Reef-friendly sun protection for the Maldives

The Maldives is well known as one of the world’s top scuba diving and snorkelling destinations – the coral reefs and abundance of marine life make a trip to this destination unforgettable. The coral reef is an incredible, yet fragile, environment and we want to do all we can protect it and you can help by choosing reef-safe sunscreen.

When packing for a holiday in the sunny tropics, one of the first items on the list is usually sunscreen to protect against the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays but chemicals within many of these products are harmful to coral reefs and marine life. Lotions applied to the skin don’t stay there when you are in the ocean, even if they are ‘water-resistant’, they wash off and any remaining particles will be rinsed off in the shower, ultimately finding their way into the water. Once in the ocean, the chemicals build up in corals, contributing to bleaching, damaging DNA and ultimately kill the organism. Fish and dolphins are amongst other species at risk of harm from a build-up of harmful chemicals in the ocean too.

Techniblock’s Active Performance and Wet & Dry sun protection range is free from Oxybenzone and Octinoxate, 2 chemicals known to be harmful to marine life. It is also preservative, oil and fragrance-free and, although it is an aerosol spray, it’s free from CFCs (chlorofluoro- carbons) or freons which rise into the atmosphere and deplete the ozone layer that protects the Earth from the Sun's ultraviolet radiation.

The chemicals known to be harmful to marine life include: Oxybenzone, Benzophenone-1, Benzophenone-8, OD-PABA, 4-Methylbenzylidene camphor, 3-Benzylidene camphor, nano-Titanium dioxide, nano-Zinc oxide.

Sunscreen is very important, especially in hot climates such as The Maldives; Techniblock’s reef-friendly formula is also Vegan and cruelty-free, making it as kind to our environment as it is to our skin.  This lightweight, non-greasy and quick drying sunscreen offers high, long-lasting protection, suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin prone to prickly heat rash.