Ok, I know this topic will be as volatile as global warming, but those who have been traveling to the Caribbean for a long time like myself would agree there have been some pretty dramatic changes under the water. This link may give a little insight to why: We�re Hurting Our Coral Reefs

Trunk Bay in 1979 when I first visited, and Trunk Bay today is a different place. Is it the amount people that visit daily or is it the lotions that are sprayed/rubbed in beach side that has caused these changes? Probably both is the right answer, but one can be easily corrected and that is the later.

As someone who truly loves STJ I would ask all who visit or live on island that they consider being part of the solution - please apply goops, gobs, and God forbid those awful sprays at your villa, hotel, or cruise ship stateroom. Pay attention to products listed in the link and avoid them if possible. Once again I do realize too much sun is dangerous and I truly understand the use of sun protection products are important, but there is time and place for them. However on the beach is neither the time nor place. Apply and rub them in well before you arrive on the beach. They will have time to absorb into your skin and you will get better protection and the coral will say thank you.

If you are having a hard time getting you head around what a little spray/lotin is going to do to the ocean look at this way. You have a nice white cement driveway when someone pulls in leaking oil. They leave after a short visit, but the 10 drops of oil leaves a baseball size stain on your driveway. A few drops of oil is not a big deal... or is it? Now think about the number of people who pull up on the beach of Trunk Bay weekly.

Me... I do not use the stuff. I wear a shirt, wear a hat, and sit in the shade. I get plenty of color and never burn. Being a red hair boy by birth of French/Irish descent I can tell you without protection I would be trouble. The beaches of STJ offer some amazing shade and it is a valid option.

There are biodegradable sunscreens available which I think we should use. Coincidentally, before seeing your post this morning, I had ordered some biodegradable sunscreen for a trip in December. The amount of harmful sunscreen that goes into the water near reefs is amazing - I do not remember any specific numbers but it is thousands and thousands of tons. The combination of temperature increase (regardless of cause or proper response) and the use of massive amounts of sunscreen (even apart from other activities which destroy reefs - see, e.g., construction of the Westin) clearly has had and is having an effect on the reefs. Just from personal observation, I think the reef off Prickly Pear has suffered from all the people with all the sunscreen. I also think that the reef off Green Cay has improved some or been degraded less because some of the bigger excursions off cruise ships that used to go there stopped going there a few years ago (or at least stopped going as much). I know that it is difficult to push, but I would hope that over time more governments and operators will push harder to require only biodegradable sunscreen - which I hope (but do not know the science of it) will cause less damage.

My comments are directed more to SXM than STJ - but I certainly agree about Trunk Bay which we have not gone to for over ten years at least - the last time we went, it already was suffering greatly from the number of people and all the effects of such numbers.

From what I read oxybenzone isn't water soluble and is lighter then water so it must float as it wears off as is diesel exhaust from boats.
The largest destroyer of coral is run off from the land after heavy rains.