There are so many fun-filled ways to learn something while on vacation. If you’re visiting our island, some type of water activity or excursion is probably somewhere on your list of things to do while in Sint Maarten! If it’s affordable, time-efficient and fun; the better it is, right?
Reef-It is a walk-in snorkel park and a coral reef nursery in Point Blanche. After hurricane Irma in 2017, “80-90% of our coral reefs were destroyed”. In collaboration with St Maarten Nature Foundation, they came up with the great idea to use reef balls to regenerate a reef habitat where corals can grow.
In addition to the wealth in the diversity of its ecosystem, making it home to a large number of marine species; corals reefs are crucial sources of income for the fishing and tourism industry. But also for the protection of coastlines, from the damaging effects of wave action (erosion, flooding) and tropical storm damage.
Before we begin the eco-tour, a friendly member of the Reef-It staff gives the usual safety instruction, gives tips and info like the presence of “plastic in the belly of all fish”. (Yes, the ones you ate also… Yes, that plastic bottle found its way back to you.) But even, a cool fish identification card attached to a wrist band, you can use underwater to name the fish you see.
Mask, snorkel, fins? Check. Shyly squirming into the cold water, as I awkwardly got accustomed to my new way of moving, we trail around the rocks, discovering lobsters at the coast. Further out, following the underwater trail, we see a range of beautiful and colorful fish, sea urchins and this huge sea snail. When our guide kindly requests whether we want to take a break, the guys are so swift in saying no, that I wasn’t about to be the one to say yes. (Sure, let’s… not stop for a minute. I breathe underwater, through a tube every day…)
It’s really pleasant to experience tours like this in a small group. You get more personal attention with human scale excursions. And people are actually excited for you when you find something that appears to be… an egg?
At times, the Nature Foundations comes in to give extra information about corals and even do experiments with the kids. Family and schools enjoy this tour where they get to take a fun quiz and play a lucrative game at the end!
Did you guess that one of the developers of Reef-It, Aukje VAN KUIKEN, is a teacher?
With her background, she found ways to “plant seeds of awareness” in a fun and conversational style. She believes that people shouldn’t “just think about the ‘now’, the short term. If we continue doing everything the way we’re currently doing them, the sea won’t be as nice and enjoyable as it is now”.
Reef-it also donates a portion of admission fees to the St. Maarten Nature Foundation, making a cocktail of good-time and giving back to the planet.
Want to experience this for yourself? Find them on Facebook and Instagram at reef.it.sintmaarten or online at www.reef-itsxm.com.
FUN FACT: Did you know? When corals are exposed to UV or blue light, they emit green fluorescence.
Written by Sarina ALEXANDER on June 18th, 2019.
Comments powered by CComment