Diving and Coral Reefs
Many people come to Culebra to go diving or snorkeling and both activities are really great ways to enjoy and experience the ocean and all of its creatures. Recently, a former colleague of mine told me about a person who was caught at San Juan International Airport trying to smuggle live coral and a live conch from the British Virgin Islands back to Colorado in his luggage. While I don’t think anyone visiting Culebra would want to smuggle out live coral there are some things we can do to help conserve and preserve the coral reefs and not inflict further damage.
The following is a list that I got off of the Association of Reef Keepers website that all divers and snorkellers should adhere to:
Touch Nothing - the slightest touch with hands, fins, or equipment can irreparably damage coral polyps.
Remain Horizontal - Snorkeling or diving on shallow reefs can easily inflict damage to the coral and cause personal injury.
Look, Enjoy, and Leave - Take nothing dead or alive from the reef.
Feeding the Fish - Feeding the fish can make them aggressive and dangerous and it may also introduce disease.
Taking Photos - do not brace yourself on the coral to take a photo.
Diving Equipment - adjust your buoyancy, know where your fins are, and secure all dangling gauges, consoles, and octopus regulators.
If you would like further information on coral reefs and their health http://www.ncl.ac.uk/tcmweb/tcm/crlinks.htm has a very comprehensive list of reference websites. For Culebra specific coral information please visit and support Coralations.
