Coral reefs are increasingly popular destinations for UK holidaymakers, with their warm waters and teeming marine life, reef tourism is growing fast. To help protect these precious habitats please follow the MCS Coral Code.

Planning your holiday
... making choices

• When you book your holiday, try to choose a destination where active reef management is in place - such as a marine park.
• Ask your tour operator if they have an environmental policy. Enquire if - and how - they support reef conservation.
• Find out if the tour operators explain the do’s and don’ts to people before they visit the reef. It has been shown that a short briefing can dramatically cut the amount of damage caused by divers and snorkellers.
• Make sure you play your part too, not just underwater but on land. Try to minimise impact, for example by being sparing with freshwater, using biodegradable shampoos and disposing of litter in the correct way - even bringing it back home if necessary.

Looking for souvenirs

• Collection of souvenirs from the reef is prohibited in many areas - please respect all local and international laws.
• Hard corals, black corals, marine turtles, queen conch, and all their products are protected under CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) and can be bought and sold only with a licence.
• Resist the temptation to buy other marine curios. In most cases insufficient is known about the harvesting operations to be certain they are sustainable - take the safe route and buy alternative souvenirs.

Going paddling, snorkelling or diving

• Keep to designated walkways or sand channels when in shallow reef areas. Feet and fins can easily break and damage the reef top.
• Maintain perfect buoyancy control when diving so as to keep clear of the reef.
• Never stand, sit or rest on living corals. Despite having hard skeletons, part or all of the colony may die from infection if the delicate outer soft tissues are injured.
• If you need to steady yourself use finger tips on bare rock - leave your gloves behind.
• Avoid kicking up sand. It may settle on corals and other reef animals and suffocate them.
• Enjoy taking a close look at reef life, but don’t touch, move or disturb animals for amusement or photography.
• Be satisfied with nature as it is. Fish feeding may have a place in a few selected areas but generally is not encouraged. It disrupts natural behaviour and can upset the ecological balance of species on reefs.

Using a boat

• When visiting the reef, always use a mooring buoy, jetty or pontoon if one is provided. Urge boat operators and authorities to consider installing buoys at frequently visited sites.
• Never anchor on corals. They are easily broken or damaged by anchors and anchor chains.
• Reconnoitre carefully before stopping. Polaroid sunglasses make it easier to pick out seabed features. Find a sand or rubble patch and drop anchor carefully. Make sure the anchor is not dragging on to the reef.

The Marine Conservation Society Coral Code
Text copyright Marine Conservation Society