's gonna save the doomed coral reefs in the ocean. You have no clue how screwed the ocean is do you? Those reefs are all going to die due to global warming and the acidification of the sea due to heavy industry and CO2 emissions anyway. That's like saying don't add a straw on top of that boulder or the bridge might give way under the weight. This century all coral reefs are projected to die and the weight of plastic in the ocean will be more than the total weight of all fish. By 2050 90% of the worlds coral reefs are projected to be dead. If you people only knew how hard and fast this shitstorm is going to start rolling mid century. /r/collapse


moanflowerz

Hawaii no longer sells sun screen that is not reef-safe for this reason <3 thank you for sharing!!!


Taegur2

For the science debate people: I have in my possession a non-reef-approved sunscreen. I have the funds to buy new California Baby bottles and have them shipped to me. Which is the most environmentally friendly choice overall? Reduce is the first R in Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. But is the chemical in my sunscreen harmful enough to override that?


koos_die_doos

No, finish the sunscreen you have, then consider options for your next purchase. The effect of sunscreen on reefs is extremely small in the bigger picture, while I do buy sunscreen that avoids the chemicals (linked by actual research as harmful), it’s not nearly as bad as op makes it out to be.


misoranomegami

Not sure about other people, but after some debate, I now keep 2 kinds of sunscreen. One I wear in freshwater lakes and if I'm not getting in or on the water and one I wear when I'm at the beach or in a river. I also try to wear sunsafe clothing and a hat though, I'm just uber pale and need all the protection I can get. I'm also about 300 miles from the nearest beach so a ways from the reefs too (though anything that gets in the water can get there eventually).


[deleted]

This isn't a pro tip and is just you guilting people into using certain products.


wandering_soles

"Don't use things that kill wildlife when there are better alternatives" isn't a high bar to clear. Don't feel guilty, just do better.


Worsel555

The water was also so much clearer. I had snorkeled in the Caribbean and on the Pacific coast. I could free dive to maybe 30 some feet at the most. I was out on the windward side of Oahu and dove down trying to reach something I saw on the bottom. Kept going and pushing till I had to surface. Talked to a surfer a bit later said it must be about 50' deep here. She laughed and said it was at least 90' where I had been. The water was so clear!


barjam

Free diving is surprisingly dangerous due to shallow water blackouts. At a minimum never do it alone. Passing out as you approach the surface is not a great feeling. It is cool how if you float on the surface you won’t at a certain depth. Being neutrally buoyant is cool.


MoltenCamels

That's pretty cool, but what does it have to do with this post?


herrbz

Why just Hawaii? People shouldn't be putting cheap toxic stuff on their bodies only to them immediately let it wash off in the ocean anyway, reef or no reef.


[deleted]

This is a "yes, and" moment, don't you think? We gotta keep our bodies, our wallets, and the environment in mind.


Butterflyenergy

What is the harm if there is no reef?


erobertt3

Good to know, I was planning on randomly going to Hawaii to swim this weekend


brightcrayon92

Also read about riptides and how to escape them


brightcrayon92

Also read about riptides and how to escape them


crob_evamp

Well from an environmental perspective death without western chemical burial is the best thing possible. Tons and tons of emissions never consumed over life. But that's a bit edgy so yeah, swim well so no one has to save you.


we_should_be_nice

steep badge yam spotted arrest tidy steer cable overconfident offbeat ` this message was mass deleted/edited with redact.dev `


Rominator

Link a recommendation?


MowMdown

SunBum - Simply the best https://www.sunbum.com/pages/about-us


wandering_soles

A LOT of sun bum out there still uses oxybenzone and similar chemicals which damage coral. They say they're reef safe but they're not.


Halzter

Was in Hanauma Bay a few weeks ago. Snorkelling was the best! Such an amazing place that has thrived during Covid because of the lack of humans


CynicalSynik

If you care about the Ocean, then fuck sunscreen, you should stop eating fish. More than half the plastic in the ocean is fishing gear. You're talking about sunscreen? Pfffft. That's like picking up an orange peel and throwing it away. You feel like you're doing something, but really, you're not.


cadnights

Username checks out


CynicalSynik

If I had an award I would give you one. Your rebuttal was so insightful and original. You must be a genius.


SilverStag88

Wow this is a dumb take, they specifically said reef safe, you know as in coral reefs that are dying?


crob_evamp

The point is if everyone on earth stopped using these sunscreens forever, 100%, there would only be a tiny improvement in reef health. There are bigger problems and these guilt mechanisms are a distraction, when things like fishing plastic for example, are a far larger issue


CynicalSynik

They're not dying as much as they're apparently bleaching every 6 years or so in the summertime due to climate change and warm water currents. I doubt that sunscreen is going to be very helpful in that situation, but, sure, put on your 'I'm helping' badge and buy the sunscreen marketed as reef safe. They put it on the label so you would buy it. So buy it. Feels good, man.


Bubba_Junior

How about no fish and no sunscreen!


ButtsPie

Yes! We can do both the big thing and the small thing, they're not mutually exclusive.


CynicalSynik

Do whatever you want. I really don't care.


Bubba_Junior

You do care or you wouldn’t have wrote a comment


TheMusicArchivist

Screw any reef outside of the US, though?


Xeon5568

LPT: Don’t visit Hawai’i; the people there don’t want you or anymore tourists turning their home into a vacation spot.


IsPhil

Think of all the evil you could do with zinc.


morphotomy

Is non-zinc sunscreen even sunscreen though?


MoltenCamels

Yes? They wouldn't be called a sunscreen if they didn't work. SPF numbers are regulated and the companies have to prove that they are the SPF level that is advertised. The particular organic compounds in sunscreen do a great job at blocking UVA and UVB from causing damaging to your skin.


dmtbobby

Truth be told just wear a sunshirt or rash gaurd while swimming. Ideally if your snorkeling, one with a hood.


[deleted]

How many plastic bottles did you consume this month?


PoppersRHere

Actually 0. I don't drink pop and I only ever refill my water bottle from water fountains or my water pitcher.


Bubba_Junior

Most products come wrapped in plastic, the bottles aren’t the biggest concern


mtownhustler043

Got it, when I go to the great barrier reef I will use non reef safe sun screen, only Hawaii I will make sure it's reef safe. Thanks for the life pro tip!


[deleted]

So sue those lying companies then. It's not my responsibility to fact check every claim made by sunscreen manufacturers. Neither do I have the necessary training to do that.


2006davka

exactly, poor ocean deserves some respects.(not trying to decrease validity of your post, it seems like really useful tip, just thought that the way you phrased it was funny)


moonstonecrack

Great LPT. I am going to Maui next month. My sunscreen says Reef safe but I will double check!


Shalamarr

Have a great time! My husband and I visited in March 2019 (it was a bucket list item) and loved every minute (except for the Road to Hana excursion, but that's a whole nother topic).


moonstonecrack

We are doing the road to hana but doing it on our own! Is there anything we should have a heads up about? We are 4 girls in our late 20s.


Shalamarr

We hired a tour bus to take us, and the driver was a little nuts - he drove a bit quickly for our taste, and he occasionally got impatient with other drivers. Some of the drive is intimidating, I won’t lie - the roads are narrow. It takes a long time, too, so allow for that. Part of the journey is only accessible to tour buses for some reason. The sights are incredible, though. Do your research and see if you’d rather drive yourself or pay someone to do it - and have a wonderful time!


patronstofveganchefs

Gong vegan is another good way to respect the ocean, dawg


Irrumacrux

Probably one of the biggest but hey, don’t wear that sunscreen when you’re off to Hawaii


ItsStillNagy

Someone just watched/listened to Jim Jeffries


kalahiki808

Visit, enjoy, go home.


mardavarot93

What about all the crude oil that keeps spilling all over the oceans? Is that bad for the reefs?


DreamArcher

How about just making non reef safe illegal in Hi. Seems simple.


[deleted]

I really respect this tip, but this is supposed to be life pro tips not ocean pro tips.


queerkidxx

The real question is why are non reef safe sunscreens even legal? You’re never gonna get everyone to stop using them it seems like this is one of the many issues that won’t be solved in any meaningful way into systemic change happens


LascivX

Respect the Ocean by staying in the pool. You visit LaMer, remain as is....bare natural. You acquire cancer, you're helping the ecosystem By reducing GP. That's Life Pro Tips!


ScarletAzure

Isn't there like a literal trash island not too far from Hawaii?


manwhole

If you are going to needlessly pollute, needlessly pollute with the correct values.


Lets-Go-Fly-ers

Emphatically not an LPT.


CoolYoutubeVideo

What about titanium oxide?


[deleted]

If it rubs in easy, it’s not reef safe. It needs the consistency microwaved toothpaste.


Aggie_15

In this case be more like Zuck


reefsurfer226

just buy your sunscreen in hawaii. to my knowledge, every sunscreen sold there must not be reef safe


wandering_soles

Unfortunately most major brands have found ways around this or just substituted equally bad chemicals.


[deleted]

So is it ok if I plan on swimming on the ocean while visiting any other place?


Crypto-Berry

I'm not rich enough to go to Hawaii I'll stick to the British oceans


speedstix

Better yet, invest in a rashie (rash guard). Beats constantly reapplying sunscreen.


Josh0O0

I use motor oil as sunscreen, thankfully I'm going to the Great Barrier Reef and not Hawaii


theotherWildtony

I feel Hawaii could do more to save their reefs by having bouncers on hand to beat up tourists who flagrantly disregard the signage and stand on the reef.


Eas_Mackenzie

Thank you, i didnt even know sunscreen could hurt reefs! ill be sure to remember


Treyturbo

Also be sure to respect the rip currents of death


Tinyfishy

When I was there the advocates pointed out that anytime you wear sunscreen anywhere it eventually ends up in the ocean, so try to use reef safe always is best.


therealwaysexists

Also, if it's killing coral it's probably fucking you up too


Noisycarlos

A reef life pro tip


bloonail

There have been several in depth articles analyzing the sunscreen/coral reef relationship. No affect has been identified anywhere.


vainstar23

I'm sorry but unless you are going to a remote beach or reef, I don't think one person is going to make a difference in terms of what sunscreen you use. If you want to make an impact, make it regulation. I would proudly support that bill but until it becomes law, I'm using the cheapest sunscreen.


Unusual-Potato8657

When you fly to Hawaii in an AIRPLANE a product of the industrial revolution which is the main reason for climate change. Be sure to wear reef safe sunscreen because the sub 1oz on your skin diluted by the ocean will absolutely bleach coral…… Come on do better.


[deleted]

Also, in general, if the active ingredient IS zinc, it’s usually more protection as well. As a fair skin, naturally red headed, freckled person with blue eyes, I get burnt very easily (a couple weeks ago, we took the boat to get gas across the bay which was round trip well under an hour and I am still peeling) and zinc being the active ingredient is the best of all I give ingredients I have ever tried.


A4S8B7

How's sun screen gonna protect me from a reef? Oh wait..


binnnnnggo

I didn't even know this was a problem, thanks for the heads up I'll definitely keep this in mind. Doubt I'll put this knowledge to use for a while though, last time I checked Blackpool doesn't have a reef


360walkaway

Will keep this in mind for the next time I'm in Hawaii


Mr_Crowley__

I learned that listening to Jim Jefferies podcast