“By being aware of the choices you make on things like reef safe sunscreen and avoiding single use plastics such as drinking straws and plastic bags, you can make a huge difference to a small community”.

Scientists have been raising concerns about the impacts of sunscreen products on marine life for many years. They are particularly worried over the role of two ingredients called oxybenzone and octinoxate. These are used as sun protection factors as they absorb ultraviolet light.

However, they are now believed to make coral more susceptible to bleaching. Research published in 2015 showed that the oxybenzone could stunt the growth of baby corals and was toxic to several different coral species in laboratory tests.

Being aware of the marine and coastal environment is only too real for Mica Koll and Jonathan Crossan founders of surfwear brand Mariner Surf Co. Founded in 2016, the company aims to conserve and preserve the natural environment of the Cayman Islands for all to enjoy.

Knowing that most brands do not focus specifically on giving back to the community, Mica and Jonathan set out to design limited edition caps and t-shirts featuring local images from local photographers. The breathable, lightweight, fast-drying caps are designed to look just as good on the beach as they do on the street. And with a portion of every sale going towards marine conservation efforts, Mariner Surf Co. has become the preferred cap of local surfers and beach lovers.

“We want to raise awareness of how precious the marine environment is” says Mica. “Especially here in the Cayman Islands, our home, where we have thousands of people visit every year to enjoy the pristine beaches and crystal clear waters”. Every few months Mica and Jonathan organise conservation events from beach clean ups, kids surf competitions, animal conservation signs and fundraisers.

“Giving back to the environment is easy” says Jonathan. “By being aware of the choices you make on things like reef safe sunscreen and avoiding single use plastics such as drinking straws and plastic bags makes a huge difference”.

Mariner Surf Co. caps are available online at www.thebeach.com/shop and a full range of reef safe sunscreen can be found in store at Kirk Supermarket.