Planet Mermaid Blog
How to swim with a mermaid tail?
Finally got the mermaid tail you wanted? Well, now you will want to know the proper way to use it and be able to swim like a mermaid in no time! Follow our step by step guide below to become an expert in swimming with a mermaid tail. Monofin and Mermaid Tail Mermaid tails consist of two parts: Magic Monofin - a rigid fin that aids swimming and gives the tail its mermaid appearance. Wearing a monofin is similar to wearing socks that are easy to pull on and off when needed. Fabric tail skin - a lightweight swimwear piece that is worn over the monofin. It’s got a slit at the bottom for easy access to the monofin. Dolphin Kick Mermaids move gracefully in the water with a full-body wave motion. This movement is called the dolphin kick. Once it is mastered it will be fluid and you will glide through the water like a fish. Imagine the way a dolphin swims. Their tail fin pushes the water up and down. Humans swim by kicking their legs one at a time, but to kick like a dolphin you have to keep your feet together and have them kick in time with each other. The power of the kick comes from your legs, hips, and core. Before going full-on-mermaid, ensure you are prepared: Warm up your body and get used to the water Float on your back Float on your front and take breaths Dunk your head in and out of the water, taking plenty of breaths between swimming underwater Roll from front to back whilst relaxed and calm Tread on water for at least a minute Swim 25 metres If you cannot easily complete this warm up, then you may need to practice your basic swimming skills before attempting to swim like a mermaid. The dolphin kick requires a lot of power, and you need to be able to hold your breath underwater. If you feel nervous or panicked, concentrate on building up your confidence in the water before you do anything else. Work with a coach or parent to get your swimming skills to a level where you feel comfortable swimming on your own. Practice the dolphin kick style of swimming without the monofin to get comfortable with keeping your feet together: Float on your stomach and hold your body in a straight line Your body and head should be parallel to the bottom of the swimming pool. Your arms can be at your sides or stretched out in front of you.Your legs and feet should be kept together, with your feet pointed. Do not lock your knees. Press your chest into the water, then release Keep your core tight, holding your shoulders and arms still. Press your hips into the water at the same time you release your chest Your legs should follow the hips in that downward motion, knees slightly bent. Release your hips and again press your chest down Extend your knees as the hips release, letting the undulating motion flow through your legs Snap your feet The full motion should resemble a whip cracking, with your feet the tip of the whip. It should be fluid, never jerky. Imagine a wave or undulating motion passing through your body, from your hips to your toes. Repeat the sequence When you press your chest down, your hips are moving up. When you press your hips down, your chest is moving up. Your legs should follow the movement of your hips. Once you feel confident with the dolphin kick and have mastered it, you are ready for the fabric covered tail! Pop the tail on at the water’s edge and start swimming like a mermaid! Remember all of the useful tips above when swimming like a mermaid and take note of the safety points below. Mermaid Safety - For Parents & Mermaids/Merboys Our tails have a breathable fabric & an opening at the bottom that makes them safer in the water by not trapping any air. Ensure the Magic Fin socks are pulled up and the fit is correct. No jumping on land, stairs or other mermaids! If you need a "quick release" from the Magic Fin simply remove one foot from the sock and then the other. (A bit like taking your trainers off without using your hands). Practice the move in the water until you master it. Remember, practice makes perfect mermaids. Once you can do this and your fabric tail is on just wriggle out of your tail to become a human again. Do not drag or bash the Magic Fin/tail against the pool edges or base, excessive rubbing can cause damage. Your swimming speed will increase with the Magic Fin, so ensure that you understand the water space around you. Not sure about something? Here are some frequently asked questions to help you out! Quick release technique What does a mermaid tail consist of? Our mermaid tails consist of a fabric made mermaid tail, that you pull on just as you would do with trousers and a separate monofin. Tail can be bought with or without a monofin. Monofin is a rigid insert that aids swimming and also holds the shape of the tail. All our tails have openings at the bottom so that you could insert a monofin from the bottom. Tail fabric covers the monofin whilst swimming. Are Mermaid Tails suitable for Swimming and/or Cosplay? Yes, our Mermaid tails are made from swimwear fabric and designed for use in water. However, they can also be used at home for play. In both cases, care should be taken to ensure that the tail is not damaged through fabric rubbing on rough surfaces or hot waters, to be used in lukewarm waters to ensure colourfast properties. Failure to follow this is considered normal wear and tear, and not included in our money back guarantee What are the care instructions for a Mermaid Tail? We will include the care instructions with your purchase. Note that the Mermaid Tails are hand wash only. Care and respect of the tail is essential - Damage caused by rubbing against rough surfaces or walking are considered natural effects and not covered in the 30 day Warranty Why is the Mermaid Tail open at the bottom? This is to allow the Monofin to be inserted for Swimming and removed afterwards. Additionally, so the Monofin is accessible at all times for safety reasons What is a monofin and can I buy it separately? Monofin is a type of swim fin used in many water sports as a swimming aid. A single rigid flat surface is attached to the swimmer's feet to increase efficiency and speed. In the mermaid world, we love monofins for their mermaid-like appearance. You can buy monofin as a part of the mermaid tail set or separately. How far are the feet supposed to go into the Magic Monofin? The entire foot is supposed to go into the Monofin and the material is supposed to fit around the ankle like a sock. We want our mermaids to truly have the best adventure ever and get involved in swimming activities, staying healthy and fit by exercising and advancing their swimming techniques by taking part in mermaid mania that has truly captured our hearts, we love being part of your world and want you all to stay safe by ensuring your tail ready. Use this guide and stay safe. Very best mermaid kisses and starfish wishes!
National Fitness Day
Background Ever thought about trying a new form of exercise but thought you had not the time, enthusiasm or confidence to do so? Don’t worry you are not alone! National Fitness Day was first set up to encourage people to overcome these inner thoughts and celebrate getting fit and active with other like-minded people. Mermaid Swimming Bored of the same old types of exercise and want to try something that is not only fun but also offers a fantastic workout?.. Look no further than adult mermaid swimming! This excellent idea is the brainchild of Mermaid Wave Swim School who hold mermaid classes all around the country run by experienced mermaid swim instructors. Mermaid Wave saw a gap in the market which linked exercise that stimulates you but primarily and most importantly is fun, a must if you want to keep to your goals of being a healthier and fitter person! Health Benefits Studies show that most people know that exercising is very important but it can also be monotonous and boring and usually falls in the “will do later” list due to lack of time or unwillingness. It is however a very important fact that to enjoy the vitality of good health you must exercise. With this in mind choosing an exercise class that is not only different but fun and very good for your body surely is the answer to all your workout problems. It has been proven that if the mermaid classes are attended on a regular basis and healthy eating is implemented your body will start to become healthier and stronger and not only that your posture will also change due to the body positioning in the pool and core work. Your overall cardio will also improve over the weeks and you will notice a change in your posterior muscles….always a bonus! Mermaid Swimming Technique The key to Mermaid swimming is being graceful in the water and performing slow movements making the swimming look effortless. The tails restrict the swimmers leg movements giving the effect of no legs and as the fin is covered and the persons feet are hidden it gives the tail effect, which in turn makes the swimmer use a flutter kick known as a Butterfly leg kick. The motion of the butterfly kick is a very different process once you are a Mermaid. The costume gives you full support to complete the swimming style and the Magic Fin enables a greater speed, both together are the essence of mermaiding. Swimming with a Magic Fin helps with your overall body position and improves your technique in the water by creating extra buoyancy as you swim. Fin swimming is a new way of learning swimming techniques and co-ordination whilst at the same time improving your overall fitness. Celebrities have already dipped their toes into this fun craze including Geri Halliwell;Planet Mermaids very own celebrity ambassador, Myleen Klass and Britney Spears to name just a few. Mermaid Wave provides all the kit so no added expense is needed, all you need to do is turn up, have fun and transform into a mermaid! Given you an appetite to find out more? With centres all around the UK there is no excuse not to check us out. Visit www.mermaidwave.com or call us on 01234 352488. Remember it’s not just for adult’s children can have mermaid fun too! www.mermaidwave.com See you in the pool!!! Keep Mermaiding! @mermaidwave #mermaidwave #fitness2Me
National Merboy Day is back!
Due to the success of Planet Mermaids launch of National Merboy Day last year we are delighted to announce it is back! Merboys are often seen as the poor relation to their female counterpart the mermaid but Planet Mermaid is changing people’s perceptions and bringing them to the forefront. From its launch last year, Planet Mermaid has been continuously promoting merboys and sharks and is delighted to announce they are playing a big part in Planet Mermaids 2021 calendar which is now available to pre order - https://bit.ly/3brryJ6 To celebrate this day Help Planet Mermaid celebrate “National Merboy Day” by putting on an activity where you live. Why not have a social distance party with your friends and all dress up or celebrate at a water park or even just be in your own garden with a paddling pool…there are so many different ways to promote the true excellence that is to be a Merboy! Watch out mermaids our merboys are coming to get you! Please send through any photos of you capturing this special day our social media platforms, we would love to see them and share with fellow mermaid & merboy lovers! @PlanetMermaid #planetmermaid Visit www.planetmermaid.com to view our latest in amazing fabric mermaid tails for kids and adults, woman’s mermaid monofins, siren tails, mermaid and merboy leggings, mermaid tops, mermaid swimsuits, mermaid gifts and a whole lot more! Mermaid & Merboy love to you all Keep safe!
Top 10 Mermaid Toys for pools
Long, hot summer days are the perfect time to embrace the mermaid lifestyle and head to the beach, or if a beach is too far away, then the local swimming pool. Give your children some stimulation and a break away from screens with some fun mermaid pool toys. From inflatable mermaid floats to mermaid tails, we’ve rounded up the best mermaid pool toys for some warm-weather fun! 1. Mermaid 3D Inflatable Beach Ball£18, Amazon Mermaid 3D Inflatable Beach Ball CREDIT: AMAZON Make the sunny season one to remember with Sunnylife's Insta-famous games. Inflate the fun in the water with the Inflatable 3D Beach Ball which features a 3D mermaid tail icon within the beach ball! Buy Now 2. Mermaid Inflatable Volley Ball Game£40, Amara.com Mermaid Inflatable Volley Ball Game CREDIT: AMAZON Bring your best game this summer with this inflatable volleyball set. Use at the pool, in the garden, at the beach or at a picnic. Perfect for mermaids and humans alike. Buy Now 3. Disney Princess Spin and Swim Ariel Doll£18.49, Amazon Disney Princess Spin and Swim Ariel Doll CREDIT: AMAZON Princess of the waves, Ariel is ready for the water! Wind up the seashell on Ariel's back, place her in the water, and watch her friends Flounder and Sebastian float and spin around her for ultimate water-whirling adventures! Your little mermaid will have oceans of fun winding her up and watching them whirl! Buy Now 4. Enchanted Drops Mermaid Tail£87.49, Planetmermaid.com Enchanted Drops Mermaid Tail CREDIT: PLANET MERMAID Enchanted Drops mermaid tail is the most mysterious one from all Planet Mermaid tails. Its design was inspired by the clarity of rainwater drops and foggy secrets of the lake. Features their new reinforced Magic Fin monofin! Enjoy mermaiding with this beautiful creation of the underwater world. Buy Now 5. Mermaid Inflatable Ring Toss Game£4.99, partydelights.co.uk Mermaid Inflatable Ring Toss Game CREDIT: PARTY DELIGHTS Take your pool game to the next level and have some fun with the Mermaid Inflatable Ring Toss Game. Play with your fellow mermaids for a mermazing time! Buy Now 6. Bloopies Mermaid Luna Doll£12, Argos.co.uk Bloopies Mermaid Luna Doll CREDIT: ARGOS Meet the Bloopies Mermaids, your new mermaid friends! These beautiful mermaids just love playing in the bath or pool. They squirt water out of their mouth when you press their belly and they can even blow bubbles when you play with them in your bubble bath! Buy Now 7. Inflatable Giant Mermaid Tail Pool Toy£7.50, thetoyshop.com Inflatable Giant Mermaid Tail Pool Toy CREDIT: THE ENTERTAINER Ride around in the pool or sea on your very own giant ride-on mermaid tail. This Inflatable Giant Mermaid Tail Pool Toy is the perfect toy for endless summer fun. Super-easy to climb on and off of, this giant mermaid tail is the perfect way to cruise or float around on the water. 8. Sea Star Sinkers Pool Toy£15.10, Etsy.com Sea Star Sinkers Pool Toy CREDIT: ETSY Add a little mermaid magic into your next pool adventure with the new Sea Star Sinkers! These sink toys are unique because they are made from dragon skin silicone which is very flexible, soft, and durable. This rubber is also skin safe and it is what professional mermaids tails are made out of. The starfish sinkers can be used in freshwater, saltwater, and even chlorine pools! 9. Giant Pink Glitter Seashell Inflatable Pool Float£24.99, Amazon.co.uk Giant Pink Glitter Seashell Inflatable Pool Float CREDIT: AMAZON Make a statement in the pool this summer with this pink seashell island. It is perfect for mermaids relaxing whilst floating around the swimming pool. It is easy to inflate and deflate, making it the perfect statement pool float. Includes durable handles to keep yourself steady and 2 cup holders. Filled with pink and iridescent glitter for a luxurious pearlescent pink colour. Buy Now 10. Giant Mermaid Tail Pool Ring Float£9.99, Amazon.co.uk Giant Mermaid Tail Pool Ring Float CREDIT: AMAZON Giant Mermaid Tail Pool Float is a must for mermaids! At over 5 feet long, it's a big-time mermaid inflatable for a perfect day at the pool. Lounge, relax, read a book and sip your favourite soft drinks on this mermaid inflatable - feel like a mermaid in no time! Buy Now
National Beach Day
History National Beach Day, held on August 30th each year, celebrates all the sandy beaches our earth has to offer. National Beach Day was founded in 2014 by Pet & Family Lifestyle Expert, Conservationist, Author and Artist, Colleen Paige, who wanted to celebrate the place she spent most of her time as a child. On one of those special beach days she came across a baby Pelican who was starving to death because it had a fishing line wrapped around its wing and beak, after she rescued this bird she vowed to create a day that would help highlight the plight of ocean mammals and sea birds who have to live with rubbish left by humans on beaches. Meaning behind this day So apart from celebrating how amazing our beaches are and what they have to offer it should also encourage us to do our part and clean up after ourselves and others. It is a very disturbing fact that thousands of our ocean wildlife are killed or injured every minute of the day by our rubbish. This waste of innocent lives can be reduced just by picking up at least one piece of litter each time you visit the beach. By doing this it gives us a greater opportunity to help keep these relaxing places clean and give them the exposure they deserve so we can continue to enjoy all they have to offer for decades to come! Source: https://bit.ly/30lPWYx Source: Google Keeping Safe whilst enjoying #NationalBeachDay Source: Google When it comes to swimming at the beach make sure you observe the following advice: Swim with a lifeguard present and only in designated areas Never swim alone, always ask a friend to accompany you Watch for currents, moving water, and riptides. These occur in oceans, lakes, and rivers Swim within your depth. Don’t swim longer than you are physically capable of doing Take swimming lessons Learn CPR Source: https://bit.ly/2Pibij5 Beach Clean Ups Source: Google One fantastic activity very close to Planet Mermaids heart is a beach clean-up! With the summer holidays in full swing and the chance to visit the beach, why not make a difference and organise a local clean up or even just spend an hour or so during your trip picking up rubbish that has been washed to shore or left by fellow holiday makers. You never know if people see you doing such an amazing thing they may offer to help! Take lots of photos and share them on social media and use #NationalBeachDay along with @PlanetMermaid to promote your amazing work. Just remember… "The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever." -Jacques Cousteau Source: Google Visit www.planetmermaid.com to view our latest in amazing fabric mermaid tails for kids and adults, woman’s mermaid monofins, siren tails, mermaid leggings, mermaid tops, mermaid swimsuits, mermaid gifts and a whole lot more! Mermaid love to you all Keep safe! x
How to act like a mermaid at school
Do you dream of becoming a mermaid and swimming deep into the sea with the dolphins? Whilst that might only stay a dream, for now, there are a few things you can do to look and act like a mermaid in your everyday life, especially at school. Read on below to find out how to act like a mermaid at school and look your best whilst doing it. 1. Style Your Hair Accordingly If you have long hair, it is easier to look and act like a mermaid. Traditionally, mermaids have long flowing hair but if your hair doesn’t go past your shoulders then there are other hairstyles you can utilise. For those of you who are lucky enough to have long hair, braiding can be a great technique to look more mermaid-like as well as using hair glitter to make your hair shimmer. Opt for oceany colours such as blue and green. Any mermaid worth her sea salt knows to rock a beautiful hairstyle, that’s why fish plaits are at the top of the list to look more like a mermaid. There are some excellent tutorials available on how to style your own mermaid fish plaits if you are not familiar with them. Mermaid hair accessories give you another option to style yourself and act like a mermaid. From sea-themed hair bands to seashell clips and shimmery purple scrunchies - the possibilities are endless here! Mix and match your hair accessories to coordinate them with your mermaid outfits. Which brings us onto our next point of how to act like a mermaid at school. 2. Dress Like A Mermaid What does a mermaid’s closet consist of? Think of ocean colours, flowy skirts and seashell tops. Upgrade yourself to a mermaid look by investing in mermaid-themed tops and scalloped leggings which mimic a mermaid’s tail. Pair your mermaid leggings with a dark top bring out the colour of your mermaid leggings and focus the attention on them. Don’t forget the mermaid flip flops! Want to take your mermaid attire a step further? You can get mermaid swimming leggings which can be used in or out of the water! In the summer it is easier to wear flowy tops and scalloped skirts but in the winter when it gets cold, it is harder to keep this up. So focus on the colours in the winter and go for blue and green ocean colours. 3. Mermaid Behaviour In order to act like a mermaid at school, you need to think like a mermaid. Read up on mermaids and watch tv shows about mermaid to get tips on how to act like a mermaid. As a mermaid, you will no doubt be interested in marine life and protecting it. Join worthy causes and let your school mates know about these causes. Some tips include staying away from water at school in case you change into your mermaid tail and carrying seashells in your pocket. 4. Shimmer Like A Mermaid In addition to your mermaid-like clothing, if your school allows it, you can paint your nails a green or blue colour which also has a shimmer effect. Outside of school, you can also do your make-up to look more like a mermaid. Use shimmery sea green eyeshadow and highlighter for your face. And don’t just stop with the mermaid make-up, a real mermaid uses mermaid make-up brushes to apply her make-up. 5. Enhance Your Mermaid Look With Mermaid Accessories Mermaid Jewellery There are so many different types of mermaid jewellery out there so pick the ones that take your fancy. These can include seashell bracelets, seahorse necklaces and dolphin ankle bracelets which all help to bring out your inner mermaid. Mermaid jewellery - bracelets, necklaces with seashells, dolphins, seahorses on them all accentuate the mermaid look and you will be able to act like a mermaid much better at school. Mermaid School Accessories In order to act like a mermaid at school, it is essential to have accessories such as a scalloped school backpack and a mermaid-themed lunch bag. These items will accentuate the mermaid look and you will be able to act like a mermaid much better at school. Mermaid Stationery You’ve got the mermaid outfit, the make-up and jewellery. Now you need some nifty mermaid stationery to really stand out and act like a mermaid at school. Opt for mermaid pencils, pens and a mermaid shaped pencil case. When choosing your exercises books, look out for mermaid designs on the front. Want to fully embrace the mermaid lifestyle? Extend it to the pool and your home too. How to act like a mermaid in the pool It couldn’t be easier to act like a mermaid in the pool, after all, water is second nature to mermaids. You can get swimming costumes that come in oceany, shimmery colours and a scale effect to match the patterns on mermaid’s tails. Want to fully immerse yourself in a mermaid world? You can now with mermaid tails! These mermaid tail swimming costumes look just like a real mermaid’s tail - perfect for swimming in or hanging around by the poolside. How to act like a mermaid at home Create a mermaid’s paradise in your bedroom with mermaid decorations. Opt for shimmery blue sequined cushions, mermaid paintings, mermaid wallpaper. You can also get a mermaid duvet cover and decorate the walls with mermaid fairy lights. Continue your mermaid theme into the bathroom with seashell-shaped soap dishes and under the sea shower curtains to make you feel like you are in the sea. The possibilities and options are endless when it comes to decorating your bedroom and home to make it more like a mermaid’s residence. Now that we have listed all the things you can do to act like a mermaid at school, hopefully, you will be able to navigate through school swimmingly like a mermaid.
Plastic Free July
History Plastic Free July is an international movement designed to educate millions of people to reduce their plastic waste. The inspiration behind it is that even if one person makes just one small change collectively it will make a massive difference to the world we live in. Source: Google It is so inspiring that it has captured over 250 million participants in over 177 countries! Shocking Ocean Plastic Statistics: The visibility of plastic waste pollution is increasing because of its accumulation in recent decades and unlike organic waste, plastic can take hundreds to thousands of years to decompose in nature. Source: Google The shocking statistics highlighted below show just how severe this problem is getting: More than 1 million seabirds and 100,000 marine animals die from plastic pollution every year. 100% of baby sea turtles have plastic in their stomachs. There is now 25 trillionmacro and micro pieces of plastic in our ocean & 46,000 pieces in every square mile of ocean, weighing up to 269,000 tonnes. Every day around 8 million pieces of plastic makes their way into our oceans. The world produces 381 million tonnes in plastic waste yearly – this is set to double by 2034. Over 2 million tonnes of plastic packaging are used in the UK each year. 88% of the sea's surface is polluted by plastic waste. Between 8 to 14 million tonnes enters our ocean every year. Britain contributes an estimated 7 million tonnes of plastic annually. Plastic packaging is the biggest culprit, resulting in 80 million tonnes of waste yearly from the US alone. On UK beaches there are 5000 pieces of plastic & 150 plastic bottles for each mile. More than 1 million plastic bags end up in rubbish bins every minute. The world uses over 500 billion plastic bags a year – that’s 150 for each person on Earth. 3 billion plastic straws pollute the world’s beaches, but only 1% of straws end up as waste in the ocean. By 2020 the number of plastics in the sea will be higher than the number of fish. 1 in 3 fish caught for human consumption contains plastic. Source: https://bit.ly/3gtPgWi Source: Google What can we do about it? – Take the Challenge! Visit https://bit.ly/3gqgqgG to sign up to “plastic free July” and enjoy reading stories from other participants and receive the latest plastic-free ideas and tips to help you reduce your own plastic intake and in turn help save the environment. Beach Clean Ups One fantastic activity very close to Planet Mermaids heart is a beach clean-up! With the summer holidays soon upon us the desire to visit the beach is ever more luring! Why not make a difference and organise a local clean up or even just spend an hour or so during your trip picking up rubbish that has been washed to shore or left by fellow holiday makers. You never know if people see you doing such an amazing thing they may offer to help! Source: Google Take lots of photos and share them on social media and use the @plasticfreejuly handle along with @PlanetMermaid to promote your amazing work. Visit www.planetmermaid.com to view our latest in amazing fabric mermaid tails for kids and adults, woman’s mermaid monofins, siren tails, mermaid leggings, mermaid tops, mermaid swimsuits, mermaid gifts and a whole lot more! Mermaid love to you all Keep safe! @plasticfreejuly
Dads dressing as Mermen in public are fatherhood goals!
In celebration of Father’s Day we wanted to praise all those daddy’s out there who will do almost anything to make their little ones smile, even if it means dressing up as their favourite Disney character in public! History of Father’s Day Father’s Day is celebrated worldwide to acknowledge the contribution fathers and father figures make to the lives of their children. The day, mainly held on the third Sunday in June, celebrates fatherhood and male parenting. It was founded in Spokane, Washington at the YMCA in 1910 by Sonora Smart Dodd and its first celebration was on the 19th June 1910. Her father, William Jackson Smart, was a single parent who raised 6 children and Sorona wanted to do something special for him. Source: Google Since then it has grown to be an event shared by families around the world and a day to say thanks to all those wonderful dads out there! Father Daughter Moments Planet Mermaid regularly gets emails from fathers asking if they make mermen costumes just so they can surprise their little ones who are mermaid crazy. Parents looking to create lasting memories with their children can take inspiration from these fathers seen putting a smile on their daughters faces and embracing their love for all things mermaid. Source: Google Source: Google Professional footballer Charlie Austin was seen supporting his daughter embracing her inner Ariel in her Planet Mermaid tail whilst on holiday, what a magical father daughter moment! Source: Google Father’s Day Gift Ideas Stuck for mermaid inspired gift ideas…look no further! Source: Google Soure: https://bit.ly/2XOZiei Source: www.johnlewis.com Source: Google There are many exclusively designed products on the market including mermaid tails and other merchandise for mermen or merboys so why not give it a try and make a big SPLASH!
World Reef Awareness Day
World Reef Awareness Day held on the 1st June was founded by Raw Elements, a certified natural sunscreen company, to inform the world about the importance of our reefs and inform us how we can protect them. Source: Google This day is a call to action for businesses, organisations and consumers to reflect on how delicate our coral reefs are and bring people together to actively promote change of our current ways through education and awareness. What are Coral Reefs? Coral reefs are living communities of colonial organism made of individual polyps that excrete a bone-like skeleton. This skeleton forms large rock-like structures that are homes for thousands of organisms. They provide an important eco system for marine life giving them food and shelter. Source: Google Where are Coral Reefs Found? Corals are found in all oceans however they only build reefs in warm waters, the most famous being the Great Barrier Reef in Australia which is a staggering 2,300 kilometres long! The Health of our Coral Reefs The health of a reef tells us a great deal about the state of an ocean and many fish and other ocean animals rely on the reef for protection, food and most importantly their life support system. The benefits of a healthy reef ecosystem go far beyond the ocean: essential to the plant and fish-life contribute to a lively fishing industry protect beaches and coastlines from erosion acts as the oceans filter provide life-saving medicines and possibly the one animal on the planet capable of consuming plastic Source: https://bit.ly/36w8Ey5 Coral Reef Threats There is however a great threat to our amazing reefs and this is in the form of coral bleaching. This is such a desperate problem that reefs are disappearing at a rapid rate. The Great Barrier Reef for example has decreased by 40% and others along the Florida Keys and the Caribbean have seen a decline between 85-99%! Source: Google What causes coral reefs to die off? Rising sea temperatures Industrial pollution, plastic pollution, sewage Chemical sunscreens and Unmanaged, high-density tourism all threaten coral reefs. Source: https://bit.ly/2M0l0Fe How can we help protect our Coral Reefs? One easy step to help protect our amazing coral reefs is to wear non nano zinc oxide sunscreen. This reduces the toxicity and the impact to our ecosystems is mitigated. If each of us spreads this awareness we in turn help save our reefs for tomorrow and will be able to continue to enjoy the splendor these magical ecosystems have to offer.. maybe even in your magical mermaid tail! For further information please visit www.worldreefday.org
