The only problem was that it was only 3 feet deep, but by then I had learned how not to put my feet down, and I was able to thoroughly enjoy myself AND leave the coral undisturbed. And besides, it's not like we didn't have a good time going the other places. It's just another tool. Thanks for sharing the thought. Just one of many tools that can help preserve our wilder places.
Education is another.
One of the things I've noticed over the years is that if it takes poeple a while to find the great places, it also means that they will have more opportunities to learn how to mitigate their impacts. I wasn't very good at snorkelling. I'd have to put my feet down on the bottom to clear my mask. But we started at the city beach, where the sandy bottom was relatively indestructable, then a commercial tour over a 20 foot deep reef, where I couldn't touch the coral if I wanted to, and I had to learn to clear my mask. The only problem was that it was only 3 feet deep, but by then I had learned how not to put my feet down, and I was able to thoroughly enjoy myself AND leave the coral undisturbed.