The island of Cozumel, off Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, is an increasingly popular tourist destination, and for good reason. Home to Mayan ruins, picturesque beaches, and premiere dive sites, the island has in recent years attracted millions of visitors annually. Cruise ships and the rapid development of San Miguel de Cozumel, the island’s largest town, have spurred this growth.

With increased tourism comes greater risk of environmental impact, and so Seacology has funded a small project to bolster local conservation efforts. Since 1996, the southern coast of the island has been a marine park, a magnet for dive tourism and a valuable coral reef research site.

Seacology’s grant to the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP), which manages the MPA, funds an English-language voiceover for a short informational video shown to visitors to the park to familiarize them with best practices to follow while snorkeling or diving, to avoid harming the reefs. As the island attracts more international tourists, this will help ensure that park rules are observed. The project will also provide equipment for park guides to better communicate with their guests underwater and prevent damage to Cozumel’s reefs.