Environmental Concerns

Threats to North Shore of Oahu’s Green Sea Turtle Population

Every year thousands of visitors come to the North Shore to view sea turtles on our beaches.  Although sea turtles are protected on the North Shore, our sea turtle population is on the decline here and worldwide due to poor fishing practices, marine debris consumption, boat props, destruction of nesting habitat, poaching and fibropapillomas.  It’s scary because green sea turtles have been protected from human hunting since the 1970s.

Using the best sunscreen for surfing lessons is very helpful.  Step one purchase a sunscreen product that is reef safe and contains no oxybenzone, butylparaben, octinoxate or 4-methylbenzylidene camphor.  Step two apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes  before entering the water.  Step three apply it especially to the face, back of hands, ears, back of legs and any other place exposed to the sun.  North Shore Surf Girls surf lessons include the use of a long sleeve rashguard so you don’t need to apply sunscreen to your back or arms etc…

Virtually ever surfer in the world applies sunscreen before they paddle out in the surf.  Tragically one of the most common ingredients in most sunscreens is oxybenzone which not only is harmful to humans recent studies have show that it cause deformities in coral larvae, making them unable to swim, settle out and form new coral colonies.  It also increases the rate at which coral bleaching occurs.

In 2008, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that nearly all Americans were contaminated with oxybenzone. Not only that, but some studies have shown that it penetrates the skin and then increases the production of free radicals when exposed to light. You definitely don’t want a sunscreen ingredient that reacts to the sun by increasing free radical production. This is one way in which oxybenzone is considered a carcinogen. [5]

Using natural sunscreen is a no-brainer. Zinc oxide has long been one of the safest and most trusted sun protection ingredients. It’s a physical sunscreen, which means it blocks the rays from getting to your skin, rather than just neutralizing them.

Using sunscreens with zinc oxide can give you protection from the sun with a side of peace of mind that you are […]